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Monkey King and the World of Myths cover by Maple Lam

MONKEY KING AND THE WORLD OF MYTHS:

THE BATTLE OF THE BEASTS

Written and illustrated by Maple Lam

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G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, Aug 19, 2024

256 pages, Full-color

Ages 8-12

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Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-0593524688

Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0593524695

Also available as an ebook

Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts is a Kirkus-starred middle grade graphic novel written and illustrated by Maple Lam. Published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, this funny, action-packed adventure continues Sun Wukong’s journey through world mythology as the Monkey King and his sidekick Cerberus enter the world of Japanese folklore.

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Monkey King and the World of Myths artwork by Maple Lam

Percy Jackson meets Dragon Ball in the second book of this adorable, funny, and action-packed graphic novel series! Now the Monkey King and his sidekick Cerberus are bursting into the world of Japanese folklore!

Monsters of the East, beware! Sun Wukong (aka the Monkey King) and his trusty three-headed pal Cerberus are headed on their next monster-hunting mission to Heian-Kyo, capital of ancient Japan—a city where long ago humans and beasts lived together in peace. But since the great war, the beasts have been cast out of the city and things seem more divided than ever.

When he crash lands in the city, Wukong finds himself in the middle of it all. He soon meets a boy named Momotaro who believes the beasts have stolen an important magical object, and a kitsune named Kit who is convinced humans have burned down the beast’s only source of food in the wild. With these latest incidents, the tension between beasts and humans comes to a breaking point.

Monkey King and the World of Myths artwork by Maple Lam

Awards and Recognitions:

★ Kirkus Starred Review

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Kirkus Reviews Best of Middle Grade Pick

Monkey King and the World of Myths artwork by Maple Lam

★ "A stellar illustration of the time-honored, universal power of friendship, communication, and mutual trust... colorful and exhilarating..."

– Kirkus, starred review

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"A spirited, action-packed story."

– The Horn Book

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"I had a blast following Sun Wukong on his hilarious adventures as he navigates world myths retold with a twist."

– Remy Lai, award-winning creator of Pie in the Sky​​​​

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​"This compelling and truly unique blend of cultural histories will fill your heart and leave you with a big smile on your face."

– Andy Runton, Eisner-Award winning creator of the Owly Series

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"A kinetic, bombastic, and wholly original cartoon take on classic mythology, exalting in the strength found in self-acceptance and the love of good friends."

– Shannon Watters, Eisner Award-winning and New York Times bestselling co-creator of the Lumberjanes series

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Continue the adventure:

Book 1: The Monster and the Maze

Book 2: The Battle of the Beasts

Download the Activity Worksheets.

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© 2026 Maple Lam. All rights reserved.

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