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Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story
When a cookie discovers he does NOT taste delicious, he has to find a new identity in this clever picture book twist on a holiday classic.
Once upon a time, while Fox was visiting the land of Holiday Treats, a little cookie—still warm from the bakery oven—burst out the front door looking sweet and ready to be devoured. But, as it turns out, Cookie is not as fast as he thinks and when Fox finally catches him, they’re both in for a big surprise: Sugar Cookie does not taste delicious—and he’s certainly not fit to be eaten. What’s an unsavory cookie to do? Is there another option for this not-so-sweet treat?
This inventive story celebrates the joy of being accepted for who we are.
A Christy Ottaviano Book
Once upon a time, while Fox was visiting the land of Holiday Treats, a little cookie—still warm from the bakery oven—burst out the front door looking sweet and ready to be devoured. But, as it turns out, Cookie is not as fast as he thinks and when Fox finally catches him, they’re both in for a big surprise: Sugar Cookie does not taste delicious—and he’s certainly not fit to be eaten. What’s an unsavory cookie to do? Is there another option for this not-so-sweet treat?
This inventive story celebrates the joy of being accepted for who we are.
A Christy Ottaviano Book
34 pages, Hardcover
Published September 11, 2018
8 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Edward Hemingway
17 books30 followersEdward Hemingway is an author/illustrator living in Brooklyn, New York. His books include "Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship" and "Bump in the Night". He is the illustrator of Alice Waters forthcoming "Tiny Pie".
He grew up in Bozeman, Montana.
He grew up in Bozeman, Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
December 24, 2018
Author/illustrator Edward Hemingway takes the classic Euro-American folktale concerning that runaway pastry, The Gingerbread Man, and gives it a creative new twist in this holiday picture-book. In this version, Fox is visiting Christmastown and comes across a sugar cookie escaping from his bakery. Spurred on by that cookie's taunt - "Run, run as fast as you can! / You can't catch me - / I'm the Sugar Cookie Man!" - he gives chase, soon catching his prey. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as the case may be), the cookie is anything but sweet, leading to a daylong quest to "correct" this problem, on the part of both Fox and Cookie. But is there anything wrong with being a "slowpoke who tastes terrible?"
I have read and enjoyed a number of more traditional picture-book retellings of this story, including the one done by Jim Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock, and I have enjoyed other revisionist retellings, such as Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby and its sequels. It's worth noting that this tale type concerning a runaway pastry being chased by a fox is widespread in the various European traditions. Marcia Brown retold a Russian variant in The Bun: A Tale from Russia . Given all of that, I was curious to see what Hemmingway would do with Tough Cookie: A Christmas Tale. I found his tale engaging and unique, and I liked the solution to the cookie's "dilemma," as he discovers that he is just as he is meant to be. The artwork is colorful and cute - I liked the various scenes around Christmastown - and captures the charm of the story. All in all, a fun new holiday picture-book, and an entertaining revisionist take on a classic tale.
I have read and enjoyed a number of more traditional picture-book retellings of this story, including the one done by Jim Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock, and I have enjoyed other revisionist retellings, such as Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby and its sequels. It's worth noting that this tale type concerning a runaway pastry being chased by a fox is widespread in the various European traditions. Marcia Brown retold a Russian variant in The Bun: A Tale from Russia . Given all of that, I was curious to see what Hemmingway would do with Tough Cookie: A Christmas Tale. I found his tale engaging and unique, and I liked the solution to the cookie's "dilemma," as he discovers that he is just as he is meant to be. The artwork is colorful and cute - I liked the various scenes around Christmastown - and captures the charm of the story. All in all, a fun new holiday picture-book, and an entertaining revisionist take on a classic tale.
May 22, 2024
Nice little book. Watched a reading on youtube.
