Growing Vegetable Soup

Growing Vegetable Soup follows a parent and child as they plant and tend to a vegetable garden. The story tracks the process from selecting tools and seeds through caring for growing plants. The book uses bold colors and clear, graphic illustrations to showcase gardening equipment, vegetable varieties, and plant parts. Each step of gardening gets depicted through simple text paired with labeled artwork. The father-child gardening project culminates in a shared cooking experience. The story demonstrates how vegetables move from garden to kitchen to table. This picture book connects young readers to food sources and nature through hands-on family activities. The narrative emphasizes patience, nurturing, and the rewards of growing one's own food.

Parents and teachers use this book to teach children about gardening and healthy eating. Readers appreciate the clear step-by-step explanation of growing vegetables and making soup, with many noting it inspires kids to try gardening themselves. Liked: - Bold, simple illustrations help identify vegetables - Clear explanations of gardening tools and process - Effective teaching tool for classroom units on plants - Recipe included at the end Disliked: - Some found illustrations too abstract for young children - Text can be sparse - A few readers wanted more detail about soup-making steps Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (450+ ratings) Reader Comments: "Perfect for preschool garden units" - Teacher on Amazon "My toddler points to the vegetables at the store after reading this" - Parent reviewer "Illustrations are more artistic than kid-friendly" - Goodreads review "Great for teaching plant life cycles" - Librarian review

From the Garden by Michael Dahl Step-by-step instructions show children how food makes its way from garden to table.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert A mother and child plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings that grow into a rainbow of flowers.

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle A seed's journey through the seasons demonstrates the plant life cycle from beginning to end.

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss A young boy plants a carrot seed and tends it despite others' doubts until it produces results.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner Text and illustrations reveal the parallel activities happening above and below ground in a garden through the seasons.

🥕 Author Lois Ehlert grew up on a farm in Wisconsin where she learned gardening from her parents, who gave her a personal area to grow her own plants when she was young. 🌱 The book uses bold, vibrant colors created through collage art, a signature style that Ehlert developed after studying at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee. 🍅 Each vegetable featured in the book is labeled with both its common and scientific name, making it an educational tool for young botanists. 🥄 The story concludes with a simple vegetable soup recipe that children can help prepare, encouraging hands-on learning and healthy eating habits. 🌿 The book received the American Horticultural Society's Growing Good Kids - Excellence in Children's Literature Award for its role in promoting gardening to young readers.