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Tough Chicks
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.)
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2009
2 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Cece Meng
11 books45 followersI 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
June 19, 2009
Not all girls enjoy dressing up in frou frou pink outfits and sipping tea. If you know a little girl like that, then make sure to remind them that it is ok to be a tough chick! Introduce them to Penny, Polly and Molly; three tough chicks who would rather wrestle a worm than quietly peck grain off the henhouse floor. Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep! The other animals in the baryard want the chicks to act normal and not bad. Thankfully they have a mama who reminds the animals that They're tough and they're smart and they're different in a GOOD way!. Share the story with a tough chick you know, and everyone else too!
March 31, 2021
This is such a beautiful book to read with my daughters. The message that a parent’s love is unconditional and a parent always believes in their children and stands up for them. It reminded me of how my mum is with me and my sisters.
June 9, 2022
love a good feminist farm animal
May 30, 2013
Love the message: "They are good!" Love the fact that Mama Hen believes in them even when everyone else on the farm wants to change them into "good" chicks. It's their very individuality that makes them shine and saves the day in the end. Let chicks be chicks!
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June 1, 2017Just the book I needed after the day I've had.
November 12, 2017
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Tough Chicks, written by Cece Meng and illustrated by Melissa Suber, a wonderful allegory for choosing to be who you are instead of who people think you should be.
From the day Mama Hen hatches Penny, Polly and Molly, she can tell that they are different. They’re not content to fluff their feathers or peck quietly like chicks are supposed to do. Instead, they are filled with the urge to explore, learn, create and, yes, occasionally get into a bit of trouble. And while everyone on the farm insists that Mother Hen teach her daughters to be proper, “good” chicks, she insists that her girls are good – just different. And when Farmer Fred accidentally sends his broken tractor careening towards the barnyard, the tough chicks will have the opportunity to show everyone that being brave, intelligent and resourceful can often save the day.
Loved this one! Obviously, the story has a strong feminist message, using the double meaning of “chicks” to show how little (and big) girls are often expected to quiet, unobtrusive, and even meek. I especially loved how the three chicks show wonderfully well-rounded personalities: they’re not causing trouble by being cruel or disrespectful, instead being shown building, creating, experimenting, tinkering and learning (while still occasionally being a raucous just for the fun of it). The illustrations are great, playful and bright but full of personality, and the length is good too. JJ and I both really enjoyed this girl-power tale, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
September 27, 2022
Not all girls enjoy dressing up in frou frou pink outfits and sipping tea. If you know a little girl like that, then make sure to remind them that it is ok to be a tough chick! Introduce them to Penny, Polly and Molly; three tough chicks who would rather wrestle a worm than quietly peck grain off the henhouse floor. Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep! The other animals in the baryard want the chicks to act normal and not bad. Thankfully they have a mama who reminds the animals that They're tough and they're smart and they're different in a GOOD way!. Share the story with a tough chick you know, and everyone else too!
September 17, 2024
In this farmyard book, 3 "tough chicks" do not behave like other baby chicks on the farm. Fortunately, their mom is okay with their unique "smarts" and doesn't really try to get them to "behave good."
(Although the chicks do not act like the other chicks, I wasn't sure if they were really behaving poorly either, just unexpectedly.)
Kids who like farmyard tales may enjoy this story though, especially the twist ending.
(Although the chicks do not act like the other chicks, I wasn't sure if they were really behaving poorly either, just unexpectedly.)
Kids who like farmyard tales may enjoy this story though, especially the twist ending.
November 13, 2018
Three young chicks don't fit the mold. They explore the farm in their own way and cause some trouble along the way. Young readers will be delighted when the three chicks save the day for the farmer. They save the hen house from the runaway tractor and fixed the tractor too.
Plenty of humor for elementary readers.
Plenty of humor for elementary readers.
December 25, 2020
The message of this story resonates: these chicks are problem solvers and engineers; they are riding cows and playing in the mud. They are not eating off the floor and listening to the farmer and meeting the expectations of “good chicks.” It’s a good read, because the book makes you wonder about the subtle expectations others make that hold you back as a girl.
April 27, 2021
The chicks were chastised for being different. They didn’t want to peck for seeds in the dirt or hide beneath their mother’s wing. They wanted adventure, exploration and experience. It’s ok to be a tough chick. Sometimes they are the ones who save the day.
October 31, 2017
the chicks save the day when the tractor breaks. it was a nice fun book.
