I've read many illustrated books, but have not come across this fantastic illustrator. The artistry is breathtaking.

This is the story of an self-absorbed Chinese emperor who wants more, more, more. Living in a stunning palace with lush gardens outside and precious objects inside, he hears the story of the song of a nightingale that lives far away in a wooded area.

A small, poor girl who carries water buckets throughout the day to help her ailing mother, finds solace at taking a respite and listening to the song of the nightingale whose music elicits tears. When the emperor learns of this bird, he must possess it. the young girl helps to find the bird for the emperor and is given a place at the palace which enables her to further help her mother.
Telling his minions to find the bird and deliver it to him so that he may possess it, in his greed the nightingale is caged and is allowed out only to sing for the emperor three times a day.

Even then, the bird is not free and is tethered by ribbons so that even when he is out of the cage, he is bound to the emperor. When the emperor first hears the beauty of the singing, he too is brought to tears. Thus, this bird is a prized possession that only he may own. It is a sad life for the nightingale, but because is soul is pure he delights in providing joy to the emperor.

Not satisfied with what he owns, the emperor must have more, and then more and more again. When he receives a mechanical bird covered in precious gems, the new bird brings delight of outside beauty. However, the sound is mechanical and not as lyrically beautiful as that of the real-life bird. Soon, because he cannot see the beauty of the soul of the real bird, he covets the mechanical one and deems this one as better.

Soon, he banishes the real-life nightingale who happily flies back to his forested home where he delights all who happen on his path. Now, the mechanical bird is given a coveted place by the bedside of the emperor. Singing thirty times a day, the compulsive ruler believes what is not real is best. From overuse, the springs in the mechanical possession are broken. Thus, this is a story of beauty that radiates from the soul, and not from mechanization.

The emperor becomes very ill, and soon visitor of death arrives at his bedside. Images of faces of those he has harmed haunt him. Near death, the tiny, lovely bird returns to visit him and provides the gift of restoration of his soul.

The emperor realizes his selfishness and now the bird can freely visit at his own choice of time.

There is a wonderful history to this tale written in 1843. At the time, the famous opera singer Jenny Lind, called "the Swedish Nightingale," delights many. This book was written as a tribute to her.

As the descriptive text of the book notes, the Chinese emperor learns humility from the soul and generous giving of spirit of a tiny grey bird.

I will keep this book in my collection. The illustrations are simply marvelous, and like the tiny nightingale with the beautiful soul, these illustrations delight and touch those who behold them.

I give this book a resounding five stars ( )