- Picture Books
- Ages 6–10
- Mythology
Kai and the Monkey King
Book 3 of 5 in Brownstone's Mythical CollectionView the full series
A vivid Monkey King adventure with humour, monsters and a useful theme about what real adventure means. Strong for children drawn to trickster myths and big, energetic fantasy artwork.
- Best for6–10
- FormatPicture
- Length56 pp
- Read aloud~11 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
- Literary
Tone
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Funny
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Kai is frustrated that her bookish mum does not seem adventurous enough for a Brownstone, so she goes searching for the mischievous and rebellious Monkey King. The journey takes her into a Chinese mythological world of powerful peaches, dangerous beasts and legendary figures who are not always as heroic as stories make them sound. This entry has a slightly more comic, trickster-driven energy than the earlier books, making it especially appealing to children who like mischief and momentum alongside myth. Beneath the adventure is a warmer family theme: Kai has to reconsider what courage and adventure look like, and whether her mother might be more impressive than she first assumed. As with the rest of the collection, the artwork carries huge appeal, with dense visual storytelling and mythic spectacle that rewards slow looking as well as reading aloud.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 6–10
- Read aloud · 5–9
- Independent · 7–10
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
3 / 5 · Some
Best for
- Mythology
- Monkey king
- Trickster tales
- Visual readers
- Family adventure
Avoid if
- Prefers realistic stories
- Prefers simple bedtime books
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Low self esteem
In the classroom
How it works in school.
Gorgeously illustrated myth-adventures from around the world — a brilliant gateway to myths and legends and strong read-alouds with clear quests to retell.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific delight is the trickster — Kai going looking for Sun Wukong the rebellious Monkey King because her bookish mum doesn't seem adventurous enough, the journey into Chinese myth turning out to be funnier and harder than expected. The third Brownstone with the most comic energy.
- Adventure and freedom
- Trickery and cleverness
- Surviving danger
- Family belonging
Why parents love it
The third Brownstone's Mythical Collection — trickster-driven Monkey King energy, dense mythic visual storytelling, warm family theme about misjudging your own parents. Excellent introduction to Journey to the West for younger readers.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Educational for adult too
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
In the series
Brownstone's Mythical Collection.
5 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Joe Todd-Stanton.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
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