The Language of Birds

by Rafe Martin

Ivan and Vasilli are as different as brothers can be. When their father sends them out to prove themselves in the wide world, Vasilli is only out for himself, while Ivan approaches the future with a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399229256
• ISBN13: 9780399229251
• Release Date: July 2000
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

The Language of Birds

A boy wins a princess as his wife because he shows caring and responsibility in his actions. His brother is more into dirty tricks and is sent to prison. Rafe Martin writes and entertaining tale for children.

Simply told and beautifully illustrated

This is a beautiful and stylish book, featuring a simple and appealing retelling of a Russian folk tale. The story itself contains several of the more popular folk tale themes, including communication with animals, a "bad" and a "good" brother who go off to seek their fortunes, and a king that will marry his daughter off to the first person to meet his challenge, but will kill anyone who fails. (In case this worries you, here's a spoiler--nobody dies). And while we're worrying, I should mention that the return of the hero's father as an unrecognizable old man at the end is a bit confusing--how much time is supposed to have passed? In any case, there is enough adventure and imagination and color here to hold the interest of most children. There's even a journey at sea, complete with storms and pirates. Like all good works of fantasy, this book opens up a world bigger than the story itself, leaving the reader wanting to explore the hidden realms between the pages.