This is a stunningly illustrated story told in the style of a traditional fairy tale. An old man who lives near a forest looks and wonders at a tree full of birds on the river bank. He longs for them to come near him but they always stay away. When the old man makes a magic flute, all the birds of the forest flock to him, accompanied by insects, lizards, and the fish from the lake. But magic has a way of tricking those who are unwary and the cunning of a cat soon gets the better of him. Originally published in 1984, this stunning edition of Holcroft's magical story has been newly illustrated by renowned American artist Leah Palmer Preiss.