Nail Soup

by Eric Maddern, Paul Hess (Illustrator)

A traveler stops at a lonely cottage, hoping to scrounge a bed for the night. The grumpy old woman who lives there offers him the floor, but insists there’s no food in the house. “In that case,” declares the traveler, “I’ll have to share what I’ve got with you.” He pulls a rusty old nail from his pocket and starts to make — nail soup! All it needs is a garnish or two . . . This delightful cover of an age-old yarn proves that a merry heart and generous soul produce far better results than whines and demands. Paul Hess’s quirky, stylish illustrations are the perfect complement to the text’s deadpan wit.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 11, 2007

Reviews

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these illustrations. The story is a nice take on Stone Soup but has its own unique elements.

[Jose Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This folk tale with its roots in the Scandinavian culture is told by Maddern. Nail Soup is similar to the Caldecott Honor Book, Stone Soup, by Marci Brown. On a very cold night a traveller is making his way through the forest. It becomes way to cold for him to continue on his journey. He comes across a house and meets an old woman. He is just looking for some hospitality for the night. He feels as if the woman is very cold hearted because she refuses to host him. He is very quick with his rhymes that make the old woman feel bad. He asks for something to eat and this is where the story begins its rising climax. The traveller says he is going to make nail soup. He begins to ask for different ingredients and as he is cooking begins to tell magical stories that excite the old woman. The illustrations by Hess capture magical moments in the text like the old woman imagining that she is having a feast with a king in a palace. She opens up and the traveller succeeds at receiving the best treatment from the old lady. She even lets him sleep on a bed and makes him coffee in the morning. He was suppose to be sleeping on the floor. This soup that began with just one nail and a boiling pot of water ended up with many different delicious ingredients.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Stone Soup” is a very old folktale with variations and retellings set in countries around the world, in various historical periods, and featuring different characters. Most versions feature hungry strangers who persuade locals to share their resources, and often there is a lesson of cooperation and generosity, even in times of hardship and scarcity.

In my preschool classroom (of 3 to 5 year olds), we spent several weeks investigating a series of illustrated children's books based on this folktale about making soup from stones (or cactus needles or nails). Through focused engagement with geographically-, culturally-, and historically-specific retellings of the folktale, we have been able to integrate literacy, geography, cultural studies, cooking, dramatic and constructive play, and scientific inquiry into our classroom life.

Eric Maddern's Nail Soup offers a Welsh backdrop to the tale, and richly detailed illustrations.

[Char Hight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Thoughts:

This variant of "Stone Soup," is a Swedish folktale about a Traveller who is in search of shelter during a winter storm. He finds a cottage in the forrest and finds an old woman alone and unwelcoming. She eventually allows him to come inside and insists he not ask for anything more. Of course the Traveller is able to get food and a bed out of the woman. The tale ends with the woman having a warmer heart and the Traveller going on his way.
I though this story was more child-friendly especially by its choice vocabulary (eg. traveller instead of tramp). The illustrations were appealing as well. There are some repeating lines which would make for a great read aloud.

Classroom use: (Grades 2-4)

-make soup for class treat (winter months/winter party)
-vocabulary building
-story predictions and reflections
-story stretchers
-create a story picking up at the end for the woman and the traveller after they part ways

[eRin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cold traveller comes across a small cottage in the forest and thinks it would be a lovely place to rest for th night. He encounters the lady of the house--a brusque woman whose husband is away and wants nothing to do with this stranger. She reluctantly agrees to let him sleep on the floor but warns him that she'll get nothing else from him. He states that he's hungry and asks if he can borrow a pot to make nail soup. Curious, the woman lends him a pot and watches the process. She never imagines that a nail can make such a good meal!

Retelling of the classic stone soup, this is cute. A story more about friendship and the kindness strangers can show each other than a silly soup that probably didn't fool the woman anyway. The illustrations weren't anything great in my opinion, but it's a nice little version.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best, well-written, prose-style, childrens' picture books that I have read in a while. I loved the story. I loved his use of repetition. I loved how the woman seemed to soften as the traveler made the soup. And don't even get me started on the illustrations. They were vibrant and amazing. The use of illustrating at an angle that most don't think to use made the pictures very unique and special.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

After convincing a woman to let him spend the night on her floor, a weary traveler shares his recipe for nail soup.


I like the telling, although the pair get a bit carried away with the royals and wine and whatnot. Then again, there ought to be a bit of magic. And, it's sweet. Hess hid hearts throughout the woman's house. I like that. They hint that perhaps she's not so brash, just precautions and perhaps a bit weary herself.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Swedish take on the Stone Soup story I've heard before. Complete with fabulous Traveler and prejudiced Swede whose heart softens.

[Buxmont Uu]

LSU 9

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the hidden images within the illustration, for examples the little hearts hidden in clothes and furniture. I loved the vibrancy and the way the text would subtly change.
I thought this take on Stone Soup was one of my favorites, mainly because the author stripped down the plot and left us with only 2 characters (+the mention of a third who never appeared).
It was the revamp I didn't know I wanted; a weird exploration of one mans selfishness and one woman's naïveté.

[Jamie]

In this Scandinavian variation of the stone soup tales, a traveler stops to look for a bed. Meeting a brusque woman, he convinces her to let him sleep on the floor. He uses rhythm and rhyme to intrigue the woman and is allowed to stay, “Better on the floor without sleep than suffer cold in the forest deep.” The surreal illustrations reflect the tale that unfolds along with his cunning behavior with a “magical” nail. Hungry and cold, he encourages her to put his nail in a pot with water. While the nail is boiling he encourages the woman to add additional ingredients to make the soup more delicious. As they create the soup with the “magical” nail, her attitude toward him becomes more friendly and they enjoy a grand meal together. The tale ends with an afternote in the form of a life lesson from the author. Theme- People can bring out hidden gifts in each other.
Target Audience: Grades 2-5