Stone Soup
As managing editor of the PaperTigers website, I should start my journey into bloghood by expressing infinite amounts of gratitude and appreciation to all writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians, teachers, parents, readers, bloggers: all weavers of the essential threads in the colorful quilt of children’s and young adult literature. We couldn’t have a thriving kidlit and ya lit scene if it weren’t for all their–and your!–contributions.
This reminds me of the ‘Stone Soup’ tale… Whatever the version, we all know the idea behind it: stones make good soup, but carrots and potatoes make it so much better! Jon J. Muth’s retelling, set in China, is my all-time favorite. Muth says of his work as a writer/illustrator: “I am interested in that ‘third thing’ that happens when you connect words and pictures.” So here is where I put my stone into the pot, interested in that ‘third thing’ that happens when you add your offerings to it… Welcome to the melting pot (or should I say “posts”?). May our shared meal prove to be enjoyable.
May 25th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Welcome!!
And thanks for including us among your kidLit links.
Happy Blogging and, more importantly, happy reading,
Andrea
http://www.JustOneMoreBook.com
http://www.SwimmingInLiterarySoup.com
It’s our pleasure to help promote quality projects such as JustOneMoreBook. Here’s to readers and reading!
Aline
June 4th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Namaste! Felicidades! Jambo! Bonjour! You’re here!
I think a post introducing us to the who behind the blog is in order … a photo and a few Q and As that tell us how you arrived in the land where children’s lit is beloved … I’m happy to host it on the Fire Escape if you’re too shy, but the best blogs have a voice, and we want to know how you got yours.
Mitali
Many thanks, Mitali. We do have some information in the “About Us” and “About Our Blog” pages. Nothing too personal, I know… I’m not too keen on making it about me, since it isn’t, but I might indulge you this time around… It won’t be a post here, though.
Aline
June 4th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Congratulations on this new PaperTigers adventure! I have been enchanted by how the site has grown in the past years, and I always look forward to seeing what’s new and worthwhile in the field even if I don’t read many children’s books anymore. You’re all doing such terrific work – good luck with the blog and all the new activities (will we get the PaperTigers t-shirt soon? Please?)
Elisa
Thank you so much, Elisa! This coming from the person who dreamed up and started the website back in 2001… it means a lot!
Aline
June 4th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
At last! A blog from Paper Tigers! I’ve been following you since I started trying to write for children.
Your mention of Stone Soup provoked a lot of memories … it was one of my favourite stories as a child. I’ll certainly look up the version you mentioned. Turning a folk tale of European provenance into a Chinese folk tale is an interesting angle. I shall certainly try to look this book up!
Thanks again, Paper Tigers for your brilliance!
Candy
Frances just posted a comment (below) about Ying Chang Compestine’s “The Real Story of Stone Soup.” Check it out, too, when you have a chance. Narrated by a fisherman, it incorporates the stone-soup motif but is based on a Chinese legend instead of the European folktale.
Aline
June 5th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Congratulations on your new blog! I look forward to reading and sharing in the wonderful world of children’s book from the Pacific Rim and South Asia. We’ve been reading Ying Chang Compestine’s THE REAL STORY OF STONE SOUP, with whimsical illustrations by Stephane Jorisch, and enjoying it very much.
Frances
Thanks for the nice words, Frances! “The Real Story of Stone Soup” is indeed delightful. Who better than Ying Chang Compestine, a writer and cooking teacher, to offer a recipe of “Egg Drop Stone Soup,”a traditional dish in southeast China? And speaking of Stephane Jorisch, Suki’s Kimono, illustrated by him and written by Chieri Uegaki, is very popular with my 5 year-old. Gotta love litttle Suki’s strong personality and pride in her heritage.
Aline
June 24th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Our favorite version is “Cactus Soup” by Eric A. Kimmel. The illustrations by Phil Huling are fabulous!
June 25th, 2007 at 6:40 am
I’ve been watching your site grow and am glad to see you now have a blog. I love Muth’s contribution to the classic. And this was a great post.
annie
July 7th, 2007 at 11:37 am
[...] religion, parents begin early to introduce kids to world cuisines. While Aline’s been cooking up Stone Soup, we’ve been making a stew of cookbooks and food reference books for kids. Amy Wilson Sanger’s [...]