- With this extraordinary collection of stories - each featuring a bird as a central character - 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, Edward Lear, and more. Jane"s writing style simply glides along, revealing tales of wonder, magic and mystery.