Maple Syrup Season
By Ann Purmell, Illustrated by Jill Weber
Maple syrup time is always a welcome time in the northern states and Canada, as a harbinger of spring. Grandpa leads the way as his family works together to tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup. Pancake and waffle-loving readers will eat up this process picture book with a behind-the-scenes look at making a much-loved treat.
Sap’s rising! It’s officially maple syrup season at the Brockwell family farm. There will be a lot to do, from hammering spouts into the maple trees to gathering, pouring, and boiling the sap. But the whole family will help, everyone has a job to do, no matter small they might be, and when all of the work is done, there will be a sweet and tasty treat.
The process of making maple syrup is indeed arduous and time-consuming. Beginning with tapping the trees, collecting the sap, and transporting it to the sugarhouse through to boiling and straining, grading and bottling, the whole process is fascinating. The final activity is making “sugar on snow,” which young readers in snowy states will surely want to try, if they haven’t already. The author should be applauded for showing each step of the process to readers and discussing details like differences among the various Grades of syrup. Helpful facts and a maple syrup glossary follow the text, providing interesting tidbits about maple syrup and even a legend of how it was discovered. While the focus is primarily on making maple syrup, this book also presents the concepts of team work, patience and cooperation. A sweet story that both informs and whets the appetite for pancakes.
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