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Soup Day, with Giveaway

January 17, 2011 by 5 Minutes for Books

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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The winter winds are blowing cold now, so I wasn’t surprised to discover that January is National Soup Month in the U.S.! For its nutritional value and ability to keep us warm, soup makes the perfect chilly winter evening dinner, and I personally love when I can offer my children books that relate to our everyday lives. Melissa Iwai’s recent picture book Soup Day brings together educational concepts, real life experiences and adorable illustrations into the perfect winter evening storybook.

With the snow swirling all around them, a daughter and mother head to the market to purchase the supplies for soup day, adding fresh produce to their basket in easily countable groups, from “one bunch of crispy green celery” to “six big white mushrooms.” When they return home, preparing the vegetables is a job that mother and daughter can do together, and the natural shapes formed by the chopped veggies are remarked upon. While the soup simmers, they spend their time engaged in different loving interactions, with mom being an active playmate. After all the toys are cleaned up, the girl’s father returns home just in time to share the delicious soup. Bringing the experience from page to real life, the last page of the book includes a recipe for the very soup prepared in the story.

Personally, I love that this book involves color, shape and counting concepts in a natural manner, allowing for young children to count the objects along with the story but not presenting it in an overly didactic fashion. The text is short, but the story definitely comes to life through the bright illustrations and the experiences that all children can relate to. There’s a calm and serene feel to the story, similar to what one feels while relaxing at home amidst the savory smells of a soup cooking on the stove. My own children adore Soup Day (even as they’re still somewhat reluctant soup eaters themselves), and it has been an often requested read aloud this winter in our home! To see some pages of the book for yourself, head over to Melissa Iwai’s author website.

We’re happy to be able to offer a copy of Soup Day to one of our readers! Just leave a comment here to be entered (U.S. residents only, please). For one additional giveaway entry, you may subscribe to Melissa Iwai’s food blog The Hungry Artist– leave a second comment here telling us that you’ve done so.

We’ll announce the winner on January 31st, here in the weekly 5 Minutes for Books column.

5 Minutes for Books’ contributor Dawn‘s own cooking skills leave something to be desired, but she’s happy to be able to make one delicious pot of chicken soup all on her own! She blogs at my thoughts exactly.

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5 Minutes for Books is the 5 Minutes for Mom sister site devoted to reviewing books for adults -- fiction, memoir, and nonfiction -- and kids of all ages.

Managed by Jennifer Donovan, other contributors are Dawn, Lauren, Nancy, and Elizabeth.

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62 Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    February 2, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    Was the winner announced on Jan 31st?

    Reply
  2. trixx says

    January 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    I’ve subscribed to The Hungry Artist

    Reply
  3. trixx says

    January 30, 2011 at 11:57 pm

    What a cute book to read with my daughter. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Lisa L says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    I subscribe to Melissa Iwai’s food blog The Hungry Artist

    Reply
  5. Lisa L says

    January 30, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    I’d love to read this book to my son

    Reply
  6. Laura H. says

    January 29, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    Subscribed to Melissa’s food blog.

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

    Reply
  7. Laura H. says

    January 29, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    What a cute book! My niece would love this. Count me in.

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

    Reply
  8. Sarah - PS Mom Reviews says

    January 29, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    This looks like a great book.

    [email protected]

    Reply
  9. Karen says

    January 28, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    Sounds a great book for my classroom.

    Reply
  10. apple blossom says

    January 28, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    This looks like a cute book. love to win thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    Reply
  11. Barb Shelton says

    January 28, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    I’m so glad I visited Melissa Iwai’s author website.. I can’t wait for one of my grandkids or daughters to try those peanut butter pretzel cookie. They won’t last very long around here. I subscribed to the blog and look forward to receiving her email.

    If I win the Soup Day book, I can serve the great-grandkids soup, the cookies and read the book to them. Sounds like fun!

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    Reply
  12. Barbara Shelton says

    January 28, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    My children and most of my grandchildren are grown beyond the age stage of these books, ……however, I have 12 great-grandkids who are just the right ages who would love them…me too! Secondly, I am a writer and considering a try at writing children’s stories. It would be a favor to me to win this book….I have much research to do, and I am physically disabled and unable to get to the library. Everything will be found online and through “how to” books I read. Thank you for this giveaway and for the chance to win this wonderful book. I hope I do win.

    Grace & Peace,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    Reply
  13. Jessica M. says

    January 27, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    I think my boys would love this book! Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Melissa P. says

    January 27, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    What a wonderful book!

    Reply
  15. Maureen Timerman says

    January 27, 2011 at 8:02 am

    My 3 and 5 year old would love this book. Please include me!

    Reply
  16. Staci A says

    January 26, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    It sounds like a very sweet book. My little one would love reading it!

    Reply
  17. Debby says

    January 24, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    Wonderful book. It may actually get my kids to like to eat soup!!

    Reply
  18. Angie Ferenc says

    January 23, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    We love making a pot of soup together as a family- it’s become a weekly winter tradition. This book would make a great accompaniment! : )

    Reply
  19. Beth C says

    January 23, 2011 at 10:54 am

    I’d love to be entered for this book. Thanks for the chance.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    Reply
  20. Teresa Young says

    January 21, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    This sounds like a book that my grandkids (and their chef dad) would like.

    Reply
  21. staceyk says

    January 21, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    Love soup and would love to see this book!

