The Conference of the Birds
A flock of birds led by the wise hoopoe sets out to find their king, in a rhyming audiobook of a classic parable retold by Alexis York Lumbard.
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What is The Conference of the Birds about?
The Conference of the Birds is an audiobook for children that retells a classic parable about a flock of birds who set off on a long journey to find their king.
On a moonless night, the birds gather in sorrow because they have no king. The hoopoe, with a prayer written on her beak, tells them that their king, the Simurgh, is waiting for them, and offers to lead them to him. On the way, each bird meets its own test. The duck would rather stay in his pond, the parrot is weighed down by her jewels, the tiny finch is terrified of a storm, the partridge grows impatient, and the proud hawk races ahead to be first and gets lost in the mist. Each time, the hoopoe answers in verse, urging the bird not to let its weakness spoil this golden chance.
At the top of the mountain on the holy island there is no throne, only a lake surrounded by snow. The hoopoe explains that the King they have come to meet is not a bird but the King of all the heavens, and that a heart must be clean of sin to reflect His light. As the sun lights up the lake, in the book's words, the birds find themselves in the loving embrace of God, their true King.
The book is retold by Alexis York Lumbard and illustrated by Demi, with a foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and it is read by Rania Kurdi. It is about 11 minutes long and music-free. It teaches children to overcome laziness, love of possessions, fear, impatience and pride.
What your child will learn
- Laziness, love of things, fear, impatience and pride can hold us back from what matters most.
- We should not laugh at others when they are afraid, because everyone has a weakness.
- Humility means letting go of the wish to be first or best.
- A heart kept clean of sin is ready to know Allah.
Talk about it afterwards
- Which bird was held back by her jewels, and what did she do with them?
- Why was the owl wrong to laugh at the finch?
- What did the hawk learn when he got lost in the mist?
- What did the birds find at the top of the mountain?
- Which of the birds are you most like, and why?
Words to know
- Hoopoe
- A bird with a tall crest of feathers on its head. In this story she leads the other birds.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Conference of the Birds about?
A flock of birds travels to find their king, led by the hoopoe, and each bird must overcome a fault on the way. At the end they learn that their true King is Allah.
How long is The Conference of the Birds?
About 11 minutes.
Does The Conference of the Birds have music?
No. It is music-free.
