Twice As Nice: What It's Like To Be a Twin [Hardcover]

Nicole Rubel (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Double the fun

Fraternal twins Bonnie and Ronnie take readers on a whirlwind tour of twinship, interspersing informative segments on everything from "Where Do Twins Come From?" to "What Are the Odds?" with amusing sections of twin riddles, advice to twins, twin interviews, and snappy answers to dumb twin questions ("Wow, am I seeing double?" "Yes, maybe you should get your eyes checked"). Also included: a retelling of the story of two of the most famous twins of all time, Jacob and Esau, and dozens of fascinating snippets about amazing twins from history and the present day, among them Castor and Pollus, Abby and Ann, and Mary-Kate and Ashley.

Drawing on her own experience and thorough research, Nicole Rubel has created a book that is brimming with details, eye-popping artwork, and extensive notes on interesting Web sites and reading material.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Using fictional characters Bonnie and Ronnie as guides, Rubel presents a miscellany of facts and anecdotes about twins. Many subjects are given cursory coverage, including the difference between fraternal and identical siblings, twins around the world, and animal twins. Two spreads highlight famous duos ranging from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen to Romulus and Remus. Scattered throughout are sections that reflect on what it feels like to be a twin, including interviews with sibling pairs, survival tips ("Cut loose from your twin and find your own activities and hobbies"), and advice for parents and friends ("Please don't compare us all the time!"). The layout is colorful and inviting, blending lighthearted cartoon illustrations with black-and-white and full-color photos. Dialogue balloons present additional factual tidbits as well as humorous one-liners. Use this browsable offering to supplement more cohesive titles, such as Elaine Scott's photo-essay, Twins! (S & S, 1998).–Joy Fleishhacker,School Library Journal
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud. There's something for everyone in this sprightly book about twins. Most of the information is directed at kids, but there's also advice for parents and other adults and children who come into contact with twins. Rubel connects a combination of pen-and-ink drawings and photographic collages to a wide-ranging text, which runs the gamut from nuggets of biology to anecdotes, jokes, and introductions to famous twins. As the book sympathetically notes, the best things about being a twin are also often the worst. Witty asides appear in balloon dialogue; comments from twins, some fictional (narrators Ronnie and Bonnie) and some real, are scattered throughout. Survival secrets for twins include the recommendation to make separate friends and spend time apart; parents are advised to take individual photographs. A pleasurable, playful way to learn about a subