Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! (Passport to Reading Level 3) [Paperback]

Grace Lin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2011 | Age Range: 6 - 9 years | Series: Passport to Reading Level 3

Ling and Ting are twins. They have the same brown eyes. They have the same pink cheeks. They have the same happy smiles.

Ling and Ting are two adorable identical twins, and they stick together, whether they are making dumplings, getting their hair cut, or practicing magic tricks. But looks are deceiving--people can be very different, even if they look exactly the same.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 2 Lin brings her talents to these charming stories about Chinese-American twins who like to stick together but are not as alike as everyone thinks. The six short chapters are the perfect length for beginning readers. In the first story, the girls get haircuts. Ting moves her legs and her fingers. Ting can never sit still. When her snipped hair falls on her nose, she sneezes and the barber cuts a little too much off her bangs. The simple illustrations follow this mishap throughout the book, making the sisters easily identifiable. In the other vignettes, Ling and Ting make very different dumplings, Ling cannot eat with chopsticks no matter how hard Ting tries to teach her, and they visit the library. Each story ends with an amusing punch line that will make readers laugh. The last chapter ties all of the tales together, showing the fun and friendship that the girls share. This relationship, combined with the simple sentence structure, repetitive text, and straightforward illustrations that reinforce new vocabulary words, will put this easy reader in the same category as Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad books (HarperCollins). Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Sisters Ling and Ting may be twins, but that doesn’t mean they’re “exactly the same,” no matter what everyone says upon first meeting them. Children will come to their own conclusions after reading the six short, interconnected stories that make up this pleasing book for beginning readers. In the first chapter, “The Haircuts,” Ling sneezes while her bangs are being cut, and for a while at least, it’s easy to tell the twins apart. The chapters that follow reveal distinct differences in the sisters’ personalities, inclinations, and abilities. Despite those differences, in the end each girl subtly affirms her affection for the other. Framed with narrow borders, the paintings illustrate the stories with restrained lines, vivid colors, and clarity. The chapters often end with mildly humorous turns, from a neat play on words to a smack-your-heard obvious solution to an apparently impossible dilemma. These endings, as well as bits of comic byplay that occur in the brief framework vignettes, will suit the target audience beautifully. Lin, whose previous books include Dim Sum for Everyone (2001) and the 2010 Newbery Honor Book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009), shows her versatility once again in an original book that tells its story clearly while leaving room for thought and discussion. Grades 1-2. --Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 9 years
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: LB Kids (September 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316024538
• ISBN-13: 978-0316024532
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Multicultural Stories > Asian & Asian American

More About the Author

Hello! Thanks so much for your interest in me and my books!

I grew up in Upstate NY with my parents and 2 sisters, whom are featured in many of my books, including "Dim Sum For Everyone!" and my novels, "The Year of the Dog" and "The Year of the Rat." My mother and I were the star characters in my first book, "The Ugly Vegetables"--I cut both my sisters out of that story! They were quite upset with me and made me promise never to cut them out again. And since then, I haven't...yet.

While many of my books highlight my family, not all of them do. My Newbery Honor-winning novel "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," is an Asian inspired fantasy that some people call a Chinese 'Wizard of Oz,' and my early reader "Ling & Ting" is inspired by the old 'Flicka, Dicka & Ricka' books I read when I was young.

I hope you enjoy my books. Please visit my website: www.gracelin.com for more info about them (behind the scene stories and pictures) as well as other amusing anecdotes!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister July 1, 2010

By E. R. Bird HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

If you want to gauge the merit of a children's author it's easy as pie. Simply hand them a piece of paper and a pencil. Sit them down in a comfortable chair in front of a table. Now ask them to create a good easy-to-read book for children. I am personally convinced that this is probably the most difficult thing you can ask an author to do. Harder than asking them to write a romantic vampire novel. Harder than a child-friendly mystery series. Easy books (I should say GOOD easy books) are an acquired talent. Some authors whip them out so easily it shocks the senses (see: Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie books). Others struggle with the format. When I heard that author Grace Lin, master of the novel, the early chapter book, and the picture book, was trying her hand at the easy reader format I was concerned. Past success is no indication of future talent. Could she pull it off? She could. Grace Lin has given us Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!, a book in the same vein as your Frog and Toad or Amelia Bedelia tales. Which is to say, a future classic.

Six very short stories tell tales about these twin girls. Ling and Ting look alike and sound alike (and sometimes even dress alike) but they are not exactly the same, in spite of the world claiming the contrary. Case in point is the story "The Haircuts" which tells the tale of how calm Ling gets her haircut without any fuss or bother, whereas fidgety Ting cannot sit still. One particularly unfortunate sneeze later and her bangs are so eclectic that the reader has no difficulty distinguishing between the girls for the rest of the book (one wonders what Ms. Lin will do if she expands this book into a series). Other stories discuss making dumplings, going to the library, using chopsticks, magic tricks, and silly storytelling.

