the original animal-style kung fu

adventure series first published in 2005!

Re-released by the author in 2024 with new covers and new interior layouts!

Perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) and Kung Fu Panda (2008)

700,000+ copies sold in 14 languages!

The Five Ancestors

(Click any cover)

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?

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.

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 700,000+ copies sold 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 still races XC mountain bikes on occasion.