"Ready to eat?
No, it's still too hot. What
else is in the soup? There,
for example, what's that?
Diced carrots.
Where do carrots come from?
Are you going to make me
guess?
(sigh)"
I can't wait to share this charming book with my granddaughters. It is such an enjoyable way to encourage critical thinking and to learn about different foods. A younger brother counts on his older, wiser one to answer all the questions he has about the soup they are about to have for lunch. A question is asked, four choices are given as the correct answer. Only one is realistic. The little one makes the proper guess. Because his soup is still hot, he offers up another question. What kind of soup did Uncle Herman make?
Lentil soup it is. But, where do lentils come from? Again, four answers are provided. Three are pretty funny. The right answer is given. The big brother provides further explanation. The soup remains too hot to taste. What is that in the bowl? Diced carrots.
"Where do they come from!
Are you going to make me guess?
(sigh)"
Luckily for interested and entertained readers (and listeners), there are many more ingredients: celery, onions, tomatoes, broth, salt). When big gets really tired of answering the endless questions, little provides his own answers. Attempts at answering lead to ridiculous assumptions and the need for the real answer from the older brother. By the time the final ingredient is described, the soup is too cold to eat, and the wiser brother far too annoyed to answer yet another question. The soup is reheated, a recipe for lentil soup is provided and this engaging story comes to an end.
Amusing, informative, and offering a chance to extend the story by making a pot full of delicious lentil soup brings the story full circle and leaves listeners wanting to hear it again. The many detailed and contextual drawings add to the allure of the story, and will encourage conversation.
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