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.

Bear Goes Sugaring

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.

A Winter Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom

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

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

Review: Super Boba Cafe

Super Boba Café By Nidhi Chanani New York: Amulet Books, 2023. Comics. 215 pages. 14-year-old Aria is excited to spend her summer in San Francisco getting quality time with her Nainai. She loves helping at her grandmother's Super Boba Café. But she can't help but notice that her grandmother is acting strange and secretive. She refuses to let Aria into the kitchen at all and she disappears at the same time each night without telling Aria where she goes. Meanwhile, Aria is eager to drum up more business for Super Boba Café. She gets a major windfall when the shop cat, Bao, surprises them by having kittens, and Aria realizes this is a major social media opportunity. She knows this will help Nainai's shop, but she is apprehensive to get back on social media after a terrible cyberbullying experience she had back home. As the shop starts to get busier, Nainai is more and more anxious about her secret project. This prompts Aria to investigate with help from her Nainai's neighb...

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