There's a visual surprise, a chance to explore a new way of seeing, on every page of this exquisite picture book. Simple in format, with a single word per page and primitive-style paintings of everyday items in a country setting, this is a first word book for the very young. But it's also much more. Watchful readers will note that each turn of a page reveals a new perspective on what has come before--and a hint of what's to follow. The effect invites imaginative storytelling.

Alison Jay's folk-inspired crackle-glazed paintings evoke a world that is at once ever-changing and orderly. The startlingly beautiful images transport readers through a day and, at the same time, through the seasons of the year. From a sun-filled hillside on a new spring day to the stoic, contented snowman of winter, the dreamlike world presented here conjures up a veritable feast of imagery for readers of all ages.