The Monkey King - by David Seow (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A timeless and inspiring Chinese tale brought to life for Western children!

The Monkey King: A Classic Chinese Tale for Children is inspired by Chinese folktales and legends about Monkey, King of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit: Great Sage Equal to Heaven! But his friends just call him Monkey. Hilariously mischevious and full of energy, Monkey has uniquely amazing magical powers.

Long ago, the Jade Emporer, ruler of the Heavens, was so unhapy that China was in great turmoil. He even considered destroying its people! But the Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin, suggested another way--find Buddha's scriptures in India and bring them back to China, so that the Chinese could become peaceful and kind. This tale is about the beginnings of this epic journey, and how Monkey, Pigsy, and Sandy join this special quest.

Children of all ages will be entertained and inspired by this heartwarming tale of adversity and survival.

Review Quotes

*Included in Tricycle's 2025 Roundup of Buddhist Books for Kids*

"...this will be a useful addition to libraries hoping to expand the diversity of their folklore collections." --Booklist

"The Monkey King: A Classic Chinese Tale for Children is a wonderfully fun story inspired by Chinese legends about the trickster Monkey...This story has plenty of twists and turns, with battle scenes and narrow escapes and a cast of colorful characters. But I could just get lost in the lush illustrations. They are so beautiful and full of life that each page invites you to fall into it head first. This is one you will treasure on your bookshelf." --AllDoneMonkey.com

"An engaging introduction to a classic tale, especially for libraries seeking to expand their Chinese literature selections." --School Library Journal

"Featuring museum quality artwork throughout, The Monkey King: A Classic Chinese Tale for Children from Tuttle Publishing is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Folklore/Fairytale picture book collections for children ages 3-8." --Midwest Book Review

"This adaptation of the sixteenth-century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Ch'eng-en (itself incorporating Chinese legends and folklore) is beautifully and fancifully illustrated in a traditional style...the story of Tripitaka--a monk sent to India to get Buddhist scriptures from Lord Buddha himself--and his helpers (including the titular Monkey King) is amusing and exciting." --Horn Book Magazine

About the Author

David Seow was born and raised in Singapore. He studied at Anglo-Chinese School, Oregon Episcopal School, and subsequently the University of Portland, Oregon. After a stint as a sitcom writer with an award-winning television series, he embarked on a career in children's literature. David is the author of twenty-three well-received children's books, including The Littlest Emperor.

Lak-Khee Tay-Audouard, continues her quest, after Singapore Children's Favourite Stories, to recapture the sense of wonder and naivete that most of us lose in the process of growing up. The genuine desire to engage the reader remains the driving force of her inspiration. To portray the mythological characters of this popular legend, these whimsical illustrations have been given an antique look. Lak-Khee is the author of Adventures of the Treasure Fleet.