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The Karate Kid
Wax on, wax off! The classic movie about a boy and his karate teacher is now a fun picture book for the whole family!
When The Karate Kid appeared in theaters in 1984, its heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship between a bullied boy and the Japanese maintenance man in his new apartment building became an instant classic. Now the beloved film is reimagined as a cute and colorful picture book, with charming illustrations by Kim Smith. When young Daniel is targeted by students from the Cobra Kai dojo, his neighbor Mr. Miyagi agrees to train him for the upcoming karate tournament. But why is Mr. Miyagi making Daniel wax his cars, sand his deck, and paint his house? Will Daniel ever master the art of karate? This timeless story of overcoming the odds will delight kids, their parents, and anyone who has ever had that one special teacher.
When The Karate Kid appeared in theaters in 1984, its heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship between a bullied boy and the Japanese maintenance man in his new apartment building became an instant classic. Now the beloved film is reimagined as a cute and colorful picture book, with charming illustrations by Kim Smith. When young Daniel is targeted by students from the Cobra Kai dojo, his neighbor Mr. Miyagi agrees to train him for the upcoming karate tournament. But why is Mr. Miyagi making Daniel wax his cars, sand his deck, and paint his house? Will Daniel ever master the art of karate? This timeless story of overcoming the odds will delight kids, their parents, and anyone who has ever had that one special teacher.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2019
13 people are currently reading
2182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 5, 2020
Una bonita adaptación infantil para los amantes de la película y para que los niños la conozcan
December 12, 2019
A minha opinião em vídeo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j7yv...
July 22, 2020
Received this picture book from Quirk books for an honest review last year and wasn't able to get to it. I know, I know it's a picture book why did it take a whole year to read....well, it just did. I feel bad so I'm reviewing it now. Better late than never. Gave this picture book 3 stars.
Normally I rate picture books on Illustrations, moral of story, how well my kids like it and how fun it is to read. I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the movie Karate Kid. I was 3 years old when the movie came out and I remember seeing it a lot growing up on tv. I always thought it was a boy movie and didn't pay too much attention.
This picture book is part of Quirk books Pop Classic picture books and as a whole it follows the movie for the most part. My kids didn't understand why Daniel was being picked on by the Cobra Kai Karate "gang". They both have never seen the movie before. The book just says that he was the new kid. The book kind of skips the reason for the tension between Daniel and Johnny, the head student at Cobra Kai. The book spent most of the time with Daniel and Mr. Miyagi "training" to be karate kid. He waxed on and off, right circle, left circle, he painted the fence up and down. Finally, Daniel realizes that Mr. Miyagi was training him all along. Book jumps again to the end of the movie with the tournament.
Overall it was a decent movie to book adaptation. Since it's a child's book it left out most of the conflict and stuck to beginning, middle and end sequence of events. The illustrations were super cute. I don't remember the ending of the movie. If Johnny and Daniel resolve their feud, but in the book, it's wrapped up nicely.
Normally I rate picture books on Illustrations, moral of story, how well my kids like it and how fun it is to read. I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the movie Karate Kid. I was 3 years old when the movie came out and I remember seeing it a lot growing up on tv. I always thought it was a boy movie and didn't pay too much attention.
This picture book is part of Quirk books Pop Classic picture books and as a whole it follows the movie for the most part. My kids didn't understand why Daniel was being picked on by the Cobra Kai Karate "gang". They both have never seen the movie before. The book just says that he was the new kid. The book kind of skips the reason for the tension between Daniel and Johnny, the head student at Cobra Kai. The book spent most of the time with Daniel and Mr. Miyagi "training" to be karate kid. He waxed on and off, right circle, left circle, he painted the fence up and down. Finally, Daniel realizes that Mr. Miyagi was training him all along. Book jumps again to the end of the movie with the tournament.
Overall it was a decent movie to book adaptation. Since it's a child's book it left out most of the conflict and stuck to beginning, middle and end sequence of events. The illustrations were super cute. I don't remember the ending of the movie. If Johnny and Daniel resolve their feud, but in the book, it's wrapped up nicely.
June 1, 2019
Gorgeously drawn for a classic story, but lacks an impactful finish and weird pacing to truly appreciate.
February 8, 2025
Love the cover of this book the most. It makes me do karate moves back and forth on the couch until I fall off and get hurt
July 1, 2019
I love these books. It begins with the nostalgia element but it extends to the ability to relive the movie through these books without anything changing. If you haven’t already read these any of these books, I suggest you check them out.
