Soup for Supper <small><br>by Phyllis Root </small>

Before I get started on this review, please indulge my need for a minor rant. I just read the review by Publishers Weekly for Soup for Supper and I'm quite cranky about it.

You see, I am in almost constant contact with many librarians --those employed by public libraries, schools and academia -- and I have many conversations about books with them and I never fail to silently cringe anytime one of them brings up the name of this publication into the conversation.

Throughout the years, I cannot help but wonder how many wonderful books the public and school children have been deprived of simply because the librarian in charge of acquisitions has placed their faith in PW.

I am not at all sure who these people are who do PW's reviews. (I am sure they are basically nice people.) But I do have to wonder where a company could possible find and hire such a mass of troglodytes; trolls who obviously do not give a decent read to so many books they blithely review. Take, for example, Soup for Supper. This book has not escaped their attention; or lack of attention as the case may be. They wrote, "The text, by itself, doesn't sustain an interest in the book...." This is a direct quote from their review. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could be further from the truth. This is a great book; text and art.

Thank you for your patience and indulgence. Now for the review...

ooo

Soup for Supper by Phyllis Root was first published in 1986 in a hardback edition. It is this edition that is being reviewed here.

The author has used the folktale mode in order to present this thoroughly charming story of "a wee small woman who lived all by herself with only her garden for company." And my goodness what a garden this one is! Neat, well tended, slug free, well mulched and immaculately weeded. One day as the wee lady was tending her garden; suddenly she heard "Ka-Rumpble, Ka-Rumble and the ground shook! She quickly hid behind a mulberry bush to watch, and yup, you guessed it, a giant passed pushing a cart! Oh my! The giant stopped, sniffed the air and said, "Ho, ho, my eyes may be weak, but my nose knows a carrot when it smells one." He sniffed again, "Potatoes too. This is my lucky day."

"Soup, soup, soup, a delicious pot of soup,
Soup, soup, soup, I will eat it with a scoop -
Soup for supper tonight.
Soup with parsnips, soup with peas,
Soup with rutabagas, please.
Soup with onions, soup with parsley,
Soup with pepper sprinkled sparsely.
Soup with cabbage, soup with carrot -
A pot of soup and a friend to share it."

Or so the giant sings.

The giant put down his card and went to work pulling and removing all of the wee woman's vegetable from her only companion; her garden. Well our wee little woman is a very spunky wee little woman and she immediately gave chase to the veggie stealing giant. And while chasing this "villain" she hurled some horrible names after him. "Potato nose" is followed by "cauliflower head" which is followed by "old rutabaga ears." You get the picture. Of course all of you know that giants, in general, do not like to be called "potato nose" and "rutabaga ears" positively infuriate them!

In retaliation, the giant began throwing the stolen vegetable at and around the wee lady. Thus goes the story until the lady, between hurling insults, figures out that the giant is merely hungry and lonely. No spoilers here, so I will not continue giving away the plot line.

Stories told after a folk fashion are lasting stories that are easily passed from generation to generation and this one is no exception. I am put in mind of the old, old and lasting tale of "Stone Soup" when I read this one. It is just as well written and actually has a much nicer ending. It is clearly written and has a strong tone of humor added that send the little ones into fits of giggles every time it is read to them.

Just as strong as the telling of this story are the wonderful watercolor and ink illustrations provided by Sue Truesdell. Each illustration is beautifully executed, humorous and a joy to gaze upon. The illustrations go perfectly with the text and each enhances the other.

As an added bonus the author has included "The Soup Song" along with the musical score that even someone as untrained as I am can peck out on the piano or strum on the guitar.

I note with great sadness and dismay that this work in no longer in print. This is a true pity as it has the potential of taking its place along with other classics of its ilk. If you can find a copy of this work, grab it...this is a wonderful read and a complete gem of a story.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks