Synopsis: Something was bubbling in the old white cabin. What is in the cooking pot? Pumpkin Soup, made by a Cat, a Squirrel and a Duck, waiting just for a pipkin of salt, to make it the best you have ever tasted ...But the salt jar smashes and there is none left for the Pumpkin Soup! Cat, Squirrel and Duck must go to the city to buy some more. Duck has the habit of wandering off but promises not to get lost. But not everything goes as planned...

Review: This picture book revisits Cat, Squirrel and Duck of Helen Cooper’s earlier story Pumpkin Soup (and winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal). Readers meet the animal friends about to make their pumpkin soup. However, there is no salt, ‘There wasn’t a grain, not a speckle of salt’. A journey to the big city to buy salt is necessary. Duck ‘wiggled and wheedled, and bobbed and begged’ and is persuasive, and allowed to accompany Cat on the promise that he will stay where he is if he gets lost. A promise to ‘hold on tight’ to Cat also encourages Squirrel to make the journey, and the three set off. However, Duck’s desire to buy pepper and his thoughts about the resulting soup makes him forget his promises. There and tears and an exciting search before, of course, all ends happily for the three friends; even the pumpkin soup benefits from a pipkin of pepper.

Helen Cooper’s wonderful bright pictures not only support the story but, like all good picture books, extend it. There are lots of signs in the town that young children will recognise, and they’ll enjoy looking for the two beetles that also make the journey, and provide a commentary on the main text. The characters are so well crafted; every expression is visible for children to talk about. This is an entertaining and reassuring story for young readers.

2006-11-07