THE SWEETEST SEASON
by Elissa Kerr ; illustrated by Zoe Saunders
A child describes the process of making maple syrup, from tree tapping to distribution, in this rhyming picture-book debut.
As snow melts during a warm day, a White child with long, curly red hair springs from bed, ready to tackle the process of making maple syrup with Dad, who’s also White. The two first find the correct trees to tap: “With branches and buds arranged in pairs, / I’d recognize that tree anywhere,” notes the child. After Dad drills the hole for the hollow metal spike, or “spile,” they wait until the sap begins to flow. After a quick taste test, the pair collect enough sap to take to their sugar shack and process, carefully boiling off the water to thicken the syrup. A group of neighbors of various ages and skin tones arrives to share in the bounty. The rhythm of Kerr’s lines sometimes misses or adds a beat as she straightforwardly distills a complex process into simple steps and terms. Saunders’ cartoonlike illustrations feature occasional wildlife, including a squirrel, and humans in soft pastel hues, presenting just the right amount of detail regarding the sugaring process. Backmatter features a longer explanation of syrup-making, including when to tap trees. Overall, it’s a great introduction for young readers who may have only encountered syrup in stores.
An accessible guide to a harvest tradition.