the original animal-style

kung fu adventure!

Beloved by readers and praised by educators, The Five Ancestors series has received numerous awards from the American Library Association, International Literacy Association, Children’s Book Council, and others for its ability to connect with reluctant readers. More than 1.5 million Five Ancestors books in print!

The Five Ancestors

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Cover of kung fu novel TIGER by author Jeff Stone from The Five Ancestors series.
Cover of kung fu novel MONKEY by author Jeff Stone from The Five Ancestors series.
Cover of kung fu novel SNAKE by author Jeff Stone from The Five Ancestors series.
Cover of kung fu novel CRANE by author Jeff Stone from The Five Ancestors series.
Cover of kung fu novel EAGLE by author Jeff Stone from The Five Ancestors series.
Cover of kung fu novel MOUSE by author Jeff Stone from The Five Ancestors series.
Cover of kung fu novel DRAGON by author Jeff Stone from The Five Ancestors series.

The Five Ancestors

Out of the Ashes

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Cover of kung fu novel PHOENIX by author Jeff Stone from Five Ancestors: Out of the Ashes series.
Cover of kung fu novel LION by author Jeff Stone from Five Ancestors: Out of the Ashes series.
Cover of kung fu novel JACKAL by author Jeff Stone from Five Ancestors: Out of the Ashes series.

Feeling Nostalgic?

Three black bookshelves displaying books about the five animal ancestors, including titles such as Monkey, Snake, Crane, Eagle, Tiger, Lion, Jackal, and Dragon. The bookshelves are arranged in a semi-circle, with colorful signs indicating the theme of the series.
Backstory

Events

Author Jeff Stone Shanghai China teaching kids snake style kung fu

A veteran writing coach and former college writing instructor with 35+ years experience, Jeff has facilitated more than 300 “hands on” writing workshops at universities, educator conferences, and K-12 schools on three continents.

Events

Got kung Fu?

A group of children and a man on stage performing a synchronized dance or exercise, with a large screen behind them displaying an artistic image of a face with stylized colors.
Kung Fu
Author Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone is the global bestselling author of the American Library Association/YALSA and International Literacy Association & Children’s Book Council award-winning, middle-grade, kung fu action/adventure series, THE FIVE ANCESTORS, and its follow-up trilogy, THE FIVE ANCESTORS: OUT OF THE ASHES. Originally published by Random House Children’s Books, there are 10 novels in total (for now) with more than 1.5 million copies print in 14 languages. All rights recently reverted back to Jeff, and he’s in the process of re-publishing all 10 novels via his small press, Jeff Stone Books. Subscribe to the newsletter for details!

Like his main characters, Jeff was an orphan. Unlike them, he was adopted into the very best family imaginable. He was always curious about his past, so he began searching for his birthmother when he turned 18. He found her 15 years later. A year after that, he found his birthfather.

A Detroit native, Jeff is the proud father of an adult daughter and adult son. Jeff’s former wife is from Hong Kong, where they had a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony in the 90’s. His immersion in Chinese culture and shared ethnic experiences with his children informs his writing, as does his training in kung fu.

In 2005, Jeff traveled to Shaolin Temple in China with ambassadors from the Shaolin-Do Association and was given the honor of testing for his black belt in Shaolin-Do kung fu at Shaolin Temple (see pics). He currently trains in Tai Chi with Master Sam Hing Fai Chan. He also races XC mountain bikes on occasion.

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