October 29, 2018
One of the perks of working in a library is coming across books like these when you're unboxing new books. The cover caught my eye and then I found myself stopping to read it. It starts out similar to the classic 'Gingerbread Man' story with a sugar cookie challenging a fox to catch him. Well, he catches him immediately and you think his fate is sealed until you find out that he doesn't taste good at all! The two spend the story figuring out where the sugar cookie belongs, testing theories and making the reader smile at the same time. One of the best parts of this story is that the author includes recipes at the back of the book as well as how to make your own tough cookies. I'll definitely be buying this for my niece (and myself, let's be real). Cute story with adorable illustrations.
December 8, 2018
This book is adorable! I loved it so much. It was a fun twist on a holiday story, with a little bit of the classic tale of the gingerbread man. I loved that this story taught the reader about self acceptance, group acceptance and understanding that each and every one of us has a skill or a gift we can use to make the world a better place! A great story to read in the classroom with little ones, with a great activity in the back of the book. Overall, it is just a really sweet, beautifully illustrated holiday story that both kids and adult will love!
November 15, 2019
With a nod to the old classic The Gingerbread Man, this fun story entertains as it teaches the moral that we all have different strengths and different ways to fit in, but we're all equally valuable and important and needed. The illustrations are perfect! Definitely a winner for story time!
December 7, 2024
🎄💫🎁⛄️🎅🏼🕯️
Look, look, look at me!
You can't reach me—
I'm an ornament on a tree!
- Cookie
Look, look, look at me!
You can't reach me—
I'm an ornament on a tree!
- Cookie
October 3, 2018
A great book about finding your true self and fully embracing what you are and aren’t.
November 28, 2018
Such a cute story for the holiday and it comes with a craft in the back which would be fun to do for kids
October 27, 2018
Fun variation of the Gingerbread Man story!
Read
October 11, 2018This is a decent book. The endpapers are cute, as are the illustrations for the most part.
January 12, 2019
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway, a delightfully silly Christmas tale of figuring out where you belong.
Fox is enjoying his visit to The Land Of Holiday Treats when a scrumptious-looking fellow bursts out of a nearby bakery. “Run, Run, as fast as you can!” the little sugar cookie-man teases in a familiar refrain, and the Fox – never one to turn down a challenge – obliges him. To Sugar Cookie Man’s surprise, the fox catches him quickly, and to both their surprises, he tastes TERRIBLE. Dismayed at this news, Fox quickly changes gears, offering to help cheer Cookie Man up. They attempt to sweeten him up at the spa, and quicken him up for a marathon, but neither work. Confused about his purpose (what is a cookie if it’s not delicious?), Cookie Man and Fox try to regroup – and that’s when they run into a whole new crew that may have the answers they seek!
Fun and festive. The twist at the end is a clever one, and reinforces a nice message: we’re all made the way we are for a reason, and good friends will be there to help us find it (if, apparently, they don’t eat us first). The sugary-sweet illustrations are filled with colors and fun details, but uses negative space wisely so that they never overwhelm the page. The length is great, and JJ loved it. An adorably cute story that’s a wonderfully fun read for the holiday season, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved.
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
November 29, 2018
I loved buying new books to add to our Christmas library when our kids were little. This would be great to add to your bookish Advent Calendar or as a gift to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season.
From the youngest grandson of Ernest Hemingway and a well-known author in his own right, comes a story he wrote based on loving memories from his own childhood. When you begin the story, you think it may be a remake of the beloved gingerbread man story, but instead, there is a twist.
Tough Cookie is excited to be freshly baked and his excitement is overheard by a hungry fox. When Fox begins to chase and catch Tough Cookie, he gives the cookie a taste. Unfortunately, he informs Tough Cookie that he doesn’t taste well. After going to the Christmas spa to soak in eggnog, he still doesn’t taste good. Then Fox tries to help him run fast since Fox was able to catch him. Tough Cookie doesn’t understand because he is supposed to be a sugar cookie that is sweet. When Tough Cookie meets some new friends, he finds out what he was meant to be all along.
