• Age: 7
• Grade: 2

Deep in the rain forests of Brazil lives the Uirapurú, a bird renowned in legend for having the most beautiful and the strangest song in all the world. Those who hear the Uirapurú's song can never forget it. Many go in search of the bird and many never return. In her version of the legend, P.K. Page tells the story of a group of mischievous boys who set off into the forest to catch the bird with nets and bows and arrows. During their adventures they meet an old man with a flute who has spent his life trying to mimic the Uirapurú's song and a maiden of the moon surrounded by all the creatures of the night. In her tale of mystery and transformation, P.K. Page creates a story as beautiful and as haunting as the song of the bird about which she writes. A story superbly illustrated by Kristi Bridgeman. A story you will never forget.

P. K. Page has written some of the best poems published in Canadaover the last five decades. In addition to winning the Governor General's awardfor poetry in 1957, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in1999. She is the author of more than a dozen books, including tenvolumes of poetry, a novel, selected short stories, three books for children,and a memoir, entitled Brazilian Journal, based on her extended stay in Brazilwith her late husband Arthur Irwin, who served as the Canadian Ambassador therefrom 1957 to 1959. A two-volume edition of Page's collected poems, The Hidden Room (Porcupine's Quill), was published in 1997. In addition to writing, Page paints, under the name P. K. Irwin. She has mounted one-woman showsin Mexico and Canada. Her work has also been exhibited in various group shows, andis represented in the permanent collections of the National Gallery ofCanada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Victoria Art Gallery, amongothers. P. K. Page was born in England and brought up on the Canadian prairies. She has livedin the Maritimes and in Montreal. After years abroad inAustralia, Brazil and Mexico, she now makes her permanent home in Victoria, British Columbia.

P.K. Page's profile page

Uirapurú: Based on a Brazilian Legend

In this haunting retelling of a Brazilian rainforest legend, the renowned P.K. Page weaves a lyrical and profound tale about the magical song of a rare little bird, the Uirapurú. “It is said” that when the last bird’s song dies, the world as we know it, will end. So an old man tries to copy the song with his flute, some boys attempt to catch the bird and a mysterious moon maiden shoots the bird with her bow and arrow. The transformation and climax which follow are strikingly captured by the illustrator in rich jungle colours. The folktale is enhanced by the warm, folkloric renderings of actual rainforest creatures and foliage.

Multi-award winning author and poet, P.K. Page, won the Governor General’s Award for Poetry. This book was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature — Illustration.