title: Why Do Birds Sing? (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3)
author:  Joan Holub 
description: The reason I'm a children's book author/illustrator today is that I have a lot of determination. I practiced drawing and revised my stories over and over because I wanted nothing more than to do what I'm doing now--writing and illustrating children's books.
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  ![](Images/image00363.jpeg)
  
  for
  
  “big sister”
  
  Jean Easthope
  
  E-Book Extra: Colleen McCullough On…
  
  There is a legend
  
  One: 1915 1917 Meggie
  
  1
  
  2
  
  Two: 1921 1928 Ralph
  
  3
  
  4
  
  5
  
  6
  
  7
  
  Three: 1929 1932 Paddy
  
  8
  
  9
  
  Four: 1933 1938 Luke
  
  10
  
  11
  
  12
  
  13
  
  Five: 1938 1953 Fee
  
  14
  
  15
  
  16
  
  Six: 1954 1965 Dane
  
  17
  
  18
  
  Seven: 1965 1969 Justine
  
  19
  
  About the Author
  
  Praise for _The Thorn Birds_
  
  By Colleen McCullough
  
  Copyright
  
  About the Publisher
  
  >  _There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more
  > sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it
  > leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has
  > found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon
  > the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to
  > outcarol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the
  > price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in Hi