Guardians of the New Moon – The Year Of The Rat
Eric Huang, illustrated by Phùng Nguyên Quang
The second in this new series for younger readers featuring Ming and Miaow is another humorous adventure full of Chinese myths and folklore.
In the first book Ming and Miaow’s Great Race we are introduced to Ming who can shapeshift between a nine-tailed fox and a girl, while Miaow is a more recognizable grumpy cat. Here, they are both tasked with ensuring Su, a cheeky rat and winner of the Great Race is taken home and prepared for the inaugural Year of the Rat.
I liked the layout of this. The illustrations by Phung Nguyen Quang are detailed. Fans of similar works will be attracted to the artist’s style which will help improve understanding of some of the more unfamiliar cultural concepts. The writing is accessible with a good balance of language to stretch younger readers. Above all, the book has an original plot which is highly entertaining. Finally, I appreciated the glossary of terms and discovering which Chinese year I was born in.
Published by Little Tiger, 2025
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