Product Description

If you think Superman or Spiderman has been around a long
time, think about Monkey. He has been China's favorite superhero for at
least five centuries. He's amazingly strong, he can fly, and he has a few
tricks those other superheroes never heard of. And he's always ready to do
battle with demons, dragons -- sometimes even the gods.

Monkey stars in The Journey to the West, an epic comic fantasy from the
sixteenth century. The part retold here is about Monkey's origin and early
career -- and the one time he didn't come out on top.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #213892 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 50 pages

About the Author
Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of The Mountain of
Marvels, The Sea King's Daughter, The Legend of Lightning Larry, and many
more kids' books from major publishers. His stories also appear often in
Cricket magazine.

Excerpted from The Monkey King: A Superhero Tale of China, Retold from the Journey to the West by Aaron Shepard. Copyright © 2008. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
"Here I am, only four hundred years old," said the Monkey King, "and I've already reached the heights of greatness. What is left to hope and strive for? What can be higher than a king?"

"Your Majesty," said the gibbon carefully, "we have ever been grateful for that time four centuries ago when you hatched from the stone, wandered into our midst, and found for us this hidden cave behind the waterfall. We made you our king as the greatest honor we could bestow. Still, I must tell you that kings are not the highest of beings."

"They're not?" said the Monkey King.

"No, Your Majesty. Above them are gods, who dwell in Heaven and govern Earth. Then there are Immortals, who have gained great powers and live forever. And finally there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who have conquered illusion and escaped rebirth."

"Wonderful!" cried the Monkey King. "Maybe I can become all three!" He considered a moment, then said, "I think I'll start with the Immortals. I'll search the earth till I've found one, then learn to become one myself!"

Customer Reviews

Great Read For All
This is a story about a monkey born from a magic boulder, that was bathed in the energies of Earth and Heaven, quickened by the light of Sun and Moon.

He became known as the Monkey King when he wandered into the midst of other monkey's and found them a safe home in a cave behind a waterfall. The other monkeys made him their King, which is the highest honor they could bestow on him.

It was on the Monkey Kings four hundred birthday that he sat complaining that he had reached the heights of greatness. "What is left to hope and strive for he asked?" The Monkey King was told above them were Gods, who dwell in Heaven and Earth. Then there are the Immortals, who have gained great power and live forever. And finally there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who have conquered illusion and escaped rebirth.

That information was enough for the Monkey King to set off on his own course to become not just a God, or Immortals, but to also become a Buddhas. He wanted it all.


The Monkey King studied hard for years, but always managed to find himself in trouble. In the end he finds himself trapped and pinned between stones. His head and arms were out, but the rest of his body was hopelessly trapped.

What trouble could he get into you may ask? Was he pinned forever? I can only say you must read this book for yourself to find the answers.

Monkey is the most popular figure in all Chinese literature, loved for centuries by young people and adults alike. He is a superhero figure who is cherished even today.

Excellent read for all.