In The Conference of the Birds
Caldecott Honor-winning children's book author and illustrator Peter
Sís breathes new life into this foundational Sufi poem, revealing its
profound lessons.
Sís's
deeply felt adaptation tells the story of an epic flight of birds in
search of the true king, Simorgh. Drawn from all species, the band of
birds is led by the hoopoe. He promises that the voyage to the mountain
of Kaf, where Simorgh lives, will be perilous and many birds resist,
afraid of what they might encounter. Others perish during the passage
through the seven valleys: quest, love, understanding, friendship,
unity, amazement, and death.
Those
that continue reach the mountain to learn that Simorgh the king is, in
fact, each of them and all of them. In this lyrical and richly
illustrated story of love, faith, and the meaning of it all, Peter Sís
shows the pain, and beauty, of the human journey.
Peter Sís
is an internationally acclaimed illustrator, author, and filmmaker. Sís
is the author of more than twenty books and is the seven-time winner of
The New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year. Most recently, in 2007, he published The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain,
which was awarded the Robert F. Sibert Medal and was also named a
Caldecott Honor Book. Peter Sís was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2003. He
lives in the New York City area with his wife and children.
In The Conference of the Birds
Caldecott Honor-winning children's book author and illustrator Peter
Sís breathes new life into this foundational Sufi poem, revealing its
profound lessons.