November 21, 2017
Girls can be wild, too. I love it.
January 21, 2018
Cute little book about breaking the mold.
May 25, 2019
170/365
February 28, 2020
Chicks can do anything - and there is a message in there for people who want to stereotype people and put them in boxes (i.e. girls :-) ).
May 27, 2020
Nothing is finer than a tough chick!
July 10, 2021
this was a lovely story of (assumed) neurodivergent chicks being loved unconditionally by their mama and showing that their skills are also valuable in the barnyard.
October 5, 2021
Loved the Mama hen supporting her 3 chicks for their differences!
January 15, 2022
Cute and amusing!
March 29, 2025
Such a cute story with a message! Little might not catch on to it, but that’s ok.
January 19, 2009
From the minute they hatch, Penny, Polly and Molly are chicks of a different feather. They wrestle worms, race bugs, and dive for flies. And they move at a fast pace with a "Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep." All of the farm animals beg mother hen to make her chicks behave and be good. But mother hen knows that her chicks are good. Even the farmer gets upset when he finds the chicks under the hood of his tractor. The animals on the farm put together an educational program for the chicks to help them be more normal, but with each lesson the chicks look at things from a completely different angle. When a runaway tractor heads for the henhouse, the chicks just might be more useful than expected!
Happily targeting the role of cute young girls in a family and society, this book skewers the social norm with a playful spirit. These three chicks are just like many girls who enjoy action, motors and little danger and refuse to move at a sedate, ladylike pace. Meng's text is just as lively as the chicks themselves, zooming along at a great pace. Suber's art is equally lively with crotchety pigs, perturbed fowl, and goggle-eyed sheep.
Read this one last in a story time, which is the greatest compliment a book can ever have! This shouldn't be saved for those chicken story times, make sure you use it as one of those rainy-day books that you pull out to brighten things up. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Happily targeting the role of cute young girls in a family and society, this book skewers the social norm with a playful spirit. These three chicks are just like many girls who enjoy action, motors and little danger and refuse to move at a sedate, ladylike pace. Meng's text is just as lively as the chicks themselves, zooming along at a great pace. Suber's art is equally lively with crotchety pigs, perturbed fowl, and goggle-eyed sheep.
Read this one last in a story time, which is the greatest compliment a book can ever have! This shouldn't be saved for those chicken story times, make sure you use it as one of those rainy-day books that you pull out to brighten things up. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
April 6, 2015
Penny, Polly, and Molly are different chicks straight from the egg. They have lots of energy. They are very curious. They are smart and creative. The don't do things the same way the other chicks do. The mama hens tell the chicks' mama to make them be good. She tells them that they are good. Mama does worry some about their exuberance, but applauds them when they do amazing things. One day a disaster occurs with the farmer's tractor. The three tough chicks are able to step in and show what all of their curiosity has taught them and how good it is to be a tough chick.
The illustrations, done in acrylic, are very colorful, hilarious, creative, and fun to look at.
I was smiling from the very first page at the energetic antics of these three chicks. They did not get into mischief, they merely exercised their creativity and intelligence--a lot. I loved how the mother supported them and how she insisted that the chicks were good chicks. She never insisted they behave like the other chicks.
This is a delightful story told in an encouraging manner. The writing and illustration work together beautifully and are both excellent. I would highly recommend it for any age up to age 8.
The illustrations, done in acrylic, are very colorful, hilarious, creative, and fun to look at.
I was smiling from the very first page at the energetic antics of these three chicks. They did not get into mischief, they merely exercised their creativity and intelligence--a lot. I loved how the mother supported them and how she insisted that the chicks were good chicks. She never insisted they behave like the other chicks.
This is a delightful story told in an encouraging manner. The writing and illustration work together beautifully and are both excellent. I would highly recommend it for any age up to age 8.
November 25, 2011
I really enjoyed the feminist message here. The book was active and fun and the style of the illustrations appropriately echoed that feeling. I did find the couple instances where two full page spreads are next to each other, only separated by the gutter to the distracting, especially with the bold, blocky designs of the illustration- They seemed to run together in a rather unpleasant way. That said, some of the visual elements like the overly circular cow didn't quite capture my fancy either and the pages were often overly saturated, making it difficult to focus on the "tough chicks" but the story is good enough to excuse the cheerful but somewhat sub-par illustration and book design. Would be really interesting to have a discussion with kids about what tough means (and smart and good), behavioral expectations (are they different for girls, boys, and/or chicks?), and how all members can be expected to contribute to the community.
