Stone Soup By: Marcia Brown

Stone Soup is a fantastic book to model cooperation with.  It can also be used an introduction to various historical lessons.  In the past, I have incorporated the use of this book during the month of November as we discuss the First Thanksgiving and the importance of cooperating and sharing during the traditional holiday.

Title: Stone Soup

Author: Marcia Brown - As a New York State native, Marcia Brown was a 1940 graduate of the New York College for Teachers.  After graduation, she taught in New York State and continued to work in New York Public Library's Central Children's Room.  During her work, she has produced over 30 children's books.  She is a three time winner of the Caldecott Medal and six of her books were Caldecott Honor Books.  Uniquely, many of Brown's books have been reprinted into various languages.  Albany Library - Marcia Brown

Genre: Fiction

Award: Caldecott Honor Book

Grade Level: PreK - 6

Theme/Skill: Folktales - Thanksgiving

Brief Synopsis: The story begins with three hungry and tired soldiers trying to find food and a place to sleep.  The villagers see them coming and hide all their food and refuse to let them stay.  The soldiers start a large fire in the middle of town and begin to make “Stone Soup”.  After adding three large stones to the soup, the soldiers ask for various edible ingredients causing the soup to transform into quite the feast.  After a night of delicious food/drinks and dancing/music, the soldiers ask again about a place to sleep and contrary to their first answer, each soldier is given a comfortable bed to sleep on.

Pre-Reading Activity: Looking at the cover of the book, what do you think the story is about? Have you heard of soldiers staying in random villages throughout history like these three did.  Would you let the soldiers stay with you?  Has everyone ever heard of the U.S. Constitution?  The Constitution contains a Bill of Rights.  The Bill of Rights lists all the freedoms U.S citizens have.  One lists that quartering of soldiers is outlawed.  In other words, the soldiers in this story would not be able to stay according to our government.  This law was passed after incidents like one in this story occurred. 

 Post-Reading Activity: How did the soldiers trick the villagers? Would you have helped the soldiers?  What would have added to the soup?  As we see in the story, everyone contributed something to the soup.  As a result of everyone’s cooperation, the soup turned into a masterpiece.  What would your contribution have been? What part would you have played?  Unfortunately, not everyone always helps.  If someone in the group didn’t help, how would you handle it? I plan to go around and ask each student how they would contribute and their opinions of letting someone enjoy the soup if they didn’t help.

Coles, R. (1995) The Story of Ruby Bridges. New York: Scholastic Inc.