Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 K-Gr 4—Eaton's latest picture book discusses how Bear makes her own maple syrup. The author previously wrote "The Truth About Your Favorite Animals" series and lives in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, which served as inspiration for Bear's story. The text describes the process of sugaring from beginning to end: when to tap maple trees, the tools needed for gathering sap, and the steps it takes to turn sap into delicious syrup. Answers and alternatives to "What if…" questions are included, like "What if the bucket I used to gather sap last year has a hole in the bottom this year?" (Bear suggests using an empty milk jug with a hole cut near the top.) The illustrations show even more details, such as what an evaporator looks like, and the tools historically used in the sugaring process. The drawings act as a visual aid, especially if sugaring is new to readers. Humorous commentary from Bear's friends Squirrel and Dog may reflect what readers are thinking throughout the story. At the end of the book, Eaton offers suggestions for further reading. Because there are not many recent informational books about sugaring, this is a good, kid-friendly selection. VERDICT This title could serve as a great teaching resource for science curricula about trees and seasons and act as a wonderful mentor text for informational writing. A strong purchase for elementary school and public library collections.—Kristin Unruh, Siersma Elementary School, Warren, MI - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2020 With winter ending, Bear demonstrates the entire sugaring process, from identifying the right maple tree and tapping it to collecting sap, boiling away the water, and producing syrup. The demonstration spares no detail, covering drill-bit measurements, types of spouts, the safest buckets, and even how to build an evaporator. It’s a truly practical book, with a narrator describing Bear’s step-by-step method. Additional commentary comes through speech bubbles from Bear’s wisecracking sidekicks, a corgi and a squirrel who wait impatiently for pancakes. They, along with Eaton’s (The Truth about Your Favorite Animals series) friendly watercolor illustrations, make this somewhat accessible to the intended picture-book audience, although for them it can only be informational. A reader could very conceivably take this book into winter and come out on the other side with a gallon of “this gift from the trees,” but an initial warning reminds youngsters that guidance is needed from “a responsible (human) adult.” A wonderfully specific book that will delight the right readers, especially in maple syrup territory of the Northeast and Midwest. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

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