A small child's affection for his world is beautifully expressed in this appealing story about Jay, a young farm boy who loved the sights and sounds of everything around him.

One day, on his way home with the cattle, Jay finds a cricket and puts it in his pocket. He makes a home for Cricket in a strainer, he feeds him, and every night Cricket fiddles for Jay while they wait for the summer's end. Then, on the first day of school, Jay takes Cricket to class.

With warm understanding, Miss Caudill shows how Jay learns to share Cricket with others as the love and loyalty of a young child's special, private world are carried into the larger outside world. Evaline Ness has contributed truly distinctive illustrations for this picture book that any young reader is sure to take to his heart.

From the dust jacket