Overview
Cat, Squirrel, and Duck have a very serious problem: there are no ripe pumpkins in the garden for their favorite soup! They'll have to make something else, but while Cat and Squirrel are willing to experiment, all Duck wants is pumpkin soup. He won't even try a taste of the fish soup or mushroom soup, and the beet soup his friends make is the last straw— "I'm not eating that," he says. "It's pink!" Can Cat and Squirrel find a way to please their fussy friend?
This follow-up to the popular Pumpkin Soup and A Pipkin of Pepper is a perfect story about a picky eater, illustrated with rich, expressive paintings in which children will find much to discover—and it includes a recipe for pink soup!
Synopsis
Cat, Squirrel, and Duck have a very serious problem: there are no ripe pumpkins in the garden for their favorite soup! They'll have to make something else, but while Cat and Squirrel are willing to experiment, all Duck wants is pumpkin soup. He won't even try a taste of the fish soup or mushroom soup, and the beet soup his friends make is the last straw— "I'm not eating that," he says. "It's pink!" Can Cat and Squirrel find a way to please their fussy friend?
This follow-up to the popular Pumpkin Soup and A Pipkin of Pepper is a perfect story about a picky eater, illustrated with rich, expressive paintings in which children will find much to discover—and it includes a recipe for pink soup!
Children's Literature
This is a cleverly-written story about the finicky Duck who will not eat any of the recipes Squirrel and Cat concoct for him unless it is his favorite, pumpkin soup. Absolutely nothing else will do. However, no matter how or where they all search for a pumpkin, none can be found. Cat even digs out an old recipe book to search for something else they can make. The three go fishing and cook up a batch of fish soup. "Scrumptious!" says the cat. "Nutritious!" says the squirrel. "YUCK!" Duck fusses. They go shopping and Duck does nothing but complain and whine to go home. Squirrel and Cat buy something quick before leaving for home: Beets. The best soup ever, thought Squirrel and Cat. Duck took one look at the pink soup and refused it. Then, he complained some more and went to bed with a headache. This is a really good book to read to the fussy child who refuses to eat certain foods. The insects along the periphery of each illustration distract from the main story but show a charming story in themselves and don't stand out enough to detract from the text. The ending is wonderfully different.
Editorials
Children's Literature -
This is a cleverly-written story about the finicky Duck who will not eat any of the recipes Squirrel and Cat concoct for him unless it is his favorite, pumpkin soup. Absolutely nothing else will do. However, no matter how or where they all search for a pumpkin, none can be found. Cat even digs out an old recipe book to search for something else they can make. The three go fishing and cook up a batch of fish soup. "Scrumptious!" says the cat. "Nutritious!" says the squirrel. "YUCK!" Duck fusses. They go shopping and Duck does nothing but complain and whine to go home. Squirrel and Cat buy something quick before leaving for home: Beets. The best soup ever, thought Squirrel and Cat. Duck took one look at the pink soup and refused it. Then, he complained some more and went to bed with a headache. This is a really good book to read to the fussy child who refuses to eat certain foods. The insects along the periphery of each illustration distract from the main story but show a charming story in themselves and don't stand out enough to detract from the text. The ending is wonderfully different.School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2
Cat, Duck, and Squirrel are back in this companion to Pumpkin Sou p (1999) and A Pipkin of Pepper (2005, both Farrar). Disaster has struck the pumpkin patch-no ripe pumpkins for the animals' favorite dish. The friends decide to make something new to eat, but Duck is unwilling to try either fish soup, mushroom soup, or beet soup (especially offensive because it is pink). Cat tries to trick Duck by mixing a combination of veggies and ingredients that result in a broth that is the exact color of pumpkin soup. After a tentative sip, Duck declares it "Delicious!" and order is restored in the old white cabin. The story has universal appeal-everyone either knows, or is, a fussy eater. Readers will empathize with Duck, who is obstinate without being intolerable, and cheer for Cat and Squirrel as their patience and accommodation lead to eventual success. The illustrations are warm and rustic, and the layout does an excellent job of mixing full-page portraits and white space. A recipe for "Pink Soup" is included. This beautiful book is a must-have.
—Kara Schaff DeanCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.