Through a series of exchanges with the animals he meets on his walk through the jungle, Matepo the monkey winds up with the perfect birthday gift for his mother.
The Monkey King is born from a rock on top of Spring Mountain, and leads the other monkeys of the island to a great treasure. However, the Monkey King's conceit soon gets the better of him, and in his quest for eternal life he angers the gods of Heaven, so much as to call himself "Emperor of Heaven.".
While spending two days touring a zoo to see the baby animals, the four Alden children, aged six to fourteen, help catch an escaped monkey, participate in a photography contest, and investigate a missing camera.
The mischievous monkey learns about protecting the environment by planting trees and recycling paper. Includes tips on conserving energy and resources.