Kimmel, Eric, A.; Huling,Phil [Illus]. Cactus Soup.Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish, 2004.
ISBN: 0761451552

Author:
Eric A. Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1946.  Eric had wanted to be an author since he first discovered back in kindergarten that people called authors make books. His first book came out in 1974.  Since then he has published over fifty titles, many of which have won numerous state awards, appeared on school and library recommended lists, and won prestigious awards. He is the only author to win the National Jewish Book Award for picture books twice. The first time was for The Chanukkah Guest. The second time was for The Mysterious Guests.

Plot Summary:
This is a version of the folktale Stone Soup or Nail Soup. In this version, group of hungry soldiers ride into San Miguel, the mayor and townspeople don’t want to share their food. 

The mayor was not happy about the soldiers coming and grumbled,

                        "They eat like wolves.

                         There won't be a tortilla left when they get through."  

So the townspeople 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!  The town ends up have a huge feast and the townspeople pull out of the food that they had hidden.  

The mayor decided the town can feed any group of soldiers as long as they

                              "remember how to make Cactus Soup"!  

Critical Analysis:
Kimmel leaves the basic story line of the original tale but puts his great twist on the presentation. He adds in some Spanish words and names of food to add to the Mexican flare of this book. 

Phil Huling used deep watercolors and exaggerated drawing to emphasize the southwest style of this tale.  He draws over-sized sombreros, elongated facial features, lanky bodies, swayed back horses which works well to give the tale a Mexican look along with glossy pages. 

Connections:

• Read Stone Soup by Ann McGovern
• Read Nail Soup by Eric Maddern
• Researching cactus:  Are cacti native to your area?  Find out what species are native to your state.
• Make cactus soup or stone soup
• Read Little Red Hot by Eric A. Kimmel (version of Red Riding Hood) 

Awards/Reviews:

• Caldecott Honor Medal-Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins 
• Sydney Taylor Picture Book Award -The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon’s Monster
• National Jewish Book Award for picture books twice -The Chanukkah Guest and The Mysterious Guests 
•  Naylor Award-The Lady In The Blue Cloak

Kimmel (The Runaway Tortilla) sets his version of "Stone Soup" during the Mexican Revolution, inspiring some marvelously atmospheric watercolors by Huling (Puss in Cowboy Boots). Hungry soldiers encounter the poverty-feigning townsfolk of San Miguel and announce that they will make enough cactus soup for the troops and the village. And they make it from an unlikely ingredient-a single cactus thorn. - Publishers Weekly

Kimmel serves up the familiar Stone Soup story with a Mexican flavor in this retelling set in northern Mexico during the time of the Mexican Revolution.- Kirkus Review