The Painter and the Wild Swans: 9

Teiji is a Japanese artist unequaled in his ability to capture the glory of nature. But one day while painting, he's seized by the beauty of a flock of white swans; his own work seems meaningless in comparison. He buys a boat and follows the birds to Siberia, but it capsizes. Teiji freezes to death. He sees the swans for the last time and realizes that seeing and experiencing their beauty matters more than painting them. Finally, Teiji turns into a swan and flies off with the flock. Children will surely respond to this exotic tale. But most remarkable of all is the artwork: renderings that contain a rich blend of pathos and beauty that perfectly portrays Teiji's consuming obsession. In each one, the ocean, the mountaintops, the clouds or Teiji himself is being transformed into the graceful white birds. (4-8)