Over the years, a little sapling has grown into a big birch tree, standing right next to a family's house. It has a sturdy trunk and branches full of leaves.

For the birch, the year is full of changes: the warmth of summer; the wistful farewells of autumn; the chill of winter; and the miracle of growth in spring. The birch is often the center of life for the children playing in the yard, but sometimes the birch is left all alone.

In this book, each month depicts a vignette in the life of the birch and its surroundings. The tree and the family are in an ongoing, delicate interaction—from one day, one month, and one year, to another.