Tough Cookie is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
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SUMMARY
In "Tough Cookie" by Edward Hemingway, readers are introduced to a cookie named Tough Cookie who has a reputation for being tough and unbreakable, but he thinks he's just a yummy and sweet cookie. Tough Cookie meets a fox who says that he looks sweet but when he goes to take a bite out of Tough Cookie the fox breaks his tooth! Determined to figure out what his new identity should be Tough Cookie embarks on a hilarious and adventurous journey, encountering various food characters and Christmas activities along the way. After trying to run a race and build a house, Tough Cookie finally finds out that he's meant to be a Christmas tree ornament to be admired and loved! With its clever wordplay and humorous illustrations, "Tough Cookie" delivers a lighthearted story that teaches resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of seeking help from others. In the end, Tough Cookie discovers that true strength lies not in physical toughness, but in the support and kindness of friends.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Teach a lesson on making connections to enhance comprehension.
- Introduce or review how and why author’s use ellipses.
- Introduce homophones and discuss the multiple meanings of homophones in this book.
- Discuss friendship and the qualities that make a good friend.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup
- The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
- The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires
- Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
