Sugar on Snow [Hardcover]

Nan Parson Rossiter (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In this cozy picture book-about a modern-day family in New England collecting sap to make maple syrup- two young brothers take pride in finally being able to help with every step of the sugaring-off process. Nan Rossiter's beautiful illustrations are infused with the light of early spring, and there are woodland animals and birds to spot on every page. An afterword explores the legendary beginnings of sap gathering and broadens the usefulness of the book.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-An overview of a special spring harvest in the Vermont woods. Seth and Ethan help their parents collect sap and make maple syrup. Seth is particularly excited about his chance to drive the small tractor that pulls the collecting tank to the sugar bush. From rising at dawn to eating fresh maple syrup drizzled on snow late in the evening, the boys pitch in with the tasks required to turn maple sap into a golden treat. The afterword summarizes a Native American legend about maple syrup and briefly describes current technology that simplifies sap collection. The illustrations of wildlife and the woods are clear and engaging. Each text block is accompanied by a close-up of a bird or animal, often enlarged from the scene on the facing page. However, the people have a static, somewhat idealized quality, as though posing for tableaux in an outdoor clothing catalog. Less nostalgic than Marsha Wilson Chall's Sugarbush Spring (Lothrop, 2000) and Jessie Haas's Sugaring (Greenwillow, 1996), Rossiter's book demonstrates how a family can contribute to a process that generates its own sweet rewards.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Nan Parson Rossiter is the author-illustrator of Rugby & Rosie and The Way Home.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton (January 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525469109
• ISBN-13: 978-0525469100
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nan Parson Rossiter is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and the author-illustrator of several books for children, including Rugby & Rosie, winner of Nebraska's Golden Sower Award, The Way Home, and Sugar on Snow. Nan's newest children's book, The Fo'c'sle, Henry Beston's Outermost House, will be published in April, 2012.

Nan is also the author of the women's fiction novel, The Gin & Chowder Club. She hopes that readers who enjoyed Gin & Chowder (or those who haven't discovered it yet!) will look for the same characters in the Christmas anthology, Making Spirits Bright. Nan's new novel, Words Get in the Way, a tender story about a single mom whose young son has autism, will be released in April, 2012.

Nan lives in rural Connecticut with her husband, two handsome sons, and a big yellow Lab named Mulligan.

To learn more visit www.nanrossiter.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A PLEASING READ., February 5, 2010

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sugar on Snow (Hardcover)

This is one of those works that I classify as a very nice little read and is certainly worthwhile, but at the same time, can not get overly excited about it. I not the kids, while they enjoy it, do not go back and give it a second read as they do so many books. That being said though....

This is a rather simple story of a family in Vermont, a modern family, harvesting the sap of the Maple tree during sugaring time. The interaction between the husband, wife and tow young boys is quite good and the story line, while uncomplicated...to the point of being a bit simplistic, is good and you get a warm fuzzy feeling as you read the story. The book does give a very nice overview of the sugaring process as would be found on a family farm. We are not talking the high tech gathering methods of today, but then we are not in the nostalgic mode that we would fine in Little House in the Big Woods either.

The strongest part of this work are the illustrations which are very well and professionally executed. I suppose I enjoyed the paintings of the various forms of wildlife noted in the forest during sap gathering times as much as anything. The author is an excellent artist and has captured the mood of the story and place perfectly though her illustrations.

The text is quite well done and easy on the eye and mind. It tells a warm story of a family cooperating together...getting a job done as a loving family unit. This is always a good message.

The author concludes the work by recording a Native American legend as to how it was discovered that the sap of the Sugar Maple Tree is a good thing.

My biggest fear concerning this work is the possibility of not holding the interest of the target age. There is little to no excitement here, no conflict and the plot runs on a sort of flat line. While the adult reader will find it a pleasing read, I am not at all sure if the kids will. On the other hand, it is a quick read; a well written and illustrated work, and is certainly worth the time it takes to read and study the painting. It also teaches kids where their maple syrup comes from...i.e. from trees and hard work, and not off the supermarket shelf.

Recommend this one for a nice mellow read.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

5.0 out of 5 stars what a beautiful book!, April 26, 2011

By 

bjms - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sugar on Snow (Hardcover)

This is just a sweet, lovely story with beautiful illustrations. I would recommend it to anyone, but particularly people in the New England area.