A long time ago, as much as five thousand years ago, in Ancient China, the Heavenly Emperor gathered animals and arranged a competition. He promised the winners the opportunity to rule on earth for a year once every twelve years. This is how the Eastern calendar appeared. The legend says that everyone participated in the competition in different ways, there was some deception, and there was a place for nobility and the great power of friendship. They say that a person takes on the features of the animal in the year in which he was born. Read this amazing story, remember when you were born, and try to understand if you are like your patron. The legendary story was retold for you by Maria Ershova, and illustrated by the famous artist Igor Oleinikov, laureate of the Bologna Book Exhibition, author of more than forty children's books. Beautiful illustrations will appeal not only to children, but also to adult connoisseurs of real art.