Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) was modified by the covalent bonding of a glucose ester via acetal formation of a surface hydroxyl group using acid as the catalyst. Grafted copolymers were characterized by H-1-NMR, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.