Jessie Haas

Gramp and Nora gather sap, build a fire in the sugar house, and make maple syrup. But Nora wants to give the horses, Bonnie and Stella, a maple treat. They're doing all the work. Sap trickles through Nora's fingers. Syrup is too sticky, and make Nora's fingers too much like maple treats--ouch! So Gram cooks up a sweet surprise.

Illustrated by Jos. A. Smith

SUGARING Trivia

Yes, that's a Boston Red Sox hat Gramp is wearing. No one ever noticed until the Sox finally won the World Series.

Bonnie and Stella are modeled on real horses, Suffolk Punch mares owned by my friend Jay Bailey. Jay and his wife Janet run Fairwinds Farm in Brattleboro, Vt., where they raise and train Suffolks, a rare draft horse breed.