Taka, a new boy in Jeremy's class, has just moved to the neighborhood from Japan. At first Jeremy is not successful in befriending Taka, but Jeremy's mother encourages him to keep trying. She likens Jeremy's efforts to the thawing of winter ice and assures him that Taka will eventually welcome his interest. As the friendship develops, Taka demonstrates the art of paper folding, and Jeremy learns how to write haiku, Japanese poetry. Instructions for two simple crafts are included at the end of the book.