April 26, 2013
You can read my full review here
I loved this book and it's message. I think my kids really liked the book too. I loved that the little chicks didn't do what other "good little chicks" did like peck the ground for corn, build a nest, and peep. They ran around the farmyard playing in the mud, checking out the tractor's engine, swinging from the cow's tail, and just being incredibly active. The Mother Hen learned to be really proud of her chick's actions and tried to ignore the other animals when they told the Mother Hen to make her chicks be good because she already thought they were good. At the end of the story, the chicks, with their unusual behaviors, save the day. This book has the message that you don't need to be like everyone else, you can be however you want to be and you should be loved and respected for how you are. I though the illustrations were quite cute as well.
I loved this book and it's message. I think my kids really liked the book too. I loved that the little chicks didn't do what other "good little chicks" did like peck the ground for corn, build a nest, and peep. They ran around the farmyard playing in the mud, checking out the tractor's engine, swinging from the cow's tail, and just being incredibly active. The Mother Hen learned to be really proud of her chick's actions and tried to ignore the other animals when they told the Mother Hen to make her chicks be good because she already thought they were good. At the end of the story, the chicks, with their unusual behaviors, save the day. This book has the message that you don't need to be like everyone else, you can be however you want to be and you should be loved and respected for how you are. I though the illustrations were quite cute as well.
August 13, 2010
I love curling up to read a book to my kids, and discover lessons beautifully taught and illustrated for myself. To them it was a fun, cute story about three chicks that don't behave as all the other chicks do, but when the time comes, everyone is grateful for their unique interests. To me, it was a reminder that my kids may not do things like most other kids, but they each have impressive and unique qualities that I am excited to see mature.
I kept thinking of the "Robots" quote, "You can shine no matter what you're made of."
I glanced at other reviews on here to see if everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. Most did, but they took the more direct spin that girls don't have to act like girls to be awesome.
I kept thinking of the "Robots" quote, "You can shine no matter what you're made of."
I glanced at other reviews on here to see if everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. Most did, but they took the more direct spin that girls don't have to act like girls to be awesome.
April 16, 2012
Have you ever had that experience where a book or article falls into your lap at just the right moment? Preschooler and I are in a place where we have multiple power struggles throughout the day. She is head-strong, and determined, and extremely independent, and I sometimes find myself wishing she could be more like her quieter, calmer, more low-key friends. This story, about a mother hen’s faith (and occasional doubt) in her trio of “tough chicks” is a reminder that my rough-and-tumble, do it her way daughter is special the way that she is…and that someday those characteristics that are frustrating now will become the things most admirable about her (I hope).
June 18, 2014
Different isn't bad. Tough isn't bad. And smart certainly isn't bad. Tough Chicks is about three little chicks who are different from the second they hatch out of their shells. While the animals on the farm tell Mama Hen to make her chicks be good, she stubbornly insists that her chicks are good. She encourages her chicks to be themselves, and they win the admiration of the farm when they help fix Farmer Fred's tractor. The illustrations are filled with color, movement, and joy. The text is fun to read and filled with energy. This book would be perfect to read with any child who doesn't quite fit the mold.
March 13, 2009
I received a free copy of this book via First Reads, and I'm thrilled: the story is great, the illustrations are fantastic, and the pace is perfect for a small child.
Penny, Polly, and Molly are the "tough" chicks, the ones always causing trouble around the farm. When their mother, Mama Hen, is chastised for her chicks' behaviour, she insists that her chicks are good--and they are!
This is a very sweet story for "chicks" and little boys alike. My son, who is six, enjoyed very much following the chicks' barnyard adventure. It's a keeper and one we'll read over and over!
Penny, Polly, and Molly are the "tough" chicks, the ones always causing trouble around the farm. When their mother, Mama Hen, is chastised for her chicks' behaviour, she insists that her chicks are good--and they are!
This is a very sweet story for "chicks" and little boys alike. My son, who is six, enjoyed very much following the chicks' barnyard adventure. It's a keeper and one we'll read over and over!
April 22, 2013
Tough Chicks is a cute children's book that empowers children to embrace their individuality. The three main chicks always beat to their own drum, they never follow the rest, they are natural born leaders. They are not liked on the farm because they do not follow the rules to being chicks. The chicks stick to their ways and remain true to themselves with the support of their mother who always supportive of the chicks. The mother of the chicks constantly provides empowers her chicks to be themselves and never relent.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews