The Real Story of Stone Soup

Set in China, The Real Story of Stone Soup reimagines the classic European folktale through the adventures of three brothers who work for a demanding fisherman. The story centers on their clever scheme involving rocks, water, and soup-making. The book features illustrations by Stéphane Jorisch in gouache and ink that bring the Chinese coastal setting and characters to life. An included recipe for "Chang Brother's Egg Drop Stone Soup" allows readers to create their own version of the story's central dish. This retelling explores themes of resourcefulness, wit, and the universal appeal of a well-known folk narrative while adding cultural elements from Chinese cuisine and traditions.

Readers appreciate this Chinese version of the classic folk tale for teaching resourcefulness, cooperation, and sharing. Parents and teachers note it works well for multicultural lessons and introducing Chinese culture to young children. Liked: - Clear cultural details and historical context - Inclusion of simple dumpling recipe - Yan Nascimbene's watercolor illustrations - Use as teaching tool for sharing/working together Disliked: - Some found the story less engaging than European versions - A few readers mentioned young children got confused by Chinese terms - Several noted recipe steps were too basic Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (458 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (52 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Perfect for teaching perspective and comparing versions" - Elementary teacher on Goodreads "Beautiful art but story lacks warmth" - Parent reviewer on Amazon "Makes Chinese culture accessible to young readers" - School librarian review

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🥄 The stone soup folktale exists in many cultures worldwide, with versions found in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and across Asia. 🍜 The author, Ying Chang Compestine, grew up in Wuhan, China, and learned traditional Chinese cooking from her grandmother during the Cultural Revolution. 🎨 The book's illustrator, brothers Stéphane and Sébastien Levallois, used authentic Chinese landscapes and architectural details to create the book's visual elements. 🌊 In traditional Chinese fishing villages like the one depicted in the book, fishermen often used cormorant birds to catch fish, a practice dating back over 1,000 years. 📚 Egg drop soup, featured in the book's recipe, is one of the most popular soups in Chinese cuisine and typically takes less than 15 minutes to prepare.