Cactus Soup

Written by Eric A. Kimmel · Illustrated by Phil Huling

Hungry soldiers trick a town into sharing their hidden feast.

3.9 Goodreads · 383 ratings

32 pages· 1,181 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud· AD580L

$9.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In San Miguel, wary townsfolk hide their food from hungry soldiers. But the clever Capitán has a plan: cactus soup. As he stirs his pot, the villagers unwittingly contribute their hidden treasures—salt, chilies, even a chicken. What starts as a simple ruse becomes a feast, revealing the power of community and cleverness. Will the townspeople realize they've been outsmarted, or will they embrace the unexpected bounty? Discover the humor and heart in this southwestern twist on a classic tale.

From the publisher

The Spanish edition of our Mexican-flavored Stone Soup story, Cactus Soup.When a group of hungry soldiers ride into San Miguel, the townspeople don’t want to share their food. They hide their tortillas, tamales, beans, and flour and put on torn clothes to look poor. But the Capitán is not fooled. He asks for a cactus thorn to make some cactus soup, and before long he has tricked the townspeople into giving him salt and chilies, vegetables, and a chicken as well! Whimsical watercolors by Phil Huling add to the humor in this southwestern twist on the classic Stone Soup tale.

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