To a young Neanderthal boy, the world is full of incredible adventures -- and unexpected encounters, when he meets a human boy for the first time in this stunning, sparsely worded picture book. A prehistoric Neanderthal family arrives at their new home, a cave, after a long journey. But their young boy's imagination is seized by the beauty and promise of the valley below, and he sets out to explore all that the valley has to offer along, with his place in it. This wild, prehistoric world is full of beauty and wonder, including big and little "hairies" (woolly mammoths). But across a river, the boy spots another boy, a Homo sapiens . He's dressed differently, but so much else is the same. The two share a moment of recognition before the stranger and his family depart, leaving a lasting impression on the Neanderthal boy -- one that will have effects reaching throughout history. This picture book, sparingly written and expansively illustrated, imagines an encounter between Homo sapiens and our Neanderthal cousins based on the expanding understanding of prehistoric peoples.

It will inspire young readers to see the beauty in discovery and the natural wonders of the prehistoric world as well as our shared humanity. Includes back matter with information about prehistoric life and Neanderthals as well as a bibliography.