Ed Young was born in Tientsin, China. He grew up with the dynamic stories of, Monkey King. His cultural and personal connection to these timeles's tales and his deep interest in Chinese philosophy have led him to create this extraordinary book.
Ed Young has illustrated over seventy books for children, fifteen of which he has written. Recognized nationally and internationally, he isone of the foremost creators of children's books today. A two-time Hans Christian Andersen Medal nominee, he is the author-illustrator of Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China, winner of the 1990 Caldecott Medal, and Seven Blind Mice, a Caldecott Honor Book; and the illustrator of The Emperor and the Kite, a Caldecott Honor Book, byJane Yolen.
The author lives in Westchester, New York, with his wife and two daughters.