Skip to main content

If You Like...Maple Syrup

The end of January is the time of year when maple syrup farmers begin to tap maple trees to access the sugary sap inside. As the weather starts to warm up, the sap inside the trees flows out through the tap to the buckets waiting to collect it below. The sap is then distilled into delicious syrup we know and love. As much as 40 gallons of sap are distilled to make a single gallon of syrup! Break out the pancakes and check out these books about maple syrup during the sugaring season.


Almost Time
By Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
New York: Clarion Books, 2020. Picture Book.

Ethan can't wait until it's time for the weather to warm up so he and his dad can begin the process of harvesting and making their maple syrup. Having to wait for his loose tooth to fall out doesn't make the process any easier. Readers will relate to Ethan's eagerness as he learns that although being patient is difficult, the rewards are worth it.



By Maxwell Eaton III
New York: Holiday House, 2019. Informational. 

Bear takes the reader through every step of the and old fashioned process to make their own maple syrup, from tapping the trees to distilling the sap. Bear's humorous companions of Squirrel and Dog make comments that will keep readers entertained.


Maple Syrup Season
By Ann Purmell
Illustrated by Jill Weber
New York: Holiday House, 2008. Picture Book.

Grandpa teaches the entire Brockwell family to contribute in the harvest of maple syrup on their family farm. Information at the end of the book explains terminology and includes more information about maple syrup.


Caillou at the Sugar Shack
By Carine Laforest
Illustrated by Mario Allard
Montreal, QC: Chouette, 2018. Picture Book.

Caillou and his family go visit a ranch, where their friend Jonas shows Caillou how sap is collected and teaches Caillou how to make a new treat, maple toffee.


By Angela Ferraro-Fanning
Illustrated by AnneliesDraws
Beverly, MA: Ivy Kids, 2022. Informational.

This collection has a number of nature-based crafts, activities, and projects to be done together with children. There is even a section on harvesting tree sap and a recipe for maple syrup candies!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...

If You Like... Folktales

Folktales have long carried the wisdom, imagination, and traditions of cultures around the world by passing stories from one generation to the next. They often weave together important life lessons with magical creatures or daring adventures. Books, like the ones on this list, bring these age-old tales to life for today’s readers. Each story is rooted in its own cultural heritage and offers a glimpse into the values of the people who first told them. They remind us that storytelling is a powerful way to connect us across time and place. The Three-Year Tumble By Dayeon Auh New York: NorthSouth Books, 2025. Picture Book. Based on a beloved Korean folktale, a superstitious grandfather and his thoughtful granddaughter turn the legend of Misfortune Mountain on its head. According to the myth, anyone who falls down the mountain has only 3 years left to live! Together, this family learns how changing your mindset can make a positive impact on your life. The Salt Princess By Anoosha Syed New Y...

Five Faves: Witchy Intermediates

Hee hee hee! Hello, my pretties! Here are five short, illustrated chapter books for the season of the witch - some sweet, some spooky, all magical.  The Knitting Witch Written by Norma Kassirer Illustrated by Mark Richardson. Oakland, California : The Collective Book Studio, 2024. Intermediate. 88 pages. Outrageously spoiled Ivy Lou meets her match when a witch appears and tries to trick her into becoming her child. Ivy Lou must unravel the witch's dark magic and save her parents. A modern classic in the register of Roald Dahl, with mischief, humor and spookiness. Witchycakes: Sweet Magic  Written by Kara LaReau Illustrated by Ariane Moreira. New York : Random House Children's Books, 2025. Intermediate. 76 pages. Witchycakes  owes a lot to  Kiki's Delivery Service : a cute newbie witch making and delivering baked goods to the residents of their dreamy seaside town. It's cozy and sweet with lots of glowy illustrations. New Girl: Diary of an Accidental Witch Written by...