The writing is simple, to the point, and pretty darn good. The jokes are a particular strength. Lin can show unfortunate haircuts, which some kids will find funny on the one hand. At the same time her dialogue can be very amusing (particularly to adult readers). For example, Ting comes in to see Ling wearing a big magic hat. She asks why she is wear it. " `It is a magic hat,' Ling says. `I am wearing it because I can do magic.' `You can?' Ting says. `Can you use your magic to get a smaller hat?' " I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. And in writing these stories Lin has to be amusing in as few words as possible. No mean task, but she does a fine job.

Ling and Ting also seem to exist in that ideal grown-up free world where a kid can walk to the library on her own and no one bats an eye. They create their own dumplings and have picnics without the presence of any other living being, older or otherwise. Really, the only other person who even makes an appearance in this book is the barber at the story's start. I can see a lot of kids digging this bizarre near grown-upless world.

The art is less complicated than Grace's usual fare. It's not as if Ms. Lin's artistic style is usually chock full of hidden details. But to match the simple words in Ling and Ting Grace has given the book very straightforward illustrations. Clear black outlines. Bright colors. Look carefully and you'll also see a whole host of tiny details snuck in here and there. For example, anytime the girls are casually holding a book while they talk to one another, that book is usually a previous Lin title. When Ting traipses off to the library, Ling is left at home reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. And when the two settle down to have a picnic under the great blue sky (with milk and ubiquitous chocolate cupcakes at that) copies of The Year of the Rat and The Year of the Dog are strewn about, open midway. And one of the book's details is even subtler than that. Take a gander at the dedication page. Once there you'll find that Grace has thanked seven different pairs of twins. Clearly she's done her research.

Ah, Grace Lin. What will you do when there are no more worlds to conquer? I guess the world of board books and teen novels remain (extra points if you combine the two). I would still like her to write her customary middle grade fare, but she can certainly do an easy reader or two if she puts her mind to it. And let's face it, the easy reader section of any library tends to be a little white. Now we've some diversity and a new series that's going to appeal to a bunch of kids still grasping simple sentences. Best that you buy it yourself. Lin can do what few others have mastered.

For ages 5-8.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly Right July 6, 2010

By Erin E. Kono

Format:Hardcover

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of LING & TING. It's a delightful set of stories that illustrate the differences and affections between twin sisters. My four year old connected beautifully with the book. While not a twin, she delighted in the character's differences and related them to herself. Now when we do her hair and she fidgets she is "being just like Ting" or when she's being particularly tidy, she identifies with Ling. It's been a great addition to our library.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Readers are sure to delight in tons of humor, a bit of Chinese-American culture, and adorable illustrations September 27, 2010

By KidsReads

Format:Hardcover

Ling and Ting toting popcorn and drinks in preparation for the entertainment to follow. One sister says, "Shh! It is starting!" and the other says, "Oh no! Are we late?" --- an appropriately delightful introduction to these tales, which are liberally and charmingly illustrated by author Grace Lin.

In the first story, a visit to the barber for a haircut reveals how much the twins look alike (at least, temporarily) and how much they are different from each other. The girls themselves are constantly pointing this out. When the people around them say, "You two are exactly the same!" they reply, "We are not exactly the same." Because Ling can sit still, her haircut is quite different from antsy Ting's, who gets a little something extra in her new hairdo.

In the next story, a magic trick goes awry...which not only is good for a laugh, but sets up the punchline for an amusing joke later on. As Ling and Ting collaborate on a batch of dumplings in another story, Ling rolls out the dough while Ting mixes up the filling. They muse that the little pastries are supposed to resemble old Chinese money. So they take extra care with their dumplings. They make a big batch, hoping that will mean lots of money. Like the young cooks themselves, the dumplings made by one girl are not quite the same as the ones made by her sister. Putting her imagination and humor on display, Ting invents nicknames for their "not exactly the same" products.

Story four is called "Chopsticks." One sister has no problem using chopsticks. She comes up with funny solutions for her struggling sister (glue? tying food on?), who finds her own solution, which manages to be unexpected, wholly rational and humorous all at the same time. A story about a library quest ties in to the magic trick tale in a couple of different and satisfying ways.

The final story is rightfully called "Mixed Up." Readers will take as much pleasure as Ling does in unraveling the scrambled-together storylines from the previous tales as narrated by creative Ting. Although Ling corrects her sister on many plot points, she admits that the way Ting sums up the conclusion is perfect:

"...They were not exactly the same," Ting says, "but they always stayed together."

"Well," Ling says, "at least you got the ending right."

With the story over, we get another little bonus on the closing page of the book. Savvy readers will know by the clue in the hairstyle that Ting is asking her sister "Was that the end?" Ling replies, "No, this is!"

The appeal of this winning early chapter book is its pairing of the irresistible fascination of identical twins with a celebration of individuality. Readers are sure to delight in tons of humor, a bit of Chinese-American culture, and adorable illustrations in these good-natured, lively tales. It all adds up to an enjoyable read for youngsters (or the lucky adults who read to them).

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon