The Cat-Tailed Rabbit: And Other Stories

By Tang Tang, Lü Qiumei and Rebecca Moesta

A collection of enchanting fairytales by the acclaimed Chinese children’s author, now available in English.  

One of China’s most celebrated authors of children’s literature, Tang Tang, weaves traditional Chinese storytelling with Western fantasy elements. With vivid language and playful imagery, she crafts unique stories of wonder and magic. These poignant fairy tales will leave an imprint on your heart with their universal themes of friendship, family, loyalty, and loss.

In this collection, Tang Tang explores what happens when a young boy makes a promise to a childhood friend; when generations of imps misunderstand a nursery rhyme; when a grandmother sneaks out of heaven to visit her granddaughter; and when a girl grows up and loses interest in a beloved pet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: May 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781680573039

Book preview

The Cat-Tailed Rabbit and Other Stories

WELCOME TO FAIRY TALES FROM TANG TANG

Tang Tang weaves traditional Chinese storytelling with Western fantasy elements, using vivid language to craft unique stories of wonder and magic. These beautiful, poignant fairy tales will leave an imprint on your heart with their universal themes of friendship, family, loyalty, and loss.

What happens when …

a young boy makes a promise to a childhood friend?

generations of imps misunderstand a nursery rhyme?

a grandmother sneaks out of heaven to visit her granddaughter?

a girl grows up and loses interest in a beloved pet?

This book is for children and for adults who never lost their sense of wonder.

THE CAT-TAILED RABBIT AND OTHER STORIES

FAIRY TALES FROM TANG TANG

TANG TANG

Illustrated by

LÜ QIUMEI

Translated by

LI XIAOCHUN AND REBECCA MOESTA

WordFire Press

The Cat-Tailed Rabbit and Other Stories

Text Copyright © 2021 Tang Tang

Original Copyright © 2021 Blossom Press

English-Language Translation © 2022 WordFire Press, LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the copyright holder and publisher, except where permitted by law. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously.

The ebook edition of this book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share the ebook edition with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

EBook ISBN: 978-1-68057-303-9

Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-68057-302-2

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-68057-304-6

Casebind ISBN: 978-1-68057-305-3

WordFire Press Edition 2022

Cover design by Janet McDonald

Cover artwork images by Lü Qiumei

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022935395

Published by WordFire Press, LLC

PO Box 1840 Monument CO 80132

Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta, Publishers

CONTENTS

Only Two Inches

Never Forget

Grandma Hiding in My Teeth

The Cat-Tailed Rabbit

Publisher’s Note

About the Author

Other WordFire Press Titles By Tang Tang

ONLY TWO INCHES

Two inches away …

Snap!

Squeak!

A puff of light smoke,

When the wind comes,

Turns into wisps,

Dissolves into air,

Never to be found.

Only two inches,

Only two inches.

Every little imp in Ball Imp Valley sang this song.

Ball Blue hummed softly as he stepped out of his ball-shaped house, pulled a tiny tape measure made from grass stems out of his pocket, and measured straight ahead of him. Two inches away stood a wild lily with dewdrops on several petals. He shook the stalk, raised his chin, and let the droplets fall into his open mouth.

Dew is the only food of Ball Imps.

Not far away, Ball Purple was drinking dew from a hyacinth. She also stood two inches from her ball-shaped house, feeling a little bored.

Ball Imps were not supposed to go more than two inches from their own ball houses. Every imp in the valley knew this rule.

Only two inches, no further.

But beyond two inches what would happen? "Two inches away … Snap! Squeak! A puff of light smoke, when the wind comes, turns into wisps, dissolves into air, never to be found. Only two inches, only two inches." Wasn’t the answer in the song?

Whoops! Ball Purple looked at her wristwatch. Her nineteen seconds was almost up! She ran back into her house as Ball Blue dashed back into his.

Ball Imps are not supposed to leave their ball houses for any longer than nineteen seconds. But after nineteen seconds, what would happen? "Two inches away … Snap! Squeak! A puff of light smoke, when the wind comes, turns into wisps, dissolves into air, never to be found. Only two