Giant Parsnip Soup
When a group of friends discovers a giant parsnip, their imaginations soar at possibilities it might bring. When the group decision is to prepare giant parsnip soup, the friends walk readers through each step of the process in an engaging counting book. The back pages offer a double-page spread with numbers 1–10 and matching pictures (1 parsnip, 2 wagons, 3 paper boats), perfect for practicing early math together. If reading gets readers' stomachs growling, they are in luck! The book includes a simple Parsnip Soup recipe to try as well!
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Giant Parsnip Soup lends itself to many extension activities. Adults can partner with children and conduct a parsnip taste test. Compare the taste of raw parsnips to cooked ones. Adults can also have carrots available, since parsnips have a similar shape and look to carrots. How are they similar? How are they different? Continue on the culinary path and invite children to help prepare parsnip soup, using the recipe from the book. The counting and measuring integrated into cooking will continue to reinforce numeracy skills.
A parsnip might be an unfamiliar food for some children (and some adults, too!) Adults can preface the story by explaining that a parsnip is a root vegetable that grows underground and resembles a cream-colored carrot. It has a naturally sweet flavor, and people like to roast it, mash it, or add it to soups. Another interesting detail of this book is that while it is a 1 to 10 counting book, some of the illustrations have more than meets the eye! For example, when children are counting “six busy hands,” there are four children in the illustration, but only three are helping. Another example is the text that points readers to “eight red soup bowls.” There are many bowls on the double-page spread…but only eight are red in color!