Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken

Kimberly Tso

Book cover for Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken
Image for variant 9798890130297
Book cover for Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken
Image for variant 9798890130297

Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken

Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken

Kimberly Tso

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Description

"I loved reading this story inspired by the real Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken of Chinatown! Kids will be encouraged to seek clever solutions for the problems they see being ignored."
--Grace Lin, award-winning author of A Big Mooncake for Little Star and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

"An imaginative retelling of a true story, Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken is something to squawk about!"
--Elana K. Arnold, author of the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of and the A Boy Called Bat series

New York City is not a great place for a chicken to live. It's crowded and loud and busy. But you can find the city's most famous chicken, Lillie, a.k.a. the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken, in Chinatown.

When tourists ask, "Where's the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken?" locals point them to a video-game arcade on Mott Street, where Lillie plays games of tic-tac-toe against anyone who wants to play against her.

But eight-year-old Beatrice worries that the dark arcade is just not a good place for Lillie to live. She devises a clever plan: She will challenge the arcade's Big Boss in a game of tic-tac-toe. Will Beatrice win Lillie's freedom?

Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken is a picture book inspired by the true story of Lillie, a real chicken trained to play tic-tac-toe in New York's Chinatown Fair arcade, and her relocation to a farm for rescued animals. Featuring vibrant paintings of Chinatown by the award-winning illustrator Louie Chin (Bodega Cat, Fighting to Belong! Vols. I and II), Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken showcases a local cultural touchstone and shows how children can stand up for what they believe in and solve tough problems with ingenuity and heart.



Critical Reviews

Praise for Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken:

"This animal liberation tale from debut author Tso and Chin (Bodega Cat) offers an encouraging example of a resourceful young activist outwitting the opposition."

--Publishers Weekly

"Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken brings lore to life in a heartwarming and gorgeously illustrated story for readers of all ages."
--Amy Chu, award-winning author of Sea Sirens and Carmilla

"An intriguing story inspired by a real-life New York City Chinatown sensation."
--Mia Wenjen, award-winning author of We Sing from the Heart and Food for the Future

"When clever eight-year-old Beatrice decides Lillie deserves a better life, she comes up with a bold plan to win her freedom. This heartwarming tale celebrates courage, quick thinking, and standing up for what's right."
--Arree Chung, author of Mixed, Ninja!, and the forthcoming MG graphic novel memoir Don't Cause Trouble


Publishing Information

Publisher: Third State Books
Pub date: 2025-08-19
Length: 32 pages

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