What do you think?
A Soup Opera
This is a richly illustrated story of a man, a bowl of soup and the man's operatic and frustrating quest to eat it. The book is accompanied by a music cd of the opera being performed.
32 pages
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Jim Gill
2 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 20, 2016
2020 Update
This book has absolutely become my signature as a children's librarian. I read it a month ago in playgroup and a little kiddo has found me every week since to tell me 🎶 I can't eat the soup! 🎶
I read it for babies and toddlers all the way through 3rd graders. It's so fun and kids get really into it. I almost always read it for class visits, and my coworkers will tell me that they could hear us all singing all the way down at the reference desk. I gifted it to my best friend and her (then) 2 year old, and he would pull it off the shelf for her to read and once it was finished he would flip it over and make her read it again! Thus it was moved to a secret shelf and has become their go-to travel book. This book is so much fun and I love it so much.
2016 Review
Jim Gill is the stone cold best. He was recently the keynote at our youth services professional development day, and his presentation was so great I structured this week's playgroup around using his songs. And I'm planning my next playgroup around this book!
This book has absolutely become my signature as a children's librarian. I read it a month ago in playgroup and a little kiddo has found me every week since to tell me 🎶 I can't eat the soup! 🎶
I read it for babies and toddlers all the way through 3rd graders. It's so fun and kids get really into it. I almost always read it for class visits, and my coworkers will tell me that they could hear us all singing all the way down at the reference desk. I gifted it to my best friend and her (then) 2 year old, and he would pull it off the shelf for her to read and once it was finished he would flip it over and make her read it again! Thus it was moved to a secret shelf and has become their go-to travel book. This book is so much fun and I love it so much.
2016 Review
Jim Gill is the stone cold best. He was recently the keynote at our youth services professional development day, and his presentation was so great I structured this week's playgroup around using his songs. And I'm planning my next playgroup around this book!
February 1, 2024
Once again, a fabulous kids book! If, that is, the reader is willing to be as goofy and operatic and enthusiastic as possible. It’s easy to get kids on board when a book is this great. That being said, it’s good to have as a model the CD that Jim Gill included with this book. I’m not saying you need to use it every time, but it gives you an idea of how to sound. I was lucky enough to see him perform it in person with facial expressions, little wooden puppets, and the typical Jim Gill enthusiasm.
April 13, 2021
Delightful with accompanying CD
June 20, 2023
Storytime kids can't get past the fact that onion soup is served ;)
But they sure loved the opera!
But they sure loved the opera!
April 7, 2011
We, meaning me and my family, were introduced to this book by Jim Gill himself when he came to our town. His naration of this book and involving us, the audience, to help with the singing was my favorite part of his concert.
Since the concert, we checked out the book from the library. We love reading the book. We love listening to the CD of the book. We love singing with the CD of the book. We love singing, "I can't eat this soup!" at all hours of the day. We love singing, "I can't eat this soup!" with our librarian. My husband sings it in French. Vince, my two year old, will raise his arms high into the air and sing, "I can't eat this soup!"
BRAVO!
Since the concert, we checked out the book from the library. We love reading the book. We love listening to the CD of the book. We love singing with the CD of the book. We love singing, "I can't eat this soup!" at all hours of the day. We love singing, "I can't eat this soup!" with our librarian. My husband sings it in French. Vince, my two year old, will raise his arms high into the air and sing, "I can't eat this soup!"
BRAVO!
April 4, 2023
Man oh man, do I love when the title of a book includes a pun... a GOOD pun.
Plus, synesthesia is thrown into that title, like an amazing spice.
For any of you Goodreaders who aren't familiar with the word "synesthesia," it means having all your senses working together. As a teacher of deeper perception, I find that gift can be very important. Each of us can learn skills for mobilizing our lifelong set of gifts for deeper perception. And everybody HAS synesthesia, even if they haven't learned how to USE it yet.
(Incidentally, natural synthesthesia has zero to do with taking drugs or doing psychic development.) For example, synesthesia is key to the system of Aura Reading Through All Your Senses®.)
What makes "Soup Opera" a fabulous example of a synesthesia-type pun?
We smell and taste soup. We hear music. When all three happen at once, just from the soup, that's synesthesia.
THIS DRAMA IS SO PERFECT FOR KIDS
Because, when learning how to get a spoonful of soup into one's own mouth, like a big boy or girl?" That can become so difficult, and way messy.
"Please sing this book with passion" advises the author. Well, what did you expect, "Legato"?
