For centuries, action-packed tales about the Monkey King circulated, recounting his rise to power, his cosmic mischief, and his final role as one of the holy monk's companions. In the 16th century, poet and civil servant Wu Cheng'en organized the Monkey King's exploits into an epic novel, Journey to the West. The retellers abbreviate the first few chapters of Wu's novel into text for a picture book. Monkey King is born on the mountain of fruit and flowers, becomes king of other monkeys living there, leaves his kingdom to seek the secrets of immortality, and returns with greater power, ready to drive away the Demon of Chaos, who has enslaved his subjects. The simian hero's fantastic, extravagant adventures, known through film and cartoon to a vast modern audience in China, present formidable challenges to the illustrator. The animated DVD version is also available at DVD. Ages 6 and up.
Hardcover, English, 34 Pages, 8.75'' x 12.25''
