It will soon be the beginning of the Chinese New Year.

Each year is named after an animal.

There is a very very old story how the years got their names.

Once upon a time long long ago there was...

The animals were all arguing about who was the best.

The dragon thought he was the best because he could breathe fire. The rabbit thought she was the best because she had a nice fluffy tail. The snake thought he was the best because he could slither along on the floor. The rat thought he was the best because he was the smallest. The tiger thought she was the best because she had beautiful stripy fur. The horse thought he was the best because he could gallop really fast.

The monkey thought he was the best because he was funny. The sheep thought she was the best because her wool could be used to make beautiful clothes. The ox thought he was the best because he was the strongest. The pig thought he was the best because he had a cute little curly tail. The dog thought he was the best because he could do tricks. The rooster thought he was the best because he could crow really loudly to wake people up.

The animals went on and on arguing. They made so much noise that they woke up...

The Great God who lived in the sky.

He was very angry. “ Why are you making all this noise ?” he roared.

The animals were very scared. P p p p p please oh Great God. We were wondering who was the best and we can’t make up our minds.

“Well if you can’t decide you must have a race. All of you go to the edge of the Great Yellow River. Whoever gets to the other side first will be the winner and the best,” said the Great God.

The twelve animals lined up along the edge of the Great Yellow River. “ Ready! Steady! Go!” shouted the Great God. They all jumped in.

The ox was laughing to himself. He knew he was the strongest and he thought he would win easily but...

the little rat was very crafty. He knew he couldn’t win but he had a good idea. When the ox jumped into the river the little rat jumped onto his tail and held on tightly.

My fire will go out My fluffy tail’s all wet I can do doggy paddle

This is easy My wool is all soggy That’s what he thinks

The ox got nearer to the other side of the river. He turned and looked behind him. The only animal he could see was the tiger a long way behind him.

The ox didn’t see the little rat. He got to the other side of the Great Yellow River and was just about to put his hoof on the river bank when...

The little rat ran up his back, over his head and jumped onto the river bank. “I win,” he squeaked.

The ox was furious. “You cheated! It’s not fair Anyone can see that I was the real winner.” The Great God was watching from above. He started to laugh at the ox and the rat.

“ Oh Ox,” he said. “It is true you were the strongest and you should have won the race. But the little rat was clever and used his brain. Sometimes that is best.”

“To honour all of you animals I will name a year after each of you, "he said. The first year will be the year of the rat because he came first then the year of the ox and so on.”

This was the order they finished in. 11st 12th 11th 10th 9th 5th 6th 7th 8th 4th 3rd 2nd I came last! Eve Batten