Bring some soup and a story together and you have a warm bowl that whispers home, memories, kindness, and tradition. Soup’s On Around the World captures that universal warmth and turns it into a vivid, joyful celebration of global culinary heritage. With lyrical, rhythmic prose and lush, colourful illustrations, Waissbluth and O’Byrne serve up more than just dishes — they serve culture, history, and connection.
Author Denyse Waissbluth has a curious palate and an adventurous spirit. According to the publisher’s bio, she has “eaten her way through every Canadian province and territory and more than twenty countries.” Her appreciation for food as a cultural bridge — “how food (like soup!) opens doors to different cultures” — and her love of travel are the inspirations behind this book. When not writing, she works in agriculture and spends time travelling with her family — a background that no doubt deepens her connection to land, food, and cultural roots. https://www.denysewaissbluth.com/
From the zesty heat of Thai tom yum goong to a chilled Spanish gazpacho, from the humble roots of Indigenous North American Three Sisters Soup to the festive sweetness of Finland’s Christmas fruit soup — every recipe-story in this book comes with its own background, cultural context and a little pinch of trivia.
Rather than offering full recipes, the book gives enough ingredient and flavour cues to let your imagination roam. There are sidebar notes that hint at each soup’s origin, significance, and in some cases — medicinal or communal value. For instance, one learns that a traditional West African bitter-leaf soup was once used to treat illnesses.
This is not a dry “encyclopedia of soups.” What makes Soup’s On Around the World sing is its spirit: each page bursts with warmth — people of all ages, backgrounds, clothes, and settings sharing a bowl together. The diversity of settings (from street stalls to cozy kitchens) and the inclusive cast evoke a sense of global kitchen-table — the kind where everyone, no matter where they come from, is invited.
The final touch — bothf the author and illustrator add one of their personal favourite soup recipes to the end of the book. A lovely, homey bonus that invites readers to bring this global adventure into their own kitchens. You too can make the author’s favourite Mémère’s Barley & Vegetable Soup in our Recipe section.
Tasting Notes — What Works (Especially)
- Accessibility and warmth: Written for ages 4–8, the book nevertheless holds appeal well beyond children — for parents, grandparents, immigrants, travellers, or anyone who has ever felt comfort in a bowl of soup.
- Celebration of diversity: Rather than exoticizing “otherness,” the book normalizes the global variety of soups — each recipe feels as natural as the next, encouraging curiosity, empathy, and appreciation.
- Artistic charm: The illustrations are colourful, inviting, and full of life; they add movement, emotion, and humanity to each spread, turning soup from a mere dish into a story, a memory, a cultural artifact.
- Educational + evocative: Combining food facts, cultural touches, gentle history — the book feels like a warm hug and a mini geography/social-studies lesson at once. Perfect for curious kids (and curious grown-ups).
The illustrator, Chelsea O’Byrne brings Waissbluth’s words to vibrant, warm life. Living and working in Vancouver, B.C., she’s an artist and teacher, with several illustrated books to her name. Her style is rich and inviting, mixing textures and tones in a way that feels both grounded and playful — a perfect match for a book meant to bridge cultures and cuisines. The fact that she loves “a nice big bowl of home-cooked soup” in her studio (without spilling on her art!) is just the cherry (or crouton) on top. https://www.chelseaobyrne.ca/
Soup’s On Around the World is a warm, heartfelt tribute to the simple power of soup — not just as a food, but as a vessel of memory, identity, culture, comfort, and community. It invites readers (young and old) to consider: What does the soup in my bowl say about me? Where does it come from (like my baba’s borscht) — geographically, culturally, historically? It’s a book that nourishes more than appetites: it nourishes curiosity, empathy, and connection. You can purchase the book at https://greystonebooks.com/products/soup-time-around-the-world or win a copy in our Giveaway section.
For anyone — especially families, travelers, multicultural households, or food lovers — this is a little gem worthy of a spot on the shelf. It reminds us how, across continents and cuisines: in soup and in life, we’re often more connected than we realize.
Contents and images used with permission of the publisher from the book Soup’s On Around the World (Book 2: Taste the World series) written by Denyse Waissbluth, illustrated by Chelsea O’Byrne, and published by Greystone Kids in October 2025. Available wherever books are sold. https://greystonebooks.com/products/soup-time-around-the-world