The Sugaring-Off Party

A French-Canadian grandmother prepares her grandson for his first maple-sugaring party by describing the one she first enjoyed sixty years earlier, as well as the process of tapping the maple trees and making syrup and taffy.

Kindergarten-Grade 4?The day before Paul's first maple-sugaring party, he asks his grandmother to tell him about her first sugaring-off, long ago. Grand-mere describes the family's sleigh journey to Tante Loulou's sugar bush, the songs and games, the feasting and dancing, and the delicious maple syrup candy. London's evocative text perfectly re-creates the thrill and excitement of this coming-of-spring ritual. Pelletier's folk-art paintings, reminiscent of Grandma Moses's work, match the nostalgic tone of this story set in Canada. Children will enjoy the bright colors and pore over the details, but they may question why young Grand-mere, who describes herself as "tiny," is the same size as her older sisters. A glossary at the end of the book defines the French-Canadian terms and gives pronunciations (though place names and words used in the illustrations are not included). Kathryn Lasky's Sugaring Time (Macmillan, 1983) and Diane Burns's Sugaring Season (Carolrhoda, 1990) are for older readers and concentrate on the mechanics of the maple-syrup process. The Sugaring-Off Party is a joyful celebration.?Ann W. Moore, Guilderland Public Library, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Tapping into the experiences of his wife's French-Canadian family, London (Let's Go, Froggy; The Owl Who Became the Moon) infuses this tale with warmth and authenticity. Paul snuggles on the sofa with Grand-mere and hears the story of her first sugaring-off party-a fete celebrating the spring flow of sap from the maple trees. London, with a poet's sensitivity for nuance and atmosphere, captures in prose the very essence of happy family rituals. Grand-mere tells of snow fights, vats of sap boiling on the wood stove, rich food, dancing, ornery cousins and sleigh rides. "You must come back next year," Grand-mere recalls being told by a favorite aunt. "It's a tradition, n'est-ce pas? And we must keep our traditions alive." This sweet appeal is echoed in Pelletier's distinctive folk art. Using thick, glowing oils to build detailed compositions, the artist evokes the merriment and innocent mischief of a finger-licking good time. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 5-8. Sugaring-off parties, a little-known French Canadian tradition, are a popular way for people who live near maple-sugar forests to celebrate the coming of spring. On the eve of Paul's first such party, his grandmother recalls attending her first celebration 60 years earlier. She describes the food and festivities in vivid detail, saving for last her recollection of the best treat of all: la tire, the maple-taffy snowsicle made by pouring sticky syrup over snow. Pelletier's striking folk paintings capture all the warmth and activity of the day, contrasting bright primary colors and darker forest tones against the brilliant white snow. This charming slice-of-life story takes young readers on a fun-filled adventure and offers them a glimpse of an unusual cultural tradition. A glossary of French terms used in the text rounds things out. Lauren Peterson