The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Colum, Padraic (1881–1972).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said" by Padraic Colum is a children’s fantasy tale written in the early 20th century. The story centers around a young boy who possesses the unique ability to understand the language of birds, leading to adventures filled with magical creatures and enchanting landscapes. With rich illustrations complementing the narrative, the tale unfolds the boy’s interactions with various fowl and his quests inspired by their stories, merging nature's beauty with whimsical folklore. At the start of the story, the boy’s exceptional gift is introduced when he saves a bird from flying into the mouth of a cuckoo, an act that could lead to a catastrophe. The birds, grateful for his intervention, decide to teach him their language. The opening scenes depict a vibrant assembly of various birds discussing the implications of the boy’s ability. This sets the tone for a whimsical exploration of the natural world, filled with talking animals, magical elements, and magical adventures that aim to engage the imagination of young readers while imparting moral lessons. The narrative promises to take readers on a journey through captivating folklore, as the boy learns from the creatures around him.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Boy Who Knew What the Birds Said
- Author credits: Colum, Padraic (1881–1972)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Birds -- Fiction
- Fairy tales
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


