With this extraordinary collection of stories mdash, each featuring a bird as a central character mdash, Jane Ray has crafted a special gift for children who love to read and be read to. Ray, an internationally renowned picture-book artist, retells and stunningly illustrates a rich variety of tales from around the world. Some, like Oscar Wilde's ""The Happy Prince,"" are beloved, others, like the charming African myth ""Mulungu Paints the Birds,"" will become new favorites. The writers include the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and Edward Lear. Jane's writing style simply glides along, revealing tales of wonder, magic, and mystery.