    Reply
  22. Donna C. says

    January 21, 2011 at 8:54 am

    Sounds like a nice book. Thanks for the review.

    Reply
  23. mrsshukra says

    January 20, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    Super cute book, please count me in!

    Reply
  24. debi jackson says

    January 19, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    There is nothing better than a good book and soup on a snowday at home.

    Reply
  25. katklaw777 says

    January 19, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    I subscribed to Melissa Iwai’s food blog The Hungry Artist…….neat site, thanks.

    Reply
  26. katklaw777 says

    January 19, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    The soups on…thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  27. DB says

    January 19, 2011 at 10:35 am

    I’d love to win.

    Reply
  28. hippie4ever says

    January 18, 2011 at 11:00 pm

    One of the best things about the winter is the chance for making soups and stews 🙂

    Reply
  29. nan says

    January 18, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    would love this book
    nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

    Reply
  30. Megan says

    January 18, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    I’d love to win this to share with my daughter!
    mearley1979 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  31. Petula says

    January 18, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    You’re right, that’s a perfect book for this kind of weather. I’ve never heard of National Soup Day. It’s funny how many “official” days there are. … The book sounds good.

    Reply
  32. LaVonne says

    January 18, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    This sounds like a great book 🙂 Thanks!

    Reply
  33. Beth C says

    January 18, 2011 at 10:33 am

    I would love to be entered for this book. Thanks!

    Reply
  34. Jaimie K says

    January 18, 2011 at 10:02 am

    I just subscribed to her blog. I wasn’t going to as I couldn’t just add her to my google reader (I hate getting tons of emails…), but I was looking at her blog and loving it! It’s great!

    Reply
  35. Jaimie K says

    January 18, 2011 at 9:46 am

    How fun! I’d love to win it!

    Reply
  36. Terra Heck says

    January 18, 2011 at 5:31 am

    Sounds like a wonderful book for the kids to read. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  37. Brenda Rupp says

    January 18, 2011 at 5:05 am

    I have a young person in mind for the soup book so please enter me into the contest!
    ~ : )

    Reply
  38. Some Lucky Dog says

    January 18, 2011 at 3:21 am

    What a cute book!
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

    Reply
  39. Jen B. says

    January 17, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    I just took a look at Melissa’s blog and I happily signed up. I need to get my pad and paper and write down some of those recipes, they look great. Thanks.

    Reply
  40. Jen B. says

    January 17, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    My daughter and I make cookies together but soup is much healthier! We’d love to try a new recipe.

    Reply
  41. Shondra says

    January 17, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    My son is 16 months old and absolutely loves being read to. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  42. Linda Kish says

    January 17, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    What a cute book. I’d love to win this.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  43. Jessica T says

    January 17, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    We are a soup loving and book reading family! Perfect for us!

    Reply
  44. TerritoryMom says

    January 17, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    What a beautiful book. My kids would love it. Great giveaway, thanks.

    Reply
  45. Jewel cooke says

    January 17, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I just love soup, especially chicken when you put your chicken in the prudente cooker. It brings out so much flavor. Yummy

    Reply
  46. Vanderbilt Wife says

    January 17, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    It looks like something my book-fanatic daughter would love–and maybe it would encourage her to try soup or vegetables!

    Reply
  47. Ruthie B says

    January 17, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    Please enter me too…this would be perfect to read & cook with my 4 year old grandson! Thank you!

    Reply
  48. Cindy says

    January 17, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    Soup sounds perfect on a cold snowy day in Minnesota!

    Reply
  49. Jennifer Wells says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:54 am

    I just posted soup yesterday as my Recipe Post of the week. What a great book giveaway.
    Thanks
    Jennifer
    Sunshine of autumn at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  50. Brianna Beers says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:14 am

    I subscribed to Melissas food blog!

    Reply
  51. Brianna Beers says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:14 am

    I would love to read this with my boys. They are really into reading with mommy and I am always looking for reccomended books to read with them!

    Reply
  52. Kristie says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:10 am

    Sounds like a cute book! Thank you for the chance to win!

    Reply
  53. Alison S. says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:06 am

    I subscribed to emails from the hungry artist.

    Reply
  54. Alison S. says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:06 am

    What a fun book!

    Reply
  55. Shari says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:01 am

    I love food blogs, so I happily subscribed to the Hungry Artist. 🙂

    Reply
  56. Shari says

    January 17, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Sounds like a great book for my almost four year old!

    Reply
  57. riTa says

    January 17, 2011 at 10:17 am

    This grandma loves children’s books and soup!
    And giveaways 🙂 !

    Reply
  58. Amy says

    January 17, 2011 at 8:37 am

    I’d love to add this one to our collection!

    Reply
  59. Eileen says

    January 17, 2011 at 6:44 am

    I know my grandson would love this, and being mommy is pregnant, has in home day care and just happens to LOVE to read books to the kids, Soup Day would be a great addition to their little “library”. Plus, boy can we relate here to the “snow swirling all around”..for about 5 months every year!

    thanks much!

    Reply
  60. Lucy says

    January 17, 2011 at 4:08 am

    My 4-year-old and I would love to read this book together, especially since “Soup” happens to be my goal and word for 2011!

    Reply
  61. jenna says

    January 17, 2011 at 12:58 am

    I love soup and I love books! 🙂

    Reply

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