This book is also illustrated by Hemingway and his illustrations, muted colors, and adorable characters will be loved by children and parents. The author includes a nice feature at the end of the story, recipes to make your own Tough Cookie. What a fun read aloud and activity to do with your child either as an Advent activity or as a Christmas celebration. The book is a wonderful story and a lovely family tradition to start with your family.
From the youngest grandson of Ernest Hemingway and a well-known author in his own right, comes a story he wrote based on loving memories from his own childhood. When you begin the story, you think it may be a remake of the beloved gingerbread man story, but instead, there is a twist.
Tough Cookie is excited to be freshly baked and his excitement is overheard by a hungry fox. When Fox begins to chase and catch Tough Cookie, he gives the cookie a taste. Unfortunately, he informs Tough Cookie that he doesn’t taste well. After going to the Christmas spa to soak in eggnog, he still doesn’t taste good. Then Fox tries to help him run fast since Fox was able to catch him. Tough Cookie doesn’t understand because he is supposed to be a sugar cookie that is sweet. When Tough Cookie meets some new friends, he finds out what he was meant to be all along.
This book is also illustrated by Hemingway and his illustrations, muted colors, and adorable characters will be loved by children and parents. The author includes a nice feature at the end of the story, recipes to make your own Tough Cookie. What a fun read aloud and activity to do with your child either as an Advent activity or as a Christmas celebration. The book is a wonderful story and a lovely family tradition to start with your family.
November 20, 2018
I almost always enjoy the picture books written and illustrated by this man because they often contain a slight twist. In this one, inspired by the original story of the Gingerbread Man, a fox helps a cookie find his true purpose. As happens in the classic nursery rhyme, Sugar Cookie Man leaves the bakery and taunts Fox with his deliciousness and his speed. But he's no match for Fox. Once Fox tastes the cookie, though, he realizes that it isn't very sweet or delicious at all. Fox tries to sweeten the deal, to no avail, and even tries to help Cookie run faster. As it turns out, he's not meant to be devoured but to hang on the tree as one of the Christmas ornaments. After all, bakers use a different recipe for cookies meant to be eaten and those meant to garnish a tree. Readers will laugh at the ending since that Cookie never seems to learn, and the fun continues with a recipe for both kinds of cookies and even the icing to cover them. Created with oils and help from Adobe Photoshop, the illustrations fit the story perfectly with even the endpapers depicting various foods associated with the holiday season while Fox sips from a frothy beverage. Undoubtedly, this one will be popular during the coming weeks, but it's funny at any time of the year. I'd share the original and then this one.
November 29, 2019
In a holiday-themed twist on the folktale The Gingerbread Man, a sugar cookie must redefine its identity when it discovers it is neither fast nor sweet.
The story begins with the classic You can't catch me -- I'm the [Sugar Cookie] Man! declaration. A Christmas-themed chase seems poised to ensue, but the fox immediately snaps up the sugar cookie. However, he spits the cookie right back out because it tastes terrible.
The cookie is distraught to learn it isn't fast or sweet. The fox tries to help the cookie become sweet and improve its speed. But finally, the cookie must come to terms with its state of being. It is at this moment that . The cookie is happy with its new identity and takes its place on the town Christmas tree.
I was troubled by an inconsistency within this story. Christmastown is inhabited by a sizable population of anthropomorphic food, but the fox only attempts to eat the cookie. I'm guessing that is because the cookie challenged him, but I was confused by this.
The story begins with the classic You can't catch me -- I'm the [Sugar Cookie] Man! declaration. A Christmas-themed chase seems poised to ensue, but the fox immediately snaps up the sugar cookie. However, he spits the cookie right back out because it tastes terrible.
The cookie is distraught to learn it isn't fast or sweet. The fox tries to help the cookie become sweet and improve its speed. But finally, the cookie must come to terms with its state of being. It is at this moment that . The cookie is happy with its new identity and takes its place on the town Christmas tree.
