(2) PS Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Waiting for spring can wear on one's patience, but readers may find comfort sharing the burden with Ethan and his (apparently single-parent) father, who go through their daily routines looking forward to warmer days, shorter nights, and running sap in their maple trees. Still, Ethan has quite a wait yet, and as time passes, the illustrations show the stark contrasts of dark skies and long shadows with indoor lights and white snow. And, week after week, Ethan faces Sunday breakfast sans maple syrup, while the nights remain long and the days cold. A loose tooth provides a break in the monotony but ultimately creates yet another thing to wait for. Through muted colors with pops of red and well-considered details, artfully placed illustrations ranging from spot art to double-page spreads capture the relentlessness of winter, the budding of spring, and the easy comfort of this father-and-son relationship. Crisp text supplies just the right pace for the story and clearly explains the sugaring process without disrupting the flow of the narrative. The subtle visual cues that the season is slowly changing become more evident with every page-turn until the sweet and satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(3) K-3 How Is It Made? series. Close-up color photos illustrate each step in the creation of the titular items, from raw material (sugar, nectar, sap) to final product. Two or three simple sentences add very basic but level-appropriate explanation to each spread's picture; curious young readers may seek out more substantive information. A few additional facts are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Is It Made? titles: How Is Cotton Candy Made?, How Is Honey Made?, How Is Maple Syrup Made?, and How Is Root Beer Made?.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kathryn Mitter. Kelsey is excited for sap run season. She assists her dad through the harvesting process; the event requires a lot of waiting, but the story makes it feel like a days-long party with many helpers. The writing can be syrupy ("singing their ting-a-ling drip, drop song"), but in the eye-catching illustrations, bright winter clothes pop against soft, snowy forest backgrounds. Additional facts appended.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(4) K-3 Adapted by C. A. Krones. In this story, adapted from a TV teleplay, George and readers learn how maple syrup is made: from finding the right kind of tree to collecting and boiling the sap. While the text and illustrations are poor substitutes for the original books, the straightforward information has kid-appeal. The beloved character's fans will enjoy the lesson. Activity and quiz are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Swan. In another seasonal concept celebration by this team (Cheers for a Dozen Ears) a family visits the local maple sugar farm to watch Mr. Sweet boil sap before they all eat pancakes at his farmhouse. Each spread features one or two colors (e.g., "pink cheeks," "silver pail," "amber syrup") that are highlighted in the festive but lumbering rhymes and pleasing collage-like illustrations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. The Brockwell family--grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles--come together to tap their maple trees. The project of turning clear sap into maple syrup is hard work that demands the attention of all family members, and Weber's folk art–inspired illustrations demonstrate how special this annual get-together is. Readers interested in the process will lap up the "maple syrup lore" back matter. Glos.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. Color photographs and simple texts characterize these books designed for beginning readers. Children interested in the topics will find most of the illustrations helpful; those wanting depth of information will need to rely on other sources. Glos., ind. Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Maple Tree to Syrup and From Fruit to Jelly.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Seth and his brother, Ethan, are overjoyed to finally be old enough to help with the sugaring on their small Vermont family farm. This colorfully illustrated tale documents the many strenuous yet rewarding steps in the sugaring-off process. While some of the dialogue seems artificial, the story provides an accurate introduction to this New England tradition.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jim Daly. When the spring thaw begins, a girl and her grandfather go out to tap the maples, and soon a crowd of family and friends gathers to help with the work--and fun--of making syrup. Together they collect sap, haul firewood, clean and fill jars, and eat the new sugar poured out on snow. Chall's evocative descriptions and Daly's intimate oil paintings capture the warmth of a centuries-old tradition.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli