Soup Too?
By Karyn Wellhousen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Believable story of a dog and a baby.

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What's the Story?
Who requires more attention, a baby or puppy? In SOUP TOO?, it's both, as the gangly black-and-white pup tags along through the baby's daily routine. The story is told in two-word phrases, which describe the baby's activity, followed by the question, "Soup too?". The lively illustrations are vital to fully understanding the story line.
Is It Any Good?
This is a nice bedtime story. The strong relationship between the baby and Soup the dog is more apparent in SOUP TOO? than in other books of this series. The baby, enchanted by Soup's behavior, looks at Soup with anticipation while eating, bathing, and drying off, and is both surprised and delighted by the puppy's reaction in each situation. At the end, the baby, Soup, and Bean the cat snuggle up and peacefully fall asleep together.
The brief text, in accompaniment with the illustrations, tells a complete story. The phrase, "Soup too?" follows each description of the baby's routine, which adds the important element of repetition. The facial expressions and body language show the baby's true emotions as Soup clumsily slips into the tub and later shakes himself dry. Each setting is designated by a different background color, and extra objects are kept to a minimum to keep the focus on the action.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the baby and the dog. How are they similar in their routine? How are they different?
Book Details
- Author: Sarah Hines-Stephens
- Illustrator: Anna Grossnickle Hines
- Genre: Picture Book
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harcourt Brace
- Publication date: April 17, 2000
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 2 - 4
- Number of pages: 18
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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