It has snowed so much that Carrie has the day off from school. She wants to earn money shoveling to buy her mother a Christmas present. But what should she buy? As she goes from house to house, Carrie finds everybody making soup. Carrie's neighbors come from many places, so each one is making a different kind of soup. As she collects recipes, Carrie begins to get an idea of what to give her mother. Accompanied by simple recipes, this tale is sure to please the many readers who loved Everybody Cooks Rice and Everybody Bakes Bread as well as those who are new to Carrie's delightful and diverse neighborhood.