Sugaring

Jos. A. Smith (Illustrator). Greenwillow Books 1996, Hardcover, 24 pages, $6.99

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Nora and her grandfather, with the help of two horses, tap the maple trees on their Vermont farm and boil the sap into syrup.  At one point Gramp leaves Nora alone, and she adds a drop of cream when the syrup boils up, preventing it from boiling out of the pan.  She also takes initiative to share sap and syrup with the horses.

The family members are dressed in modern clothes, but their practice is an old one, as is their equipment.  Haas’ writing is excellent, and Smith’s evocative watercolor paintings vividly render the crisp outdoor cold, which contrasts with the steamy indoor warmth in the boiling shed.  Nora’s generosity toward the horses is reminiscent of biblical admonitions for people to care for their animals that serve them (Deuteronomy 25:4; Proverbs 12:10).  The relational bond between grandparents and grandchild is nearly tangible, and Nora’s participation in this exciting grown-up work is an excellent example of the privileges that come with responsibility.  This is an excellent story for helping children understand how maple syrup is made.