Lunar New Year
Page 16 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
February 16, 2015
HEADACHES
RELATED TO YOUR NECK?
You may be eligible for a federally-funded research
study on frequent neck-related headaches.
● Must be 18 years or older
● Care provided by licensed chiropractors
● Participants will be compensated
● Limited spots available
For more information, call the Center for
Outcomes Studies at 1-800-678-9072 or
visit http://www.uws.edu/headache
You are invited to
State of
the County 2015
Presented by the
Board of County Councilors
David Madore, Jeanne E. Stewart,
Tom Mielke
3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 12
3:30 p.m. refreshments; 4 p.m. program
Skyview High School
1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver
Need help to attend?
Contact the Clark County ADA Office
Voice (360) 397-2322; Relay 711 or
(800) 833-6388; Email ADA@clark.wa.gov
THE GREAT RACE. A new book by Charles Huang and Stacey Hirata — The Great Race: How the Chi-
nese Zodiac Came to Be — tells the story of the origin of the lunar zodiac. The book, which features illustra-
tions by Jerome Lu, presents a charming tale of how the zodiac was created that readers young and old can
enjoy.
Origin of the lunar zodiac
explained in The Great Race
The Great Race:
How the Chinese Zodiac Came to Be
By Charles Huang and Stacey Hirata
Illustrations by Jerome Lu
Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2015
Hardcover, 24 pages, $17.95
By Kate Hubbard
The Asian Reporter
A
new lunar year is nearing. Have
you ever wondered about the origin
of the lunar zodiac? Do you know
how the animals and the order were
chosen? Although the exact source is
shrouded in antiquity, many legends,
myths, and popular stories have sought to
answer the questions.
There’s a new book that seeks to address
the long-standing mystery. It was
published last month and is called The
Great Race: How the Chinese Zodiac Came
to Be. The book is aimed at children, but it
presents a charming version of how the
zodiac was created that all readers can
learn from and appreciate.
In this version of the story, which is
written by Charles Huang and Stacey
Hirata with illustrations created by
Jerome Lu, the Jade Emperor invites his
favorite animals to his birthday
celebration. As part of the festivities, he
organizes a competition in which the
animals race across a river to receive a
heavenly reward and become one of the
Emperor’s “Jade Stars.”
The order in which the animals arrive,
and the reasons for that, are the fun twists
in the tale. Based on the animals, one
might expect different results. However,
the character traits of each animal come
into play and change the anticipated
outcome. As a parable, it’s both a great
explanation of the zodiac cycle and a clever
look at different personalities.
The book provides a fun way to introduce
children of all ages to a version of a folktale
that’s been around for a very long time. It’s
also an effective way to start a
conversation about the good and bad
aspects of our personal characteristics,
and how they can work for or against us.
Whether readers choose to believe the
tale itself, which has been passed down in
different forms for generations, it’s great
to see a variation of the story passed on to a
new generation. And it is certainly a
modern version — the saturated colors and
vivid cartoon style are very much 21st
century.
Stories are a simple way to introduce
complicated concepts to children (and
adults, too). The zodiac is historically and
socially a fascinating construct, remarka-
ble for its longevity and accessibility. A
handy chart in the back of the book lists
the years attributed to each animal, so
readers can instantly find out their sign
and learn about individual traits.
The Great Race provides a good
jumping-off point and inspiration for
readers to explore further on their own.
The book, which is dedicated to Huang’s
mother, wife, and daughters, and Hirata’s
husband and children, is a wonderful
introduction to the Lunar New Year.
Department of Consumer & Business Services
Foreclosure Prevention and Resources
If you are at risk of losing your home or are already in foreclosure, don’t face
foreclosure alone, you have options. Act immediately to make the best decisions.
Contact a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved foreclosure prevention
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help and avoid being a victim of a scam.
For more information on foreclosure, check the state’s foreclosure
website at www.foreclosurehelp.oregon.gov or contact the Division of Finance
and Corporate Securities at (503) 378-4140 or toll-free at 1-866-814-9710.
www.dfcs.oregon.gov