January is National Soup Month ~ Soup Day Children's Book Review & Giveaway

Although I am not a big fan of winter or this cold weather, I do enjoy a hot bowl of soup on days like today. Soup is soothing and has a way of warming me up almost instantly. I recently learned that January (probably one of the coldest months here in Minnesota) is actually National Soup Month. To celebrate, we were sent the book Soup Day by Melissa Iwai.

Award-winning illustrator Melissa Iwai celebrates a trip to the local green market, a quiet afternoon at home, and the joy found in making a pot of homemade goodness in her new picture book, Soup Day. The idea for the book was born born from Melissa's time spent in the kitchen with her own son Jamie and the special bonding and learning experiences that came from it.

When the book arrived I was immediately drawn to the bright illustration on the front and couldn't have been happier to see that it was not only a hardcover, but also had thick pages that will not bend and tear easily. This is a must with two little ones and something I really appreciate.

As soon as Kaelyn spotted the book, she was begging to read it. Of course, I couldn't say no. As we read through, I realized the text is simple and easy to understand. It's a great book for children of all ages. The story line is interesting and one both adults and children can relate to. With everything from choosing the vegetables to picking the pasta shapes...there's a lot of learning lessons incorporated and a great deal of fun as well. This picture book is full of color and is a great way to talk with children about making a nutritious meals, sharing, and spending time together.

Kaelyn especially enjoyed walking through the process of making soup. She asked me if we could do that sometime, and of course I said yes! At the back of the book the author even shares her own "Snowy Day Vegetable Soup" recipe which is one we've decided we will try sometime soon.

We even took some time to visit Melissa Iwai's website and found fun Activity Sheets for children, as well as helpful tips and yummy recipes for cooking with your kids!

I really loved everything about this book and think children of all ages would enjoy it. It teaches so many great lessons and celebrates the importance of making nutritious meals and spending time together in the process.

Win It: To celebrate National Soup Month, one lucky reader is going to win a copy of the Soup Day book!

Mandatory Entry - Visit Melissa Iwai's website and let me know something you learned.

Extra Entries: (Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry)

1. 1 extra entry - Subscribe to Melissa's Food blog, The Hungry Artist

2. 1 extra entry - Follow Melissa Iwai on Twitter

3. 1 extra entry - Like Melissa Iwai on Facebook

4. 3 extra entries- Blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and Melissa Iwai) and leave THREE comments with the URL to that post.

5. 1 extra entry- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for one extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

Celebrate National Soup Month & #WIN the Soup Day children's book by @meliwai! #momsbalancingact http://bit.ly/dI2SyW Ends 2/4

6. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

7. 3 extra entries- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

8. 2 extra entries- Become a Fan/Like A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

9. 2 extra entries- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

10. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

11. 1 extra entry- Share about this giveaway on your Facebook status by including a link back to this giveaway.

Leave one comment for each entry you complete above including with each, your e-mail address (or at least make sure it's in your profile) so that I can easily contact the winner!!

This giveaway will end February 4th and is open to the US Only

**The products for this review and giveaway were provided for free. All opinions found here are my own and were not influenced in any way.**