Wax on, wax off! I remember watching this movie with my kids over and over again and reading this book, brought that memory right back again. This is a condensed version of the Karate Kid, as it can’t possibly have every scene from the movie in it. It does have many of the important ones and the book does tell the story.
This is an animated version of the movie told through bright, colorful illustrations in a nice-sized picture book for children. If you don’t remember the Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi becomes Daniel’s sensei and tries to teach him karate after Mr. Miyagi chased some boys away who were chasing Daniel. Mr. Miyagi has some usual ways of teaching Daniel which confuse and then anger him. Daniel learns more than just karate from his sensei.
I highly recommend this book. There are others in this Pop Classics series which include Home Alone, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, The X-Files: Earth Children are Weird, Back to the Future and Buffy the Vampire. I have read and bought Home Alone and E.T and I’m going to have to purchase this one. I am going to keep looking at these other ones.
Wax on, wax off! I remember watching this movie with my kids over and over again and reading this book, brought that memory right back again. This is a condensed version of the Karate Kid, as it can’t possibly have every scene from the movie in it. It does have many of the important ones and the book does tell the story.
This is an animated version of the movie told through bright, colorful illustrations in a nice-sized picture book for children. If you don’t remember the Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi becomes Daniel’s sensei and tries to teach him karate after Mr. Miyagi chased some boys away who were chasing Daniel. Mr. Miyagi has some usual ways of teaching Daniel which confuse and then anger him. Daniel learns more than just karate from his sensei.
I highly recommend this book. There are others in this Pop Classics series which include Home Alone, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, The X-Files: Earth Children are Weird, Back to the Future and Buffy the Vampire. I have read and bought Home Alone and E.T and I’m going to have to purchase this one. I am going to keep looking at these other ones.
December 8, 2019
In a just world this delightful series will run forever and make Kim Smith richer than a Pharaoh.
The Goonies next?
The Goonies next?
April 21, 2023
A softer side of karate kid. This is a great book for 5-8 year olds that follows the initial karate kid movie. The is a picture book, but the illustrations and storyline are summarized into a few main important points to include: Daniel being picked on by the bullies at his new school in CA, Daniel learning karate and discipline through hard-work, and Daniel learning that karate is not about fighting. The final pages of the book cover the karate tournament and at the end Daniel wins the match minus the broken leg. Also Johnny congratulates Daniel when the match is over. This will give some parents relief to not have to discuss some uncomfortable injuries, while promoting good sportsmanship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2024
Labor Day picture book read-aloud marathon with my wife! (Book 5 of 7)
A cheesy adaptation of the original 1984 film. It's funny to see how much of the story has to bet deleted, warped, or simplified to fit into a book considered acceptable for the youngest audience. I enjoyed the silliness of it all.
I got this on impulse from the library after finishing Ralph Macchio's Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, but I really should just take the time to rewatch the movie sometime.
A cheesy adaptation of the original 1984 film. It's funny to see how much of the story has to bet deleted, warped, or simplified to fit into a book considered acceptable for the youngest audience. I enjoyed the silliness of it all.
I got this on impulse from the library after finishing Ralph Macchio's Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, but I really should just take the time to rewatch the movie sometime.
April 20, 2019
Positively adorable! I love how this is bringing a classic from my childhood to a new generation.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy! **
**Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy! **
March 2, 2019
This was a really cute book! I wanted to review this specifically because I've never seen the movie "The Karate Kid," while my husband absolutely loved it growing up. So I went book first, then movie, to see how well it explained the plot. The illustrations were extremely charming. The writing was acceptable. It hit all the major plot points. Because the target age for this book seems younger than the movie, most actual children would probably see this before they'd seen the movie. The story actually holds up to modern times better than the movie, although the fly-chopsticks bit seems like more of a non sequitur in the book if you haven't seen the movie.
I'm also interested in the Home Alone Pop Classic.
I'm also interested in the Home Alone Pop Classic.
July 8, 2019
I was so happy I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review of the book. I really enjoyed it. The illustrations are great. The story stayed true to the original movie and did so in a kid friendly way. I am excited to add this book to my soon to be born daughter’s collection. I know this is one we will read over and over again. Thanks again for the review copy. #goodreads #goodreadsgiveaway #goodreadsgiveawaywinner
Camila really seemed to enjoy this one.
Camila really seemed to enjoy this one.
November 18, 2022
I loved this series' X-Files adaption (The X-Files: Earth Children are Weird) SO much that I wanted to track down others based on iconic childhood movies. And The Karate Kid was huge for little kid me.
