Places, Traditions and Discoveries · Drawing 27 of 40
Maple-syrup dumplings
Grands-pères (that means “grandfathers”!) are little balls of dough cooked in syrup. What a funny name for a delicious dessert!
Look together
What do the dough balls look like?
An idea to try
Draw three round shapes on an imaginary plate. Your child invents a funny name for them and describes what they see.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
In this dessert, grands-pères, literally “grandfathers”, means pieces of dough cooked in syrup. The version published by Québec Maple Syrup Producers (Érable du Québec) adds apples and uses maple syrup. Small portions of dough are placed in hot liquid, then simmered with a lid on. The dish’s name does not literally describe its appearance.
Play with words and shapes. Do the dough pieces remind your child of clouds, hills or little cushions? Welcome their ideas and find other possible names for the same shapes. Then they can name a completely imaginary dessert.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
A stylized dessert showing dough pieces in syrup, not a complete recipe.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Érable du Québec — Grands-pères aux pommes et à l’érablePâte déposée en petites portions dans un sirop à l’érable avec des pommes et cuisson à couvert.
Source review: 2026-09-12. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
