"Stone Soup"

Stone Soup
Author: Marcia Brown
Illustrator: Marcia Brown
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Folktale
Theme: Soldiers from War, Village Bonding
Primary/Secondary Characters: Three Soldiers, Village Peasants
Date of Publication: Year 1975
Publishing Company: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
Award: Caldecott Honor Book

Summary: Three soldiers returning from war approached a village very hungry and tired. they stopped at the houses of three different peasant families, asking if anyone had any food to spare. The peasants all hid their food and apologized saying that they did not. One day in the center of the village, the three soldiers announced that they were about to make soup from three single rocks. They kept asking for different ingredients, and the peasants hurried to get them from their houses to experience this magic happen. Little did they know that the soldiers were outsmarting them and knew that they had been lying to the soldiers. All three were humble as they shared the soup and had a feast with all the village people. The village people then offered them each a bed to sleep in, and they woke up in the morning and continued on their journey.
This can be used in a classroom as it shows children to share what they have, whether or not the receiving person is less fortunate or not. It shows them to always tell the truth and to be humble when an issue arises. the three soldiers are role models as they shared and cared for the village peasants that did not care for them in the first place. This can be taught to any aged child, as this folktale is enjoyable for all.