The good news: This illustrations were adorable, and the artist did a fab job capturing the characters.
BUT the story was so watered down it lost the heart and soul of the source material. Where was the friendship between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi? Where was Daniel's motivation for learning Karate? Where was the tension? Where were the Bonsai trees? And "Allie-With-An-I"? I at least wanted to see a little bit of the Halloween Dance and Daniel's shower costume. I get that this is for little kids, but I was a little kid myself when I watched the Karate Kid movie, and I was in no way traumatized by it (In fact, I recall having a blast practicing the Crane Kick with my cousins in their basement afterward). Sure, edit out the more violent aspects and for sure edit out what Johnny was doing in the bathroom during the dance, just before Daniel hosed him down (and provoked him). But don't strip the story of its personality.
Really. Kids can take stuff. They understand more than adults give them credit for. Had I been tasked with writing this, I would have left in a little more about the bullying. Not to the degree of the movie, but enough so it could be used as a teaching tool. I would have added Allie (as a friend, not a romantic prospect, because romance is gross to the book's target age group, and this does not need to become a "kissing book"). And I would have built Daniel's and Mr. M's friendship more. And included the scene with the Bonsai trees, if only in a small illustration. And, of course, the shower costume!
This book had SO much potential to be just as awesome as its more "Spooky" series companion. But instead it fell flat. Absolutely no substance at all.
Adorable illustrations, though. At least that was something.
The good news: This illustrations were adorable, and the artist did a fab job capturing the characters.
BUT the story was so watered down it lost the heart and soul of the source material. Where was the friendship between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi? Where was Daniel's motivation for learning Karate? Where was the tension? Where were the Bonsai trees? And "Allie-With-An-I"? I at least wanted to see a little bit of the Halloween Dance and Daniel's shower costume. I get that this is for little kids, but I was a little kid myself when I watched the Karate Kid movie, and I was in no way traumatized by it (In fact, I recall having a blast practicing the Crane Kick with my cousins in their basement afterward). Sure, edit out the more violent aspects and for sure edit out what Johnny was doing in the bathroom during the dance, just before Daniel hosed him down (and provoked him). But don't strip the story of its personality.
Really. Kids can take stuff. They understand more than adults give them credit for. Had I been tasked with writing this, I would have left in a little more about the bullying. Not to the degree of the movie, but enough so it could be used as a teaching tool. I would have added Allie (as a friend, not a romantic prospect, because romance is gross to the book's target age group, and this does not need to become a "kissing book"). And I would have built Daniel's and Mr. M's friendship more. And included the scene with the Bonsai trees, if only in a small illustration. And, of course, the shower costume!
This book had SO much potential to be just as awesome as its more "Spooky" series companion. But instead it fell flat. Absolutely no substance at all.
Adorable illustrations, though. At least that was something.
March 16, 2020
Did we really need a storybook re-telling of the classic 1984 film "The Karate Kid"? Probably not. But we didn't need "The X-Files" or "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" ones either.
These children's books are re-tellings of classic TV shows and movies from the publishing company Quirk books under the 'Pop Classics' label.
I really am just curious as to who these are really marketed to. I loved the two shows referenced earlier and I read their re-imagining counterparts and while the nostalgia is great and for this latest entry it will have its fans, why do we find ourselves going back in time for good content?
I don't think the intended age group for a book like this would get the historical entertainment value that their parents might have about the story.
In this book they would only see a story about a boy being bullied who takes karate to learn to fight back with dignity. They wouldn't understand the countless boys and girls who then took up karate to be like the character or remember lazy Saturdays watching the movie on VHS.
So why not come up with a whole new story? Those who remember the film might buy it for its cult classic value and the marketing will ensure those with enough nostalgic tendencies will buy it because surely their own brood will enjoy it too because "it was everything!"
But alas, while well told, it's a copy of a copy of something that belongs to a particular place and time. Not that it's bad or we can't move forward with it, but it's not exactly the same and not everyone's going to indulge in it.
What to do.
These children's books are re-tellings of classic TV shows and movies from the publishing company Quirk books under the 'Pop Classics' label.
I really am just curious as to who these are really marketed to. I loved the two shows referenced earlier and I read their re-imagining counterparts and while the nostalgia is great and for this latest entry it will have its fans, why do we find ourselves going back in time for good content?
I don't think the intended age group for a book like this would get the historical entertainment value that their parents might have about the story.
