3 h 27 minAudiobook11 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at costPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
What if your new friend were an ancient bird of fire—and someone wanted to claim him for science?
David Bigelow is a curious, polite boy whose world grows wider when he meets the Phoenix. Proud, learned and a little vain, this bird of legend becomes his teacher, guide and friend. In Edward Ormondroyd's gentle fantasy, their travels lead among mythical creatures, each with odd manners, troubles and wisdom of its own.
But not everyone sees the Phoenix as a friend. Professor Fell wants to study the bird and claim it for science, putting David's loyalty to the test. Alongside the quiet humor and strange encounters, the story asks what it means to understand someone unlike yourself—and what courage a friendship can ask of you.
What you’ll discover
- An unlikely pair Follow a curious boy and an ancient bird as their friendship opens a wider world.
- A wonderfully proud guide Meet a learned Phoenix whose vanity brings wit to his role as David's teacher.
- Legends with their own troubles Travel among mythical beings whose peculiar manners make each meeting a fresh pleasure.
- Loyalty put to the test Discover what friendship demands when Professor Fell wants to claim the Phoenix for science.
- Adventure at a gentler pace Enjoy quiet humor and thoughtful moments in a story with a warm heart.
Who will love it
This book is for readers who love talking animals and creatures from myth, for lovers of gentle comedy and swift flights across the world, and for anyone who has dreamed of a friend with wings.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A boy climbs toward a hidden bird
- A practical education begins with wings
- The Scientist arrives and a Plan forms
- Snares, sparks and a very loud gift
- A perfect day in a forgotten valley
- How the story is told and what it means
Who’s who
- DavidA boy new to the mountain who is kind, brave and quick with ideas, and who wants a friend and adventures.
- The PhoenixA vain, formal, nearly five hundred year old bird who wants peace, good company and cookies, and takes charge of David's education.
- The ScientistA tall, bald, thick-glassed hunter who wants to capture the Phoenix to win fame for himself.
- Aunt AmyDavid's practical aunt, who bakes the cookies, fears landslides and keeps a frying pan ready for burglars.
- The Sea MonsterA huge, shy creature of the Pacific with nervous whiskers, who only wants to be left in peace with its buried treasure.
- The BansheeAn old Irish hag who has quit wailing to run a profitable shop of potions, spells and one very special Wail.
- The FaunA cheeky, hoofed boy of the forgotten valley who loves racing, dancing and play, and teases the Phoenix.
Formats and delivery
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- Large-print eBook
- The same book in bigger, clearer type, from the first page.
- Audiobook
- 3 h 27 min, complete, read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 11 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
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Read and hear David e la Fenice in 25 languages and switch at any time. Or read two side by side, paragraph by paragraph: the way to learn a language with a book you love.
David e la Fenice
by Edward Ormondroyd · 1957
A boy on a new mountain meets a vain, kind Phoenix who plans his education and must outwit a Scientist.
Easy read2–5 hours to read25 languages
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In short
David and the Phoenix is a fantasy novel for young readers by Edward Ormondroyd, told in ten short chapters, each with a title that begins with the words In Which. It follows David, a boy whose family has just moved into a house at the foot of a mountain.
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
A boy climbs toward a hidden bird
The story opens on the day David's family reaches their new house. Before he goes inside, he walks to the backyard with his eyes on the ground, saving his first look for the right moment. Then he raises his head and sees the mountain, tall, blue and smiling. David has never seen one before, and he feels sure it has waited years for him. In his mind he hears a whisper, an invitation to come and climb.
But there is a house to unpack. The moving van waits out front, Dad pushes chairs around without a plan, and Mother says the rug should have gone down first. Aunt Amy hunts for the ironing board, and baby Beckie roars for her bottle. The afternoon slips away, so David must wait. At supper he asks to climb the next day. Aunt Amy mutters about landslides, Mother says be careful in a doubtful voice, and Dad sees no reason to say no.
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What is David and the Phoenix about?
It tells of a boy named David who climbs the mountain beside his new home and befriends the Phoenix, a legendary bird. The Phoenix gives him an education through adventures, while a Scientist tries to trap it.
Who is the Phoenix in David and the Phoenix?
The Phoenix is a huge, bright-feathered bird from legend, nearly five hundred years old. It is vain, polite, fond of long words and sugar cookies, and braver and kinder than it likes to admit.
Is David and the Phoenix a children's book?
Yes, it is written for young readers, with a clear story, short chapters and a lively, funny voice. Its warmth and wit also suit older readers and families who like reading aloud together.
The author
Edward Ormondroyd
1925–2025 · American children's writer
Edward Ormondroyd (1925–2025) was an American writer of children’s books. He was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, and lived in the United States. His first book, David and the Phoenix, was published in 1957. He also wrote Time at the Top, published in 1963.
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