Oh, I am so in like with this book! My personal highlight: Omg, when we get to the Wagnerian President of the United States.
And now I'm gonna go listen to the CD.
Delightful! The short tracks are perfect for time to laugh between the various numbers. Which I did, a lot. Happy to report, the U.S. President's entrance music is particularly funny.
Most important, watch out, Goodreaders. Because "I can't eat the soup" turns out to be quite the earworm.
This book is must giving, must reading, must listening
For any parent of a young child, provided that the parent is into classical music and/or opera. Wonderful!
Plus, synesthesia is thrown into that title, like an amazing spice.
For any of you Goodreaders who aren't familiar with the word "synesthesia," it means having all your senses working together. As a teacher of deeper perception, I find that gift can be very important. Each of us can learn skills for mobilizing our lifelong set of gifts for deeper perception. And everybody HAS synesthesia, even if they haven't learned how to USE it yet.
(Incidentally, natural synthesthesia has zero to do with taking drugs or doing psychic development.) For example, synesthesia is key to the system of Aura Reading Through All Your Senses®.)
What makes "Soup Opera" a fabulous example of a synesthesia-type pun?
We smell and taste soup. We hear music. When all three happen at once, just from the soup, that's synesthesia.
THIS DRAMA IS SO PERFECT FOR KIDS
Because, when learning how to get a spoonful of soup into one's own mouth, like a big boy or girl?" That can become so difficult, and way messy.
"Please sing this book with passion" advises the author. Well, what did you expect, "Legato"?
Oh, I am so in like with this book! My personal highlight: Omg, when we get to the Wagnerian President of the United States.
And now I'm gonna go listen to the CD.
Delightful! The short tracks are perfect for time to laugh between the various numbers. Which I did, a lot. Happy to report, the U.S. President's entrance music is particularly funny.
Most important, watch out, Goodreaders. Because "I can't eat the soup" turns out to be quite the earworm.
This book is must giving, must reading, must listening
For any parent of a young child, provided that the parent is into classical music and/or opera. Wonderful!
November 21, 2017
November is picture book month and here is a selection that will be PERFECT for next summer's musical themed reading program!
This is going to be smash hit at storytime! C) 2009 A Soup Opera by Jim Gill and illustrated by David Moose. The story is told in “operatic” voices that reach a silly conclusion. The book is packaged beautifully with the feel of being in a gorgeous old theater. The impeccable paintings feature real people. And the book includes a CD rich with dramatic ideas!
This is going to be smash hit at storytime! C) 2009 A Soup Opera by Jim Gill and illustrated by David Moose. The story is told in “operatic” voices that reach a silly conclusion. The book is packaged beautifully with the feel of being in a gorgeous old theater. The impeccable paintings feature real people. And the book includes a CD rich with dramatic ideas!
July 20, 2019
My library brought Jim Gill for a concert and a training this week, and he performed this book for us as part of that training. I love how versatile this book is and how it encourages silliness and theatricality. The book is easy to read and perfect for play. Excellent.
For: readers looking for a silly book where they can play-act and predict the plot.
Possible red flags: some readers may find the book to simple.
For: readers looking for a silly book where they can play-act and predict the plot.
Possible red flags: some readers may find the book to simple.
December 1, 2017
I would suggest this book for ages 5-9. A Soup Opera is about how many people try to figure out why the man cannot eat his soup, but the man knows all along. This book has themes of frustration, humor, mystery.
August 28, 2018
picture book with singing.
I only read this once for a 3rd grade class; they liked it OK--I can't tell if they were quiet because they are a quiet class, or if the maybe didn't like it as much as I thought they would. Will try it again maybe with a different class.
I only read this once for a 3rd grade class; they liked it OK--I can't tell if they were quiet because they are a quiet class, or if the maybe didn't like it as much as I thought they would. Will try it again maybe with a different class.
July 31, 2019
This will be fun to perform at storytime. I foresee a "soup" storytime in my near future. Perhaps to be paired with WOLF'S CHICKEN STEW and IS THAT WISE, PIG? and/or perhaps THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. Of course, ending with dancing to Laurie Berkner's "I Feel Crazy so I Jump in the Soup."
January 15, 2020
Don't even try this one as a read aloud unless you are willing to sing! And, you need to be able to sing two parts (not at once!) well enough to distinguish one voice from the other. If you can, this is sure to please audiences. As a bonus, the mayor is Black and the president is a woman! :)
December 6, 2017
I saw the amazing Jim Gill perform this book...it was phenomenal
December 9, 2017
The preschool class loves this one. They like to reenact it through out the day.
