This is a delightful, beautifully illustrated story of the magic of a child's imagination brought to life through art. In a sun-scorched kingdom where there are no trees, no birds, and no flowers, one day a merchant arrives, bringing a precious tapestry with birds and trees woven of gold and silver. "In my country", he says, "we have so many trees, bright with leaves and flowers and fruit. Birds sing in their branches. Children play in their shade". The king's daughter is inspired by the tapestry birds and sets out to find an artist who will paint birds for her. As the child and the wise old painter work together their pictures come to life, filling the once desert kingdom with sweet birdsong and plants and flowers of every color and kind.
