“Pumpkin Soup” by Helen Cooper
Macmillan Press, New York, 1998, 32 pages, Grades K-2.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. Families come together and share friendship and love. They also cook a delicious meal, which is one of the highlights of the day. Along with the turkey and dressing, some form of pumpkin desert is served. Pumpkin is not frequently used outside of the holiday season. However, pumpkin pie is usually enjoyed.
Helen Cooper has written a charming picture book about three animals using pumpkins to make soup. Each of the animals specializes in a certain task in the process and jealously guard their cooking role. What happens when one cook decides to take on another animal’s job in preparing the pumpkin soup? Helen Cooper tells us in this delightful and beautifully illustrated book, “Pumpkin Soup.”
A cat, a duck and squirrel live in a snug white cabin in the woods. One of their favorite dishes is pumpkin soup. They work as a team with each member specializing in one task. Cat slices up the pumpkin. Squirrel then follows by adding water and then stirring the soup. Finally, duck adds just the right amount of salt. The group effort results in a delicious meal that all three animals gulp down. After this, they happily go to bed content and happy.
But one night, things change. Duck gets out of bed early and decides to become the head cook. When cat and squirrel see duck doing their jobs, they become furious. Soon a major fight breaks out. The animals begin accusing each other of being selfish. Duck becomes so angry that he storms out of the cabin into the woods. That is just fine with cat and squirrel. They figure that duck is greedy and should take the consequences of his actions.
Happily, they begin preparing that day’s pumpkin soup. But something is wrong. They don’t know how much salt to put into the soup. The soup tastes bad. Soon their consciences are bothering them as well. As they eat the bad-tasting soup they begin to cry. Where is duck and why didn’t they let him stir the soup? As night falls, they become alarmed and try to find duck in the forest. There are wolves in the forest that eat ducks. Frantically, they begin searching. What happens?
Do cat and squirrel find duck? What has duck learned? What happens when you try to take over someone else’s job? What do the animals learn about caring for each other? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this delightful book, “Pumpkin Soup” by Helen Cooper.
The Kate Greenaway Medal is given each year to the outstanding picture book in Great Britain. “Pumpkin Soup” was the 1998 winner. In addition to her fine writing, Helen Cooper also created the endearing illustration in the book. The story is charming and the depictions of the feelings the animals are experiencing will tug at your heartstrings. You simply can’t beat this book as a read aloud or as a book to share with a young child. I encourage you to check out the title. I really enjoyed it and think you will as well.