January 28, 2018
This is my favorite children's book to read aloud--simple, fun, and kids LOVE it! Adults, too.
November 22, 2018
A silly story that is an opera with community helpers.
2018 storytime theme: soup
Reviewed from a library copy.
2018 storytime theme: soup
Reviewed from a library copy.
March 21, 2019
4.5 stars. I haven't listened to the CD yet, but I think this will be a really fun read aloud for groups.
August 5, 2019
My kids enjoyed this book. What a fun and simple way to introduce the sounds of opera.
December 10, 2019
After seeing Jim Gill give a fantastic concert performance, we immediately checked this book out from the library. My preschooler gives it "forty-four stars." :)
January 14, 2020
Goofy fun.
March 29, 2020
What a fun book. It's a great sing along and read along. I wish I'd known about it when I was a teacher.
August 13, 2020
A simple joke made into a picture book, but extra points for incorporating opera!
January 19, 2021
Interesting story, great illustrations.
February 5, 2021
Jim Gill is a treasure. This silly book introduces opera (with the accompanying CD) in a dramatic and endearing way.
Read
March 9, 2021Funny
April 13, 2021
very silly, very Jim Gill. 6 minutes long.
July 5, 2024
This is hilarious! Both my grands, 6 & 3, loved it. They wanted their parents to hear it and then they went around singing operatically all day. Truly ingenious and great fun for all ages.
July 28, 2024
Hilarious story and song written as if it is an authentic opera. The accompanying CD has the music sung as if it is truly an opera! Great fun!
May 7, 2011
"This is a drama about a man and a bowl of soup. A drama that is set to music is an opera, so this is . . . A SOUP OPERA."
This month, for Barrie Summy's Book Review Club, I'm reviewing a children's picture book by musician and author Jim Gill: A Soup Opera.
"A man walked into one of the finest restaurants in the city and was seated at the very best table."
It's not the start of a joke. Or, rather, it sort of is. But it's not the humor that makes the story. Or maybe it is.
See, a guy orders a bowl of soup, complains that he can't eat it, and escalates the problem all the way up to . . . the President of the United States. The whole thing culminates with a zinger that some parents saw coming from the very first note. (My husband, not so much.)
The story is told in a book packaged with a CD-ROM for family read-along fun. But it's even more fun to try to sing the opera yourself. Over and over and over. There's a narrator who sets the scene and makes transitions, while the dialogue is sung opera style. This is more accessible than you might imagine, as all the lines are short and frequently repeated.
"What did you say?"
"I can't eat the soup!"
My 5-year-old became fond of this book at preschool story time, and we got it for her as a "graduation" present last Friday.
Since then we've listened to it about 250 times.
Sometimes we just set the CD on track repeat and let her indulge herself. It's amazing how much she loves it. You should see her throwing out her arms and just belting out the lines.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
"I can't eat the soup!"
I'll probably have this thing stuck in my head for the rest of my life. Fortunately, it's really fun.
Plus, I'm introducing my child to CULTURE. Do I get some sort of parenting extra credit for that?
This month, for Barrie Summy's Book Review Club, I'm reviewing a children's picture book by musician and author Jim Gill: A Soup Opera.
"A man walked into one of the finest restaurants in the city and was seated at the very best table."
It's not the start of a joke. Or, rather, it sort of is. But it's not the humor that makes the story. Or maybe it is.
See, a guy orders a bowl of soup, complains that he can't eat it, and escalates the problem all the way up to . . . the President of the United States. The whole thing culminates with a zinger that some parents saw coming from the very first note. (My husband, not so much.)
The story is told in a book packaged with a CD-ROM for family read-along fun. But it's even more fun to try to sing the opera yourself. Over and over and over. There's a narrator who sets the scene and makes transitions, while the dialogue is sung opera style. This is more accessible than you might imagine, as all the lines are short and frequently repeated.
"What did you say?"
"I can't eat the soup!"
My 5-year-old became fond of this book at preschool story time, and we got it for her as a "graduation" present last Friday.
Since then we've listened to it about 250 times.
Sometimes we just set the CD on track repeat and let her indulge herself. It's amazing how much she loves it. You should see her throwing out her arms and just belting out the lines.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
"I can't eat the soup!"
I'll probably have this thing stuck in my head for the rest of my life. Fortunately, it's really fun.
Plus, I'm introducing my child to CULTURE. Do I get some sort of parenting extra credit for that?
December 21, 2016
My preschool students adore this book and ask for it routinely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews