This is for all of you kids out there.

Once upon a time, the Jade Emperor wanted to make a way to count time. So, he decided to organize a race. 

He said, the first 12 animals to make it across the river would earn a spot on the zodiac in the order they arrived.

The day when the great race approached, the rat rose with the sun and quickly hopped with its legs to make it across the river. 

As he was about to reach the river, he came across the horse, tiger and the ox.

The rat begged to them for help to cross the river because the rat couldn't swim well.

The strong tiger refused to help the poor rat.

So as the mature horse. 

But, the kind-hearted ox agreed to carry the rat to the finish line.

As the ox and the rat was about to get out of the river, the rat jumped onto the land. 

The rat secured first place, the kind-hearted ox came in second and the powerful tiger came in third.

The rabbit, too small to battle the strong current, carefully hopped across stone and logs to come in fourth place.

Next is the dragon, who could have directly flown across but decided to help other creatures on her way.