MAPLE SYRUP SEASON

From breaking out a trail to the sugar bush and tapping the trees, to boiling the sap and tasting “sugar on snow,” Purmell treats readers to a look at the work that goes into making maple syrup, a tradition in the Brockwell family. The focus truly is on the family and their coming together in this special way each year. Everyone has a job to do, no matter small they might be, and the whole family participates in the entire process, but especially in the eating—hot maple syrup poured over snow becomes a delicious taffy treat. Weber’s gouache illustrations have a childlike feel to them, which suits the family-centered text perfectly. Young readers will enjoy the antics of the forest and farm animals that have their own part to play in the sap harvesting. Accurate portrayals of the sugar house and syrup-making equipment will help those readers not fortunate enough to experience the maple fog of the sugar house for themselves. Backmatter includes one legend of how maple syrup was discovered, the different grades of syrup, some facts about sap and maple trees and a glossary. A necessary purchase for any library with pancake-eating patrons. (Picture book/nonfiction. 3-8)