Tough Like Mum
ISBN 9780735265981
Illustrated by Carmen Mok
Published by Tundra Books
What does it mean to be tough? Kim finds out in this moving mother-daughter story about family hardship, vulnerability and love, perfect for fans of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors.
Kim's mum is tough. Everyone says so. She can deal with unruly customers at the Red Rooster with a snap of her fingers.
Kim is tough, too. She doesn't need to wear a hat to keep her ears warm. And she can make soup all by herself, even without the stove.
Kim and her mum are tough.
But Kim is learning that sometimes toughness doesn't look like what you'd expect.
In this tender exploration of a mother-daughter relationship, Kim and her mother learn that in order to support and truly take care of each other, they need to be tough -- and that sometimes being tough means showing vulnerability and asking for help.
AWARDS
2021 CCBC Best Book for Kids and Teens
2021 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Favourite Book of the Year
2022 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner
“Powerful in its vulnerability.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Mok offers simple, carefully shaded gouache and colored-pencil art, underlining this sensitive portrayal of the bond between one mother and child navigating difficult circumstances and whether to welcome help.” —Publishers Weekly
"Powerful stuff." —Wall Street Journal
"This tender tale imparts that asking for help shows toughness, too." —New York Times
“Lana Button gently explores the pressures that kids feel when they have to take on the roles that the adults in their lives can’t.” —Globe and Mail
“Readers should come away from the story realizing that staying ‘tough’ is not the only answer.” —Horn Book