He Became the Monkey King

In the last days of the great American Clipper ships, a runaway orphan is saved from his pursuers by an old Chinese candle maker.The candle maker is a magician, who transforms the boy into the image of the ancient monkey king god. The monkey is spirited away by a pirate, and his adventures take him across the high seas to the palace of the dowager empress of China. This is a time when the people long for the reappearance of their god.

Larry Weinberg is a beloved author, best-known to generations of children, parents and teachers for his (unforgettable) "Forgetful Bears" series and his wonderful "Guess-a-rhyme" poems. Highlights of his storied career include trading poems with the legendary Shel Silverstein, his classic novelizations of "Star Wars," ""ET" and "Tron" and his break-out Young Adult novels, "Ghost Hotel, "Cry of the Seals" and "Drummer Boy."

Weinberg is also a distinguished playwright, who was a celebrated member of the Actor's Studio in its heyday. He has long-resided near Woodstock, New York, where is also a passionate advocate for the well-being of individual children, as a court-appointed Law Guardian.