Color the Monkey

The Monkey is the ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac, and it raced across the river with teamwork and a clever idea. In the legend of the Great Race, the Monkey, the Goat, and the Rooster could not swim across on their own. The quick-thinking Monkey helped find a little raft, and together the three of them paddled and pushed through the water as a team. When they reached the shore, the Monkey scampered off to take ninth place.

People born in the Year of the Monkey are playful, smart, and full of funny ideas. A Monkey loves to solve puzzles, make jokes, and try new tricks, and it can find a clever way out of almost any sticky spot.

When you color your Monkey, look at the lively, swirling lines in the design. They come from jianzhi (剪纸), the Chinese art of paper-cutting, where artists snip playful shapes from folded paper for the new year. Try warm browns and cheerful yellows, then add bright red around the edge, the color of fun and good luck in China.