I enjoy finding seasonal books for my son, and was pleased to stumble upon John Segal’s Carrot Soup. In it, Rabbit spends many hours planning and cultivating his carrot garden, only to find that the carrots have vanished right before the harvest. He asks his friends Mole, Dog, Cat, and others if they have seen his vegetables, but they dissemble. Astute children will, however, spy in the illustrations clues to the animal’s real actions. The reason for their deed is a mystery until the end, though, when we see they have created a surprise birthday party for Rabbit, complete with his favorite carrot soup.
It’s a charming little book with a lighthearted frisson of suspense, perfect for preschool and early elementary-school children. Along the way it tells us the names of eight different types of carrots (yes, there are more than just “large” and “baby”) and gives us a real recipe for the eponymous soup. The soft but playful watercolor illustrations enhance the simple text.
I wrote last week about evidence that young children are more likely to eat vegetables when they come from their own garden. If Carrot Soup motivates children or their parents to plant some carrot seeds, so much the better. If not, it’s still worth the read.
That looks cute. I missed the garden piece. I wonder if it doesn’t help that veggies from the garden actually taste like something?