A story-within-a-story, as a brother-sister pair listen to a storytelling in a park. The story is that of a Persian king and queen who put their long-awaited baby out on a hillside when he turns out to have white hair; the boy, Prince Zal, is rescued by the Simorgh, a phoenix, who raises him along with her own chicks and teaches him everything he needs to know. Sixteen years later, the king returns to the spot where his son was left to place a memorial, and sees the boy still alive; he begs his forgiveness and the boy returns home with him. Brilliant jewel-toned illustrations accompany the text, and back matter includes information about the instruments that play each character in the storytelling (a la Peter and the Wolf). ( )