David and the Phoenix

The Phoenix has been around since the beginning of time, but it still can't resist a good joke. When young David moves to a house at the foot of a great mountain, he expects a boring summer. Then he hears a voice coming from the rocks, reciting Spanish verbs in a highly irritated tone. The Phoenix has returned to its ancient nest, and it needs a student. What follows is a summer of impossible flights, narrow escapes from a very determined Scientist who wants to capture the mythical bird, and the kind of education that no school could ever offer. The Phoenix teaches David about courage, curiosity, and the art of being truly alive. First published in 1957, this is the rare children's book that never talks down to its readers, instead offering them a friend who happens to be a bird of fire.