Children to Make “Stone Soup” in Malden

Many of us know the timeless folk tale that tells of people in a poor village that did not want to share their supply of food with three hungry soldiers who were passing through. So the soldiers decide to make a big pot of “Stone Soup” in the center of the village, placing three stones in a huge kettle of boiling water.

The bewildered and curious villagers soon engage in contributing ingredients to this odd soup, some salt from one, carrots from another, onions from someone else. Before long, a cut of meat, more vegetables, and seasoning shows up, each villager contributing whatever they could find from their meager pantries. In the end, a delicious soup is made that the entire village enjoys, including the hungry soldiers.

On Saturday, March 26, Malden Reads: One City, One Book will host an event for children, ages seven and up, accompanied by a parent or group leader. Participants contribute ingredients for two different soups (no actual stones will be used) and help make soup, under the guidance of local chef and business owner David Stein (of Brother Trucker Food Services). They will also help to make bread with the help of local chef Laura Lewis.

Both the soup and the bread will be served at a Bread of Life dinner the following week, and some of the participants will help serve and sit down with the guests for the meal.

During the preparation of the food, professional storyteller (and Malden resident) Bruce Marcus will perform the story of “Stone Soup” and even have the children act it out as a dramatic skit. He will also tell other related stories. This is a special opportunity for children to spend time with important adults in their life, engaging in a service activity that is both creative and fun.

The event will be videotaped by MATV and made into a short program, to be shown on the cable channel, Malden Reads website, and during the culminating event for Malden Reads on April 10 at the Jenkins auditorium.

Children and their accompanying adults are encouraged to participate in this event, but please sign up in advance.  It will take place at the Immaculate Conception Church (600 Pleasant St. Malden, lower church hall) on Saturday, March 26 from 11am – 2pm (stay for all or part of the time).

RSVP to Stone_Soup@maldenreads.org or call Carol at 781-321-6504 to sign up and let us know what ingredient(s) you plan to bring. To see a list of ingredients needed for the soup, please click here. This event is being sponsored by the Oak Grove Improvement Association, in collaboration with the Immaculate Conception Church and MATV, for the Malden Reads: One City, One Book project.  

The “Stone Soup” story has been used previously in this column as an analogy to the way in which the Malden Reads project is being carried out. (See “The Stone Soup Approach to Community Reading.”)  Community residents, local organizations, schools, and city leaders are each contributing their part into making this community-building project a success. The story also relates to some of the themes in this year’s book selections: friendship, reaching out to others in need, and being part of something larger than one’s self. The upcoming Stone Soup event speaks to both of those analogies and brings them into form—on an active, creative, and service-oriented level. So join the local “villagers” as they create their own version of Stone Soup in Malden.

Anne D’Urso-Rose is the Assistant Director of Malden Access Television and a Malden Public Library Board of Trustee. She is a member of the Malden Reads: One City, One Book committee.