Tough Chicks [Hardcover]

Cece Meng (Author), Melissa Suber (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

From the moment Penny, Polly, and Molly hatch from their eggs, the whole farm knows they are truly tough chicks. They wrestle worms, rope roosters, and are often found under the hood of the tractor. All the other animals and even the farmer himself tell Mama Hen to make her chicks good. "They are good!" Mama Hen replies. But could her chicks be too loud, too independent, and too tough? Lively language and bold illustrations capture all the fun and humor of this delightfully different farmyard romp that's also a resounding endorsement for letting girls be girls (even if they're loud and tough and like to play with tractors.)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—When Penny, Polly, and Molly hatch, they are three tough chicks. They run around the farm ("Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep") to the consternation of the other animals and the farmer. From swinging on the cow's tail, roping the rooster, and peeking under the hood of the tractor, the feisty females elicit pleas from the farmer and critters to the chicks' mother, "Make them be good!" Mother Hen invariably replies, "They are good!" But they are restored to everyone's good graces when a runaway tractor almost crashes into the henhouse. The colorful acrylic illustrations—and chicks—dance across the pages in a variety of spreads and smaller vignettes. The frenetic barnyard action is barely contained within the pages. The repetition in the text will make this a good choice for storytime sharing as well as independent reading. These chicks are mischievous enough to entice the most reluctant reader.—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Kids will have fun with this story.”—Publishers Weekly

 

"When Penny, Polly, and Molly hatch, they are three tough chicks. They run around the farm ("Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep") to the consternation of the other animals and the farmer. From swinging on the cow's tail, roping the rooster, and peeking under the hood of the tractor, the feisty females elicit pleas from the farmer and critters to the chicks' mother, "Make them be good!" Mother Hen invariably replies, "They are good!" But they are restored to everyone's good graces when a runaway tractor almost crashes into the henhouse. The colorful acrylic illustrations—and chicks—dance across the pages in a variety of spreads and smaller vignettes. The frenetic barnyard action is barely contained within the pages. The repetition in the text will make this a good choice for storytime sharing as well as independent reading. These chicks are mischievous enough to entice the most reluctant reader."--School Library Journal

 

"Mama Hen's three new chicks just won't be cute--or good, much to the dismay of all the barnyard residents, except their proud Mama.  They race the bugs, rope the rooster and dive off the fence for fun, running around the farm with an unusual series of un-chick-like cries: "Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep!"  They won't learn how to cluck, scratch for grain or build a nest.  They even poke around under the hood of the big red tractor.  Even the hyper-supportive Mama worries that their differences might get them into mischief or, even worse, make them outcasts.  One day, Farmer Fred has some trouble with his tractor; it careens out of control and lands in a mud hole, and it's Penny, Polly and Molly to the rescue.  Suber's bright acrylics fit the broad strokes of Meng's delightful tale, investing each yellow, droplet-shaped chick with an individual personality.  Comfy, round shapes dominate her compositions, which tile and veer off-kilter with the chick's energy; taking a cue from the cartoons, she depicts the chicks' running feet as a blur of tiny orange strokes.  Sublime and original."--Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; None edition (February 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618824154
• ISBN-13: 978-0618824151
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,055,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

If you are a teacher, parent, librarian, or educator please check out my website at www.cecemeng.com. If you have always wanted to learn how to draw a hippo, then my website is an absolute must. If you like reading quirky blogs AND you have a sense of humor (the darker the better) then you might enjoy THE SECRET BLOG OF CECE MENG at http://www.cecemeng.blogspot.com/

I was born in Walnut Creek, California, the middle child of five kids. Don't believe everything you hear about the forgotten middle child. We have our methods for getting noticed. My siblings excelled at everything academic. I excelled at daydreaming. My parents were not amused.

My experiences volunteering at a homeless shelter while in college helped me understand the importance of communication and the role it plays in how we see and understand each other as a society. It also showed me how grownups are instrumental in giving kids hope, health, and inspiration to succeed.

My thoughts on writing? For me, it's about the music and the rhythms found in words. The joys of my childhood - music and poetry - wrapped up in the words of today. I love to honor the impulses of our spirited children. I tell my kids I have the best job in the world. I'm a professional daydreamer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do enjoy and stand up for your children, February 23, 2009

By 

S. Hong (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tough Chicks (Hardcover)

This book is a blessing in disguise. It reminded me that I too have "Good Kids."

Just days before I was reminded of a piece once listed in Dear Abby.

Healthy children make lots of noise.
They sing, they shout, they belly-laugh, they fight, they bang things together, they bounce things, they cry, they scream, they make lots of noise.
They play loud.

Prayer for a Tired, Irritable Parent
God, bless my healthy children.
Give me new ears, ears that hear the music of their noise.
Give me new understanding, understanding that doesn't crush their spirits with my intolerance and oversensitivity.
Give me new peace, a peace that is grateful for the sounds created by healthy children.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd give it more stars if I could!, July 5, 2009

By 

K. Bonner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tough Chicks (Hardcover)

I laughed inwardly as I read this animated little book to my daughter, who is 6 years old and as likely to collect snails in the back garden as she is to snuggle a furry little bunny rabbit; loves math as well as reading and art; shoots hoops in the back yard while wearing fairy wings and a tutu; and is a great problem solver but--let's just say--isn't the best at following directions, routines or going along with the crowd.

She and I both giggled at the boisterous little chicks as they zoomed and zipped about the barnyard instead of demurely peeping like the other chicks. My daughter laughed as they scratched artistic masterpieces and complex diagrams in the dust instead of just pecking for worms, and especially enjoyed the chicks' irresistible interest in the inner workings of the farmer's tractor. Meanwhile, I identified with the outward support (as well as the inward concern) of the mother Hen, who's repeated conversations with all the other barnyard animals always went like this: "Make them be good!" "They ARE good."

Though the book uncannily seemed to speak to both my daughter and me, it's an enjoyable and funny story with vibrantly animated illustrations that will appeal to any little boy or girl. We highly recommend it to them and their parents!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tough Chicks Is One Feisty Read!, February 8, 2010

By 

DelGal's Book Reviews (Delaware, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tough Chicks (Hardcover)

Some chicks are quiet, while others spend hours preening their feathers, but not the three chicks in this story, they're a feisty powerhouse trio. The author not only creates an adorable story and the illustrator dazzles the eyes with substantial and striking artwork, but she also entertains and celebrates the positiveness of being a strong, different and independent female. What a fun, inspiring romp with cute lil' chickens.