I was troubled by an inconsistency within this story. Christmastown is inhabited by a sizable population of anthropomorphic food, but the fox only attempts to eat the cookie. I'm guessing that is because the cookie challenged him, but I was confused by this.
November 27, 2018
Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway. PICTURE BOOK. Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt and Company), 2018. $18. 9781627794411
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
With echoes of The Gingerbread Man, this is the story of a cookie who was snatched and then discarded by a wolf because the wolf doesn’t like the way he tastes. This sends the cookie into a desperate search for his identity and the wolf helps him figure out who he is if he is not delicious. Just as the cookie is losing hope, a group of ornaments exclaims their excitement at finding him and ask him to join them on the tree.
This book is funny, darling, and insightful all at the same time. The search for identity is a fairly unique theme when in the form of a holiday book. The illustrations of an entire town made of holiday treats are inviting and the text reads smooth. The only barrier with this book is if a kid doesn’t know what a salt dough ornament is. That would make the whole point of the story lack any luster.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
With echoes of The Gingerbread Man, this is the story of a cookie who was snatched and then discarded by a wolf because the wolf doesn’t like the way he tastes. This sends the cookie into a desperate search for his identity and the wolf helps him figure out who he is if he is not delicious. Just as the cookie is losing hope, a group of ornaments exclaims their excitement at finding him and ask him to join them on the tree.
This book is funny, darling, and insightful all at the same time. The search for identity is a fairly unique theme when in the form of a holiday book. The illustrations of an entire town made of holiday treats are inviting and the text reads smooth. The only barrier with this book is if a kid doesn’t know what a salt dough ornament is. That would make the whole point of the story lack any luster.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
December 4, 2018
This delightful twist on the Gingerbread Man tale is as yummy as it's main character is not. When Sugar Cookie Man takes off down the street bragging about his speed and sweetness, Fox can't resist the challenge. After catching the cookie and tasting him, Fox spits him out. He tastes terrible and he isn't all that fast. Cookie is heart-broken. What is he good for then? Fox kindly decides to help him out by taking him to the spa to be sweetened up and when that doesn't work, entering him in a running contest. But Cookie doesn't seem to fit anywhere. The delicious tale about finding one's place in the world is delivered with just the right amount of sweetness, along with some seriously cute illustrations. The answer to Cookie's dilemma is right there in the illustrations, but I still didn't catch it until the climax. A refreshingly new book that would make a great holiday read-a-loud.
November 16, 2018
Sugar Cookie Man is having an identity crisis. He isn't sweet like he thought he'd be (Fox even spits him out, he tastes so terrible), he can't run fast (he comes in last in the Sweet Treat Christmas Race), and he can't even build a proper gingerbread house (it collapses as soon as he steps inside). Why does he even exists?! With a little help from a new friend Sugar Cookie Man finally figures out his purpose and joyously celebrates Christmas with all of the residents of the Land of Holiday Treats. This is a wonderful twist on the traditional Gingerbread Man tale and young readers will gobble it up. Captivating and colorful oil and digital illustrations complement the text perfectly, and a cookie recipe is even included in the back.
December 25, 2025
Tough Cookie was far from what I expected. It is certainly a twist in the Gingerbread Man story.
It follows a little cookie, believing a lot of things about itself that doesn't turn out to be true according to a fox. We follow the cookie and fox as the fox tries to show our tough cookie that there are things he is good at. It doesn't go entirely as planned, but neither of them give up, which is a sweet message, but that was really the best part of the story. The rest fell a little short for me, but I can still see some littles liking this one. It just isn't as entertaining as some of the other holiday stories out there.
It follows a little cookie, believing a lot of things about itself that doesn't turn out to be true according to a fox. We follow the cookie and fox as the fox tries to show our tough cookie that there are things he is good at. It doesn't go entirely as planned, but neither of them give up, which is a sweet message, but that was really the best part of the story. The rest fell a little short for me, but I can still see some littles liking this one. It just isn't as entertaining as some of the other holiday stories out there.
