Maple Moon
Kindergarten-Grade 3?Crook blends bits of Native American legend into her fictional account of how humans might have discovered the sweet juice that North Americans have processed into maple syrup for hundreds of years. Eight-year-old Rides the Wind, a Missisauga boy, is shunned by others because he is lame. He ventures into the forest for solace and observes a squirrel licking a bit of sap on a maple branch. The boy tastes the liquid and then collects some of the sweet water. When he returns home, he is scolded for his day-long absence. Fortunately, his irate mother throws the water into her cooking pot. When he tries to show the elders where he found the sap, Rides the Wind is surprised to discover only a dormant tree. Fortunately, the chief makes everyone remain until the end of the day when the sun once again releases the sap. The story moves through a believable scenario of discovery and disappointment to a satisfying denouement. The concluding author's note informs readers that the early white settlers in the northeast learned of maple syrup from the Native Americans. Cameron's full-page, realistic paintings are warm and rich. A handsome look at traditional life and a good tale of personal ingenuity and discovery.?Margaret Bush, Simmons College, BostonCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.