<DIV>From the beginning of time, high above the hidden valley, Snow Leopard has sung the stars to life, the sun to rise, and the moon to wax and wane. She has woven words of protection to keep the hidden valley safe from the world and as she sings, a child lies dreaming the song down in the valley beneath. Time is passing, and Snow Leopard needs to find a singer who will follow her. But while she is searching, soldiers come looking for gold and slaves . . . Jackie Morris' poetic text weaves the spirit of nature into a universal myth for our time, drawing threads of transformation into a children's story glistening with wonder. Set against the stunning landscapes of the Himalayas, her superlative illustrations of the nearly extinct snow leopard offer a message of hope at a time when many of the world's wildest places are being worn away by human beings.</DIV>