January 18, 2026
"But if I'm not a sweet cookie, then what am I? A slowpoke who tastes terrible! What do I do now?"
-The Sugar Cookie man
This picture book is a hilarious twist on the Gingerbread man story, but with a Sugar Cookie man. He cries, he whines, he visits the Christmastown Spa with Fox and has a soothing hot tub moment (in a cup of egg nog).
"Cookie was exhausted. and he didn't feel so tough. Was he cut out for anything?...I'm not sweet. I'm not fast. I can't even make a gingerbread house. Everything I do is half-baked!"
-The Sugar Cookie man
Themes: Christmas, holiday, humor, food
Ages: preK-2nd grade
Publication year: 2018
-The Sugar Cookie man
This picture book is a hilarious twist on the Gingerbread man story, but with a Sugar Cookie man. He cries, he whines, he visits the Christmastown Spa with Fox and has a soothing hot tub moment (in a cup of egg nog).
"Cookie was exhausted. and he didn't feel so tough. Was he cut out for anything?...I'm not sweet. I'm not fast. I can't even make a gingerbread house. Everything I do is half-baked!"
-The Sugar Cookie man
Themes: Christmas, holiday, humor, food
Ages: preK-2nd grade
Publication year: 2018
December 20, 2018
Most people see this and think...okay, a retelling of the gingerbread man tale, whoop dee do...aw, but take another look and you'll see, you can't judge a cookie by its icing!
It's a fun holiday tale that reminds us that even those that look a like have their differences, and they are to be CELEBRATED for they make us who (or what) we are. This little cookie may not have been "fast as fast can be", he might not have tasted the best of the best, but he still had a purpose...and a group of friends-in-waiting to welcome him! Great for little ones and beyond.
**copy received for review
It's a fun holiday tale that reminds us that even those that look a like have their differences, and they are to be CELEBRATED for they make us who (or what) we are. This little cookie may not have been "fast as fast can be", he might not have tasted the best of the best, but he still had a purpose...and a group of friends-in-waiting to welcome him! Great for little ones and beyond.
**copy received for review
November 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this twist on the classic Gingerbread Man story. In this version, Fox chases after a sugar cookie that escapes from a bakery. Or at least, he thinks he’s a sugar cookie. When Fox bites into him, he tastes terrible! Not sweet at all!
The cookie has a bit of an identity crisis and Fox tries to help him get sweeter and faster at running, but nothing works. If the cookie isn’t sweet (or fast) then what is he? The answer is a perfect twist - he’s a salt dough ornament!
This would be the PERFECT book to read when making salt dough ornaments at home or with a class.
The cookie has a bit of an identity crisis and Fox tries to help him get sweeter and faster at running, but nothing works. If the cookie isn’t sweet (or fast) then what is he? The answer is a perfect twist - he’s a salt dough ornament!
This would be the PERFECT book to read when making salt dough ornaments at home or with a class.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2023
Clever story of a cookie who thinks he is a sweet sugar cookie. Fox chases him and discovers he is not sweet. Fox helps him try different activities to become sweet but everything fails. Finally, other characters invite Cookie to join them and his true purpose is discovered. The story ends with Cookie joining other ornaments on the town's giant tree. I like the twist where Fox is helpful to the cookie rather than trying to eat him at every chance. The illustrations are brightly colored and full of details to show readers what life is like in this special town. A fun read for the holiday.
November 18, 2024
Uma história doce sobre o processo de aceitar/ apreciar-se a si mesmo, e as amizades feitas ao longo do caminho.
O Lobo tentou dar uma dentada no Cookie, e descobriu que ele não era doce e era muito duro. O que levou o Cookie a ter uma crise de identidade. Ao ver o desânimo do Cookie, o Lobo resolveu ajudá-lo a encontrar o seu lugar.
Desiludido, triste, sem rumo, nem sentido, o Cookie recebeu, por fim, as respostas que tanto procurava e aprendeu a gostar de si, pelo que realmente era.
