Caldecott Medal winner Trina Schart Hyman's lovely paintings quietly relate one year in the active life of four contemporary children who live in their extended family somewhere in rural New England. They experience the Fourth of July, an August heat wave at the beach, colorful autumn leaves, and winter snow. Hyman's paintings perfectly accompany John Updike's twelve "calendar" poems - one of each for each month of the year. An earlier edition of these poems was published for children in 1965, an elegant edition long out of print illustrated by Wisconsin artist Nancy Ekholm Burkert. Updike has made a number of changes in his poems for this new edition. Occasionally famous authors from world of adult literature write well for children - not often - but Updike hits it just right in his friendly observations about the seaons. (Ages 5-11)

"...This read-along is a richly sensory experience.... sound effects of chirping birds, tromping feet, lowing cows, whirring insects, exploding fireworks, pounding surf, buzzing bees, barking dogs, honking geese, and tolling bells create their own aural metaphors that echo the poet's verse and clearly reflect the seasons." -Booklist