PICTURE STORYBOOKS. A black swan escapes from a cage and flies away to another land, where villagers call out, urging her to settle with them. She is welcomed warmly and stays. The people believe that birds bring messages and each year build nests beside the lake. They ask the swan to incubate an egg, which has been found in one of the nests. Some days later, the ground shakes and everyone is afraid. The swan asks them to leave their valley, but the villagers say that they should stay to look after the egg. The swan grows more and more agitated, and forces them to follow her to safety. A volcano erupts in their old valley, but the villagers are safely out of reach. Eventually the egg hatches, and there is much happiness. Ages 4+.
