2015 is the Year of the Sheep, the tenth adventure in the popular annual series Tales from the Chinese Zodiac.
The lamb Sydney befriends the shepherd girl Zhi and other animals. But after a storm strikes, can Sydney show them how valuable a sheep's qualities can be? Empowering themes of self-discovery and cultural exchange, plus charismatic characters, have proven appeal with children, parents, and elementary educators
Oliver Chin has written fifteen children's books.
Alina Chau helped animate Lucasfilm's hit TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
"…readers born in the year of the sheep are kindhearted and cooperative, and Chin uses these traits well to create a sweet, wild and woolly heroine. For the first time, Chau illustrates for this series, and she is a good fit. Some brush strokes and scenes are reminiscent of Chinese brush painting, and little surprises, such as a resting tiger counting sheep in Chinese, add mysticism and charm. The
Kirkus Reviews
"This year, Chin introduces a new collaborator, San Francisco artist Alina Chau, whose whimsically watercolored, large-eyed characters seem to beckon you right onto the page... Any way you turn the page, you've got another intrepid, courageous, tenacious tale to enjoy."
Smithsonian BookDragon
"In this tenth title in the Tales of the Chinese Zodiac series, Chin and Chau introduce Sydney, a baby sheep with enormous blue eyes, cottony swirls of wool, and a strong desire to 'explore off the beaten path.' ...Working in watercolor, Chau creates a dewy-eyed, playfully caricatured cast of animals and humans that should hold readers' interest…"
