Time for Cranberries

August 3, 2015
When autumn arrives, a boy named Sam helps his parents harvest the cranberries in their marsh. Debut author Detlefsen (who lives on a Wisconsin cranberry marsh herself) vividly details each step, introducing terminology like “booming” (“We keep flooding the picked bed until the vines are completely covered”) and “corralling,” which involves putting on waders and gathering the berries “into one big bunch called the pot.” (When Sam slips, his father assures him, “I always say you’re not a cranberry grower until you fall in.”) Henry (I Love You Near and Far) devotes equal attention to the unique mechanisms of this harvesting process, the alluring rural setting, and the close bond shared by this family of farmers. A glossary, author’s note, and recipes are included. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates.

July 1, 2015
Sam shares the autumn activities on his family's farm-harvest time on a cranberry bog. He's excited because he's finally old enough to help. Sam outlines every detail, from the big waders he and his parents wear to the equipment they use, such as the picking machine, the boom, suction pump, and cleaner. He uses lively descriptions and sound words to convey his enthusiasm: their waders "shlip and shlerp," berries "hop and pop," and when Sam falls in, they start a water-and-cranberry fight: "splish and splash." Sam is wet through. Dad cheerfully says, "I always say you're not a cranberry grower until you fall in." This is a family pulling together literally and figuratively, and they enjoy both their work and the fruits of their labor. Even after their crop has been delivered, Sam wakes up on Thanksgiving morning to the delicious aroma of a fresh-baked cranberry pie (recipe included). The fun, the work, and the satisfaction are captured in watercolor-and-pencil illustrations infused with warm golds, browns, and reds to reflect the season and balance the cool blues of water and sky. The author, who lives on a marsh, calls this a love letter to the cranberry-growing community, but it is also an enlightening, joyful celebration of a little-explored agricultural endeavor. (author's note, glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)

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July 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-For the first time, a young boy participates with his family in the cranberry harvest. He describes the equipment and processes used to pick, transfer from marsh to truck, sort, clean, and ultimately deliver the berries. The harvest time lasts through the fall. When Thanksgiving arrives, he enjoys cranberry pie as part of the celebration (recipe included). This warm tale is an informative glimpse into a farming lifestyle that will be foreign to many children. Based on the author's own experience, the story conveys a feeling of authenticity, although the child view may be somewhat idealized. The illustrations, which appear to be digitally rendered with the look of watercolors and light black detailing, convey the mood with foliage, animals, and clothing consistent with the season. A multigenerational element is emphasized in the picture portraying an older couple sitting on the porch and a younger sister playing in the yard. VERDICT A charming depiction of a small family business that helps children understand the origins of their food.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

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