In this book they would only see a story about a boy being bullied who takes karate to learn to fight back with dignity. They wouldn't understand the countless boys and girls who then took up karate to be like the character or remember lazy Saturdays watching the movie on VHS.
So why not come up with a whole new story? Those who remember the film might buy it for its cult classic value and the marketing will ensure those with enough nostalgic tendencies will buy it because surely their own brood will enjoy it too because "it was everything!"
But alas, while well told, it's a copy of a copy of something that belongs to a particular place and time. Not that it's bad or we can't move forward with it, but it's not exactly the same and not everyone's going to indulge in it.
What to do.
May 24, 2021
Never have I ever enjoyed a picture book so much... I am a die-hard Karate Kid fan (a little bit because I took karate lessons growing up and a little big because people always used to say my Dad looked like Mr. Miagi), and this really hit the spot. The illustrations were so cute--scenes taken from the movie but aged down for smaller kids. The plot points were also aged-down; for example, when Mr. Miagi goes to defend Daniel against the Cobra Kai kids, it doesn't show his kicks and punches actually hitting the children, and at the end, we don't see Johnny sweep Daniel's leg or Daniel kick Johnny in the nose. There are also other softened plot points like Johnny telling Daniel he deserved to win and the language is more manageable for younger children as the narrator explains what certain words mean. Highly recommend. Will be buying for my public library and my personal library.
May 18, 2019
I’ve never seen the movie, but reading this book makes me want to! Daniel is tasked with doing chores that take all day and he feels that he will never learn karate. He is tested by Mr. Miyagi and Daniel learns that his daily chores were what helped him to learn karate. The simplest tasks in our daily lives can leave a huge impact on our lives as a whole. Excellent message and gorgeous illustrations to match.
September 7, 2024
A completely unnecessary picture-book adaptation of an old eighties movie. If you've seen the movie you will be aware of everything that gets changed or left out. I assume the editing was an attempt to make the story more modern child and family-friendly, but for me it just called extra attention to how problematic this movie was for all sorts of reasons. If you haven't seen the movie I can't think of any reason why you would pick this up.
June 15, 2019
Childrens picture book, based on a movie. This is the first I've hear of the Pop Classics series, which takes popular films and turns them into picture books. The book follows the action of the movie pretty well, though understandably lacks some of the emotional depths due to its length. Fun especially for fans of the film or real-life karate kids.
May 22, 2019
I won this from Goodreads Giveaway.
I loved this book. Although I have seen the movie, this book delivers a message of achieving a goal through perseverance and hard work. The illustrations are beautiful and I am sure any child would enjoy it.
I loved this book. Although I have seen the movie, this book delivers a message of achieving a goal through perseverance and hard work. The illustrations are beautiful and I am sure any child would enjoy it.
September 23, 2020
Det er en god ide man kender filmen først, og det gør mine to piger ikke. Men så viste jeg nogen klip fra youtube og så fangede bogen meget mere :)
Fine illustrationer og jeg synes filmens højdepunkter er kommet godt med i fortællingen.
Fine illustrationer og jeg synes filmens højdepunkter er kommet godt med i fortællingen.
October 24, 2020
This book is based on the movie of the same name. It is definitely accessible for children and shares some good messages, like skills are transferable and perseverance.
The illustrations are eye catching and I liked the use of speech bubbles for dialogue.
The illustrations are eye catching and I liked the use of speech bubbles for dialogue.
February 9, 2019
This is the picture book of the classic movie The Karate Kid. My daughter loved the book especially since she is taking karate. The illustrations are excellent and the original story shines through.
February 11, 2019
This book has great illustrations with the broadstrockes of the orginal story we love.
My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.
My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.
April 5, 2019
A great way to introduce this classic to kids. I'll be gifting this book for sure :)
April 3, 2019
Lovely rendition of the movie. I really liked this--would be great to share with a kiddo after watching the movie.
May 19, 2019
It was cute...other the illustrations are adorable and pretty...pretty much the movie condensed with the themes still remaining.
May 26, 2019
I freaking love this series!!!! So much nostalgia and the illustrations are just perfect! 5stars for the newest addition to the Pop Classic collection
June 21, 2019
Beautiful illustrations and a great introduction to the Karate Kid series. A must have for every bookself!
June 22, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway.
Fun adaptation of the classic movie! True to the story and the artwork is great. Not much else to say. Fun read!
Fun adaptation of the classic movie! True to the story and the artwork is great. Not much else to say. Fun read!
June 30, 2019
Great illustrations and just enough details of the story to hold the attention of my 3 year old.
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