TWINS!

Twice blessed means more joy. Surround yourself with these titles about multiples.

Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin (Little Brown Books). A 2011 Theodore Geisel Honor Book, this title provides the perfect transition from picture to chapter books. At first glance, the girls look similar. But with each chapter, their personalities grow distinct with amusing twists to each story. (5 – 8)

How Do You Do It? (www.HDYDI.com) This blog, with more than a dozen contributors, focuses on parenting multiples. With more than 30 categories of topics, such as birth stories, relationships, safety and twin types, answers abound from real life experts.

Someone Else’s Twin: The True Story of Babies Switched at Birth by Nancy L. Segal (Prometheus Books). Segal, herself a twin and an expert on twin research, chronicles the story of real identical twins, accidentally separated at birth, with one twin switched for another infant. The consequences impact more than simply family bonds—issues of identity, parenthood, nature and the law are all explored. (18 and up)

The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). A sweet book about kindergarten-aged twins who are learning how NOT to share. If you ever wondered what it would be like to be a twin, and to be independent at the same time, look no further. (3 – 6)

The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier (Delacorte). Multiracial heritage plays a focal role in this novel that follows a set of twin girls. Daughters of a black mom and white dad, the Kings move from Washington State to North Carolina to compete in a Miss Black Pearl Preteen Pageant. One twin, Minni, is light skinned and shy, while the other, Keira appears black and is outgoing. ( 9 – 12)

I’m Living Proof That God Has a Sense of Humor (http://2SetsOfTwins-Helene.blogspot.com/) A writer with laugh-out-loud humor and experience, Helene is the mother of TWO sets of twins. The first article seen on this blog was titled “10 Reasons Why I’ll Never Be Mother of the Year…” Does it help to read about someone who has it worse off that you? Maybe. It doesn’t hurt that her wicked funny writing can provide a welcome belly laugh as well.

Julie Hubble lives in Leawood, near the Jurgensmeyer twins.