Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A boy and a giraffe call themselves twins though they look nothing alike, and in the pages that follow, it's easy to see why. They sport identical bow ties ("Sometimes our friends can't tell us apart," says the boy), share a bunk bed, and enjoy a lot of activities together, even if "we like to do them differently." The boy dresses up as a cardboard box robot for Halloween, while the giraffe goes as a tall bedsheet ghost; the boy eats fresh greens from a salad bowl as the giraffe munches them right off the tree. Sometimes the twins hit a rough patch ("When we have a disagreement, it might last all afternoon"), but they always make up after a break. They form a great team, after all, and they cherish "knowing there's someone who's just like you." The vignette cartoons are emotionally direct and sweet, rendering the two protagonists with eager eyes and openhearted smiles. Debuting author Ciccotello notes that he's the father of fraternal twins, but his story will be equally relevant to any child who is lucky to have a close sibling or an unrelated soulmate. Ages 2-6. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--A young boy and his fraternal twin, a giraffe, take readers through a day in their lives, depicting the high points and a few low ones. Being a twin is great for many reasons--always having a playmate, playing duets on piano, and having someone to talk to. Sometimes twins enjoy the same activities, but do them in different ways, like the way they build snowmen, dance, or enjoy a salad. Other times, twins disagree and argue, or even get into big fights. Those times are never fun, but the good thing is… twins never stay angry for long and they know that, in the end, they always have each other. Having a sibling comes with its share of pleasures and annoyances, and having a twin makes can make those experiences even more unique. The text is clear, brief, and concise, perfect for young listeners. The illustrations are happy, bright, and comical, perfectly mirroring the story line laid out in text. VERDICT A fun and amusing picture book celebration of twinhood, great for one-on-one or small group sharing.--Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A human child and a giraffe share the ups and downs of being twins."Being a twin is great. / Sometimes our friends can't tell us apart." The giraffe and the preschool-age child smile at each other, wearing matching green bowties. Each has a constant "pal" for games that require two. They enjoy the same activities, "but we like to do them differently"; the giraffe's trike and snowman look quite different than the child's. Being twins isn't always fun. Sometimes they disagree and fight. Sometimes they "just need to be apart for a while." But never for long. They know how to compromise, and they realize that they are better together than apart. This simple story pairs easy-to-read sentences with figures placed on generous white backgrounds, eventually culminating in full-color spreads at the end, when the two have gotten over their feud and come together again. The twins are eminently likable characters, and their constant use of "we" is endearing. As for the fact of their obvious differencesone is, well, a giraffe, and the other is a brown-skinned child wearing an Afroreaders will find it either hilarious or perplexing; some may take issue with the equation of a black-presenting child with an animal.Readers most likely to appreciate both the story and the joke are probably those who are twins themselves. (Picture book. 2-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
