Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper

A cat, a duck, a red squirrel and a large bowl of pumpkin soup.

I had come across this book an a few occasions but had not bought it, so I was really pleased when my daughter brought it back from the sale shelf of the local library.

Another tale of friendship challenged by disagreement and misunderstanding.

Every evening after the Duck has sung whilst being accompanied by Cat playing a bagpipe and Squirrel the banjo. The three friends work together to make their evening meal of pumpkin soup, making use of the masses of pumpkins grown in their garden. Each friend makes a valuable contribution to making a wonderful tasting soup. But all is not well. Duck has decided that for a change he would like to stir the soup, this does not go down well with the others and as a result Duck flounces of.

When he does not return the Cat and the Squirrel become worried and go to look for him.As they search they imagine all the horrible thing that could have happened to Duck. They discussed whether they were right in not allowing Duck to have a go at stirring or if Duck has found new and better friends. So they were delighted that on their return home there was a light on and that Duck has returned. To make amends Cat and Squirrel let Duck do the stirring.

But have Cat, Duck and Squirrel learnt their lesson. Take a look at the last page and see what you think. Are your thoughts the same as the bugs hiding behind the up turned blue soup bowl.

Lovely illustrations go with this story. I particularly liked the friend’s house which I though was a hollowed out turnip although the inside looks like a pumpkin but I googled white pumpkin and they do exist. I also like the two bugs

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper-two bugs

who sit on a pumpkin and watch the musical trio, they keep tuning up, I counted seven times. The argument between the three animals using symbols to represent speech is another good one.

I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to use this with teachers.

Recipe for pumpkin soup you may want to try with young children http://tinyurl.com/6em74jq