A TWIN IS TO HUG

A lighthearted, rhyming celebration of twins.

Expressive illustrations depict wide-eyed identical and fraternal twins in patterned clothes and with varying skin hues and types of hair. Ashburn, a mother of twins, uses bouncy rhymes to describe the relationships between these twins. Being a twin has built-in benefits: Two laps are just the right size for holding a book; there’s always a partner for games (and shenanigans!); and sometimes a gesture or look is all that’s needed to understand each other. But being a twin also has its disadvantages: Twins always have to share (especially birthdays and colds!), take turns, and wait. There’s plenty of comparing, competing, and debating, too. The author circles back, however, to the unique bond that twins possess. “A twin is to hug. Or to kiss! / Or to shove. // It’s all about balance. It’s all about love.” Preschoolers may not understand the metaphorical meaning of “balance,” but they’ll enjoy the visual of a seesaw with a mother on one side and twin boys balancing the other side together. One image, of black-haired, brown-skinned twin girls with flowers in their hair, resorts to stereotyping to indicate diversity, clothing them in grass skirts.

Although the book doesn’t cover new ground, the playful language and images will interest young readers who also face sibling ups and downs.