From Publishers Weekly
Caldecott Medalist Young (Lon Po Po) opts for elegance in this deceptively simple adaptation of Chinese myth. In piquant phrases and minimalist collages, he summarizes the antics of the Monkey King, a trickster hero. Monkey has learned "the art of turning cloud somersaults, riding the wind, changing shape, and disappearing in the blink of an eye," and he uses his magic for mischief. While serving the Jade Emperor, he "plucked all the forbidden fruit from the immortal peach tree and gobbled them up. Then he tumbled home before anyone could punish him." Monkey's evocatively named opponents, including Dragon King and Red Beard Bandit, cannot defeat him, and finally Jade Emperor seeks Buddha's intervention. In an impressive gatefold spread, Monkey is trapped in the shadowy Five Finger Mountain, actually Buddha's obsidian hand. Upon his release 500 years later, Monkey improves his behavior on the path to enlightenment--"but it wasn't always easy to stay good." Young bases this distilled saga on Wu Cheng'en's Buddhist epic, The Journey to the West, which he glancingly mentions in an afterword. The tale may be better suited to older readers who can handle its epic qualities and some characters' cameo appearances. His cut-paper compositions, in earthy shades of spice and sky, might be described as freestyle; pencil marks remain visible and shapes are imperfectly carved, requiring plenty of imagination. Young's dynamic artwork and his mercurial transitions between spreads mimic Monkey's own shape-shifting, making for deliciously unpredictable reading. All ages.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-A rock explodes, a monkey emerges, and thus begins a very abbreviated version of the first part of the Chinese epic, Journey to the West. Following his dramatic creation, Monkey evolves into a trickster and entangles himself in many adventures, outwitting numerous adversaries and falling out of grace with others. His encounters with mortals, animals, and deities reveal his multifaceted character; at times, greedy and conniving, he can also be resourceful and loyal. And as he serves as a disciple to holy monk Tang, he learns a lesson about admitting to weakness-but "Did Monkey's humility last? That's another story for another book." Vibrant paper collages set against purple and gold backgrounds swirl and plunge with energetic Monkey and reinforce his quicksilver nature. However, the sheer number of characters he meets, and escapades in which he indulges, can be overwhelming, especially since they are, of necessity, briefly introduced. Even the striking illustrations (including an extravagant double gatefold) are confusing at times. The typestyle is large but the vocabulary will challenge readers attracted to the open format. The author provides a helpful list of major characters with a one or two sentence summary of their roles in the saga as well as a more detailed history of the epic itself. This is a simplified and serviceable introduction to a long and complex Chinese tale but its staccato presentation is likely to leave young listeners confused and more than a bit breathless.-Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
