Birth of the Monkey King shows the magical way our hero came into the world and became a king. Yet that is only the beginning. When the proud Monkey decides to be more than just a king, he sets off into the world to learn martial arts, magic, and the secret of long life. Can he succeed, or will pride get in his way? The Monkey King is no ordinary fellow. His personality is a unique blend of strengths and flaws. Monkey is brave, fun-loving, and clever, as well as unpredictable, reckless, and sometimes ferocious. No matter where he goes, the Monkey King is an unforgettable character with a knack for getting himself into trouble. Stories in this series, The Irrepressible Monkey King, are based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. The novel was inspired by the writings of a real 7th-century Buddhist monk who traveled from China to India and back. Mingling fantasy with historical accounts, Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Advisory: Though shortened from the original, these stories reflect life and perspectives from ancient China and other cultures. Some of the ideas and attitudes may be unfamiliar to an English-language audience.