The Sugaring-off Party

A French-Canadian grandmother reminisces about her first sugaring-off party, complete with music, dancing, and lots of food. The primitive-style pictures are lush and colourful.

Gilles Pelletier’s colorful paintings adorned antique furniture, old tools, and even milk cans for years before he illustrated his first children’s book. In fact, it was an interest in collecting and restoring antiques that led him into the world of art. Pelletier’s highly colorful work is enhanced by his sense of humour and love of tradition. He, his wife and several cats live in Ormstown, Quebec, in a house reminiscent of the one he painted for A Happy New Year’s Day, his first picture book.

Jonathan London has written many books for children, including Dream Weaver, illustrated by Rocco Baviera, and most recently, Froggy’s Baby Sister. Jonathan lives with his wife, Maureen, and their two sons, Sean and Aaron, in Northern California. He and his sons often go hiking in the hills near their home.