É uma história curtinha, doce, engraçada, com uma mensagem relevante, e desenhos fofinhos.
O Lobo tentou dar uma dentada no Cookie, e descobriu que ele não era doce e era muito duro. O que levou o Cookie a ter uma crise de identidade. Ao ver o desânimo do Cookie, o Lobo resolveu ajudá-lo a encontrar o seu lugar.
Desiludido, triste, sem rumo, nem sentido, o Cookie recebeu, por fim, as respostas que tanto procurava e aprendeu a gostar de si, pelo que realmente era.
É uma história curtinha, doce, engraçada, com uma mensagem relevante, e desenhos fofinhos.
December 21, 2025
It is an utterly bizarre book which starts off as a retelling of the old rhyme about the gingerbread man. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous, and the text feels a bit jarring, however the story itself is bizarre.
Tough Cookie is a small biscuit who wants to be loved, sweet, and be as wintry as possible. He has difficulty accepting himself, but he makes some new friends along the way. I love how the story has a plot twist which I found intriguing and maybe kids will enjoy that too. I wasn't expecting it.
A good read for Winter/ Christmas.
Tough Cookie is a small biscuit who wants to be loved, sweet, and be as wintry as possible. He has difficulty accepting himself, but he makes some new friends along the way. I love how the story has a plot twist which I found intriguing and maybe kids will enjoy that too. I wasn't expecting it.
A good read for Winter/ Christmas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2019
Ahhhh! Reading a Christmas story in September was so lovely! In this cute spin on the classic Gingerbread Man, we find a cookie who thinks he is sweet, but unfortunately, he is not. Fox tries to help him find his sweetness. But will it work? Will Cookie ever find out of he is sweet enough for Christmas? Find out with this amazing book and twist end ending.
As a librarian side note. This book lends itself to so many activity ideas! I am excited to read this book to my kids.
As a librarian side note. This book lends itself to so many activity ideas! I am excited to read this book to my kids.
December 13, 2022
What is the meaning of it? It doesn't make much sense. - SS
I think it needs more pictures, and the pictures kind of look weird. - ML
It needs more words and facial expressions. - AC
It was embarrassing for the cookie. - CVA
They need more pictures and more people. The fox is embarrassing. - AM
It was good. - SF
They need more words. They need more pictures. - ND
It was kind of great. - AS
I think it needs more pictures, and the pictures kind of look weird. - ML
It needs more words and facial expressions. - AC
It was embarrassing for the cookie. - CVA
They need more pictures and more people. The fox is embarrassing. - AM
It was good. - SF
They need more words. They need more pictures. - ND
It was kind of great. - AS
December 30, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a delightful twist on the classic children's story The Gingerbread Man. Except when Fox catches this gingerbread man, he finds out that he doesn't taste good! A good lesson for children (and adults) on accepting who we are, despite expectations.
This is a delightful twist on the classic children's story The Gingerbread Man. Except when Fox catches this gingerbread man, he finds out that he doesn't taste good! A good lesson for children (and adults) on accepting who we are, despite expectations.
January 30, 2019
I had seen several recommendations for this book on a librarian FB group regarding Christmastime read alouds. I did like this one better than another picture book of the same name. I liked the twist on the Gingerbread Man, but felt like the end did not resolve the fox's hunger and purpose for sweetening up the cookie. But, kids probably won't care!
February 28, 2019
very cute story. loved it. it's about a cookie who is being chased, and someone wants to eat it. but it is a tough cookie. they do actually eat it, then spit it out... then they come to find out they were an ornament cookie - which are made to not taste well. reminded me of the cookies i made with my mom as a little girl.
December 11, 2020
This is one of the best book I have read! It is similar to the Gingerbread man but he is a cookie.. He can't figure out what is wrong with him. Why does he taste funny? Like the Gingerbread man there is a fox in this book as well. But the fox does not think the cookie tastes good.. But why?? Read to find out! A must read for all!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews