| Product: |
Pumpkin Soup - Helen Cooper |
| Date: |
29/04/08 (169 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Shows children that working together is fun
Disadvantages: None
***The Background***
Helen Cooper is the author behind this wonderful book and has also written a couple of other books about the friends we see here. This book was a winner of the Kate Greenaway medal and has been delighting children for the last 10 years. As well as picture books, Helen Cooper also writes books for slightly older children too.
***The Story***
The story begins with a picture of a strange white cabin in the middle of a wood. The cabin has a warm glow from the window and you can see shadows of a Cat bagpiping, a Squirrel playing a banjo and a little Duck singing.
The friends love to make Pumpkin Soup.
"The best you ever tasted.
Made by the Cat who slices up the pumpkin.
Made by the Squirrel who stirs in the water.
Made by the Duck who scoops up a pipkin of salt, and tips in just enough."
After eating their soup they play their song and then snuggle up in bed. This is the routine but not everyone is happy with this.
Duck decides that he would like to me head cook for the day and gets the wooden spoon out. The others aren't really happy about this and the Cat says they should keep things the way they are. They all argue and Duck takes off.
The Cat and Squirrel are sure that Duck will come back but as the day goes on and on, they realise that he is not coming back. They look in the pumpkin patch and decide to make pumpkin soup by themselves. It doesn't taste right though because the amount of salt is all wrong and they realise they should have let Duck stir the soup.
They are really worried about him and think of all the bad things that could have happened to him. They also think that he might have set up his own soup kitchen and have new friends. They sadly return to the cabin and see a light in the window.
Duck is home and they agree that he can stir the pot and Duck shows them how much salt to put in so that it tastes just right.
The story ends with a cheeky little Duck.
"So once again it was peaceful in the old white cabin.
Until the Duck said...
'I think I'll play the bagpipes now.'"
***The Illustrations***
The pictures in this storybook really are works of art. The detailing in the full page illustrations are full of beautiful detailing and brush strokes that remind me a little bit of the ones in the Old Bear books. The colours used really make you feel like the cabin is a lovely cosy place to stay. The writing is big and bold on a white background so is easy to read.
***My Thoughts***
This is the first book of this kind that I have seen and it is thanks to my son's primary school because they have started sending packs home every weekend with a book and games to do that link in with it.
It really is one of the most beautiful hardback books I have seen in a long time. The colours used make you feel all warm inside and any child I'm sure would love to be a part of this group of friends who obviously care so much about each other.
The story is a simple one that tells of how change is sometimes a good thing and friendships should not be put at risk because one of a group wants to try something different. It shows that it is still much more of a preferred option that breaking up a circle of trust.
The pictures really help to make the story come to life and I like the style of the book with certain words being written in bigger writing or at an angle to emphasise the effect, especially when it comes to Duck getting down the wooden spoon and it falls with a big Ker-plonk. I also like the way that lots of little pictures are sometimes used to tell the story and this is in particular when Cat and Squirrel are waiting for Duck to come home.
The variety in the illustrations and text makes this book an exciting read for any child and the author seems to have made the balance perfect between wonderful illustrations and a lovely story - just the way a perfect bowl of soup should be in fact.
I'm sure my son will be on the lookout for more of these books in the future.
***Other Helen Cooper***
A Pipkin Of Pepper
Delicious
The Baby Who Wouldn't Go To Bed
Tatty Ratty
***Price & Availability***
The hardback form doesn't appear to be available from new anymore but this delightful book can be bought in large paperback form with a CD for the publishing price of £6.99. It is available from Amazon for the slightly cheaper price of £5.24 and I would say that it is worth every penny.
ISBN No. 0552556734
Summary: Lovely story with gorgeous pictures.
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