- Hardcover: 48 pages
- Publisher: Shepard Pubns (Feb 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0938497405
- ISBN-13: 978-0938497400
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.7 x 1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,710,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Monkey King
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book 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.
For ages 10 and up. Not illustrated!
About the Author
Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Mountain of Marvels," "The Songs of Power," "The Magic Flyswatter," and many more children's books from publishers large and small. His stories also appear often in Cricket magazine.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Start here to understand China...
19 Feb 2010
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The universally known stories in a culture have a profound and lasting influence in the mindset of growing children they are told to, and mark the continuity of tradition when repeated to their own children. This is true in every culture and this story is the ultimate in Chinese children stories. Not only does this story contain numerous character studies, conflicts and scenes that have entered into linguistic/world view idiom, but hidden inside this story are cryptic allusions to deep Buddhist and Taoist training. The full version of this story has 100 books and some authors have considered this story on par with such classics as the Tao-Te-Ching.
This version is a good introduction to this story, the sort to give you a taste or to read to a child. I have a dozen versions of this story and while this is not my choice as the best short-popular version, it is close. Further, this author has released this text for the Kindle for 1 penny! This is the world's greatest bargain. Absolutely everyone should load this on their reader...
As an aside...
I hope that many like myself will purchase his dead tree version of the book and put it on their shelf, prove to publishers and Amazon that this is a good economic model. May many more authors release inexpensive e-book versions of texts as a promotion of their work. There is presently a vast quantity of high quality free audio books by authors trying to break in or grow their base, for traditionally published material. I regularly purchase texts that I have listened to or heard for free on the NPR Radio Reader program.
I personally have been less than enthused with the universal $10 price for kindle books, the overall reading experience and utility is not the equivalent of a paper book. Given that 99.9% of the infrastructure costs such a printing, ink, paper, transport and warehousing are nonexistent for e-books, $10 is exorbitant. I generally feel that if the paper back version of a book is available for $15 compared to a $10 Kindle e-book, I would unhesitatingly go with paper.
There is a lot of inexpensive e-book content "notably - Author 50-years-dead stuff" but much of the contemporary less than $5 content is barely spam. I hope that the Kindle consumer community will spot and recommend high quality inexpensive content; review and recommend it to others. Vote with your voice and and wallet (mouse-click) for this content to knock publishers of their high-horse...
This version is a good introduction to this story, the sort to give you a taste or to read to a child. I have a dozen versions of this story and while this is not my choice as the best short-popular version, it is close. Further, this author has released this text for the Kindle for 1 penny! This is the world's greatest bargain. Absolutely everyone should load this on their reader...
As an aside...
I hope that many like myself will purchase his dead tree version of the book and put it on their shelf, prove to publishers and Amazon that this is a good economic model. May many more authors release inexpensive e-book versions of texts as a promotion of their work. There is presently a vast quantity of high quality free audio books by authors trying to break in or grow their base, for traditionally published material. I regularly purchase texts that I have listened to or heard for free on the NPR Radio Reader program.
I personally have been less than enthused with the universal $10 price for kindle books, the overall reading experience and utility is not the equivalent of a paper book. Given that 99.9% of the infrastructure costs such a printing, ink, paper, transport and warehousing are nonexistent for e-books, $10 is exorbitant. I generally feel that if the paper back version of a book is available for $15 compared to a $10 Kindle e-book, I would unhesitatingly go with paper.
There is a lot of inexpensive e-book content "notably - Author 50-years-dead stuff" but much of the contemporary less than $5 content is barely spam. I hope that the Kindle consumer community will spot and recommend high quality inexpensive content; review and recommend it to others. Vote with your voice and and wallet (mouse-click) for this content to knock publishers of their high-horse...
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Great Read For All
6 Jun 2008
Format:Paperback
This is a story about a monkey who was born from a magic boulder, that was bathed in the energies of Earth and Heaven, quickened by the light of the 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 monkey's made him their King, which is the highest honor they could bestow on him.
It was on the Monkey King's 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 that above them are Gods, who dwell in Heaven and 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.
That information was enough for the Monkey King to set off on his own course of action. To become not just a God or Immortal, but to become a Buddhas. He wanted it all. Nothing would stop him until he could attained what he wanted.
Even though the Monkey King studied hard he would always manage to get himself into trouble time and time again. At the end of this book we find the Monkey King pinned between stone walls. His head and arms are out, but the rest of his body was hopelessly trapped.
What kind of trouble did the Monkey King get into to find himself trapped? Was it his faith to be pinned between the stone walls 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 both young and old. Even in todays world Monkey is still cherished in the Chinese culture.
What a wonderful way to expose and broaden the minds of our young people and adults. To be transported to another place and time. To experience stories that have lasted for centuries.
Sandra Heptinstall, LA
It was on the Monkey King's 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 that above them are Gods, who dwell in Heaven and 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.
That information was enough for the Monkey King to set off on his own course of action. To become not just a God or Immortal, but to become a Buddhas. He wanted it all. Nothing would stop him until he could attained what he wanted.
Even though the Monkey King studied hard he would always manage to get himself into trouble time and time again. At the end of this book we find the Monkey King pinned between stone walls. His head and arms are out, but the rest of his body was hopelessly trapped.
What kind of trouble did the Monkey King get into to find himself trapped? Was it his faith to be pinned between the stone walls 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 both young and old. Even in todays world Monkey is still cherished in the Chinese culture.
What a wonderful way to expose and broaden the minds of our young people and adults. To be transported to another place and time. To experience stories that have lasted for centuries.
Sandra Heptinstall, LA
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Teacher to students
24 Feb 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm reading this weekly with my third grade students. I personally enjoy the story, but can't believe how much they're into it. I thought without pictures I'd be in for some trouble because this is my first time with a Kindle book on the projector. Yet, it works.
Initially, I began reading the story with my booming stage voice to keep them interested, but I looked around and saw ten hands raised. I thought they were just going to bug me about getting water so they could get away so I ignored them for a bit. Then, one student blurted, "Can I read?" Well...sure. This continued until just about everyone in the room read a page.
Now, I read first and the others read it after I've completed a few pages. They're really into it and learning some huge words at the same time. But I don't have to define too much so it works out.
My class loves this.
On a more personal note, I had no clue how much Dragon Ball ripped from Sun Wukong. I was amazed and thrilled to read it. It keeps me entertained with or without the kids. I get a little upset when they ask me a question while we're reading it.
Initially, I began reading the story with my booming stage voice to keep them interested, but I looked around and saw ten hands raised. I thought they were just going to bug me about getting water so they could get away so I ignored them for a bit. Then, one student blurted, "Can I read?" Well...sure. This continued until just about everyone in the room read a page.
Now, I read first and the others read it after I've completed a few pages. They're really into it and learning some huge words at the same time. But I don't have to define too much so it works out.
My class loves this.
On a more personal note, I had no clue how much Dragon Ball ripped from Sun Wukong. I was amazed and thrilled to read it. It keeps me entertained with or without the kids. I get a little upset when they ask me a question while we're reading it.
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