With the first ice -- a skim so thin, it breaks when touched -- one family's winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass, and then ice too thick to crush with the heels of boots. Then suddenly, ice that is ready for skating! [This book] takes a literary skate over field ice and streambed, winter lake and icy pasture, on frozen garden, through sleeping orchard, and beyond. The first ice, the second ice, the third ice ... perfect ice ... counting ice ... the last ice. Twelve kinds of ice are carved into twenty vignetts, each exulting the beauty of ice and ice skating that comes year after year. --Page 4 of cover.