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"The Truth is," Ming Miao told her five kittens, "you are not Siamese cats but Chinese cats. As a matter of fact, one of our family's ancestors from a thousand cat lives ago was the famous feline Sagwa of China..."

One day Sagwa was napping in the Foolish Magistrate's study. From her perch high on a bookshelf, she heard the newest rule: "No singing until the sun goes down." A terrible rule, Sagwa thought. After the Foolish Magistrate left the study, Sagwa jumped down from the bookshelf -- "pwah " -- and landed right in the ink pot

Sagwa was instantly covered with black ink, and before she knew what she was doing she rubbed her nose on the new rule, blotting out the word "not." Now it ordered the people to sing all day -- until the sun went down.

When the people heard this new rule, they were thrilled. They raised their voices in song, praising the Foolish Magistrate for thinking of them. And when the Foolish Magistrate heard their praise, his heart warmed. From that day on, he was a wise magistrate. And Sagwa became the greatest of felines

Gretchen Schield's detailed, colorful paintings bring Amy Tan's charming story to wonderful life, making "The Chinese Siamese Cat" a book to be treasured for generations to come.

• April 2013 Indie Next List
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