Hello Twins [Hardcover]

Charlotte Voake (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

From acclaimed author-illustrator Charlotte Voake comes a sprightly tale about twins that doubles as an ode to individuality — and a celebration of sibling bonds.

Hello, Charlotte! Hello, Simon! Charlotte and Simon are twins, but they couldn't be more different. Charlotte likes to build things, and Simon likes to knock things down. Simon likes to draw shapes and patterns over and over again, and Charlotte likes to copy the numbers on the clock. Charlotte and Simon don't even look much alike! But whether upside down or right side up, Charlotte likes Simon just the way he is, and Simon likes Charlotte just the way she is — making this sibling pair truly two of a kind.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K–In this autobiographical story, readers meet two siblings who are nothing alike. Simon loves to eat and always cleans his plate, but Charlotte would rather suck her thumb and daydream. Even when the twins share a common interest, they take their own approach. Both love books–Simon looks at the pictures, while Charlotte enjoys enhancing the pages with a few pictures of her own. When they take their toys for a stroll, Charlotte pushes the baby carriage gently, but Simon propels it forward with a jolt, ejecting a doll and stuffed animal. Despite their differences, however, they like each other just the way they are. The lithesome watercolor-and-ink illustrations are amusing and consistently expand the simple text. The twins and the objects they play with are drawn with thick lines embellished with splashes of vivid paint, and the large images fill the pages. The heavy cream-colored paper makes a cozy backdrop for the action, and the book's clean design keeps attention focused on the endearing characters and their relationship. A charming addition to the oeuvre of twin tales that focuses on individuality as well as unity.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS. In appealing, elemental words and pictures, Voake introduces twins who are "not like each other at all." At mealtimes, Simon polishes off his plate with gusto, while Charlotte ignores her food and sucks her thumb. Charlotte likes to build tall towers; Simon likes to knock them down. The words are basic, but the message is clear: the twins may "do everything differently," but they "like each other just the way they are." Voake echoes the intensity of the twins' separate-but-together bond in spare spreads that set the twins and their toys against plain, cream-colored backgrounds--no parents, no furniture, no outside world. The swooping painted lines and soft color washes extend the sense of active play and warm emotion. All kids, not just twins, will find the messages about individuality and accepting differences reassuring, and they'll easily recognize Charlotte's and Simon's familiar activities, including a few slyly naughty ones (Charlotte crayons bright pictures across a book's pages). Pair this with Wendy Cheyette Lewison's Two Is for Twins, reviewed on page 50. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (May 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763630039
• ISBN-13: 978-0763630034
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #465,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great gift idea for twins, April 12, 2007

By 

D. Smith - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hello Twins (Hardcover)

My twins love this book. The illustrations are colorful and cheery and the text actually fits them well. This is the first book about girl-boy twins that I have encountered, and since people frequently refer to my twins as "The Twins", they were instantly interested in a book called "Hello Twins".

While there is little character development and the text is simplistic, the book does cover a wide range of activities that toddlers can relate to (building towers, knocking them down, staring out the window). It does a good job capturing the everyday activities of toddlers (twin toddlers!). In effect, the book is less about Simon and Charlotte and more about what they do. So, the underlying message and conclusion about them loving each other despite their differences is not really supported throughout the text in a meaningful way.

It is always fun to find a book that applies to your own children. So, I really enjoy it. That said, I do not know if this book would be as interesting for parents of singletons (unless, of course, they were purchasing it for a friend who has twins of their own).

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, November 9, 2006

By 

Aimee Anderson (Marshall University) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hello Twins (Hardcover)

I saw this book in a Parents Magazine at the doctor's office one day and searched for it at bookstores, couldn't find it and then ordered it on Amazon. Needless to say, I was hoping for more! I was very disappointed because there is very little writing and no comic expression. The graphics are so so and all in all the lesson or moral of the story was: "no matter how different we may be, we will always love one another." That is the entire book in a nutshell....I felt it was not worth the price.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A personal and artistic book with limited appeal, October 31, 2010

By 

Jason Kirkfield "The Pride and Sorrow of chil... (Purple Mountains Majesty) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hello Twins (Paperback)

Kinetic, bold watercolors by this Welsh author-artist seem more likely to appeal to adults over children. The message--advocating individuality--is a positive one, yet implies that twins must be different in virtually every way (not true). Siblings coexisting together happily is certainly preferable to fighting--and I applaud Ms. Voake's celebration of her relationship with her own twin brother, Simon--but overall, I think I would be more apt to appreciate her artwork in a gallery than in this book.