last minute gift idea: writer, illustrater, filmmaker Peter Sis (any of his books!)

Yes!  I charmed it and it arrived!  The Conference of the Birds by Peter Sis is everything I'd hoped for and more.  Consider it for your bird- and book-loving friends this year.

And talk about a sensorily satisfying reading experience: even the texture of the pages is a tactile luxury. 
What is it?  Sis's illustrated re-telling of the classic twelfth century Persian epic poem that's a sort of allegory or parable about life's journey and spiritual transcendence.  There's really no need to say more, as The Conference of the Birds is truly a visual road one should travel directly.  And in this season of over-abundance and sensory overload, it will be a welcome respite of peace that one can certainly experience in one sitting, and then return to many times over.

I'd recommend it to anyone who admires mythic storytelling, haunting illustrations inviting many explorations, or birds.

This is a book that might appeal more to teens or adults, but Sis has also crafted gorgeously illustrated books suitable for younger readers as well.  All of them are worth exploring.

MFB, and I don't even know the guy!
L



Here's what it looks like.  Now go get it
at your local bookseller or indiebound.org
or betterworldbooks.



And here's the one that got me hooked on Sis:
a gorgeous visual homage to the life and legacy
of Charles Darwin.

And another (about the subtitle).

And another (about Galileo).

See what I mean?  They're all good and giftable for most any adult - or sophisticated younger person - on your list.