From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6?Children won't ever think of cranberries in the same way after reading this book. Beginning with a short history of ibimi and their importance to the Algonquin people and Native Americans today, Burns discusses the cranberry's growth cycle and the commercial processes used to produce them. The story of the plant's cycle is told through a visit with two Wisconsin families. Readers see the bogs being planted, the plants blossoming and fruiting, and the harvest, as well as learn about the labor and technology that is necessary to insure that large numbers of plump, deep-crimson berries are produced for the expanding market. The bright, well-chosen, full-color photographs and black-and-white reproductions enhance the clear, informative text. A solid biology lesson as well as a vivid picture of the hard work and planning that goes into producing successful crops in the '90s.?Steve Matthews, Foxcroft School, Middleburg, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3-5. An award-winning author-photographer team (Sugaring Season: Making Maple Syrup, 1990) has produced another appealing photo book, this one about cranberry farming in America. A brief history of the "bog ruby," as it was called by Cape Codders, reveals the berry's versatility and importance to the Native Americans and the pilgrims. A tour of two cranberry farms in Wisconsin follows, with Burns describing in clear, concise prose the activities that take place throughout the growing season. Crisp, attractive photographs may serve both as visual aids for learning and as aesthetically pleasing views of the life and times of cranberry growers and their families. Use this in conjunction with Gemming's Cranberry Book (1983), which contains cranberry recipes, and Jaspersohn's Cranberries (1991), which offers younger or less able readers similar information with much less text. Lauren Peterson
