Color the Rat

The Rat sits proudly at the very front of the Chinese zodiac, the first of all twelve animals. How did such a tiny creature take first place? In the legend of the Great Race, the Emperor invited the animals to cross a wide, rushing river, and their finishing order would become the zodiac. The clever little Rat could not swim well, so it hopped onto the strong Ox's back and rode along for free. Just as the Ox reached the shore, the Rat leaped off its nose and scampered across the line first.

That story tells you a lot about Rat people. They are quick thinkers, curious, and good at solving puzzles. A Rat notices the small details that others miss, and it loves to make friends and share a clever idea.

When you color your Rat, look at the curling lines around it. They come from jianzhi (剪纸), the Chinese art of paper-cutting, where artists snip delicate shapes from folded paper for the new year. Try soft grays and silvers for the Rat's fur, then add a bright red border around the whole design, the color of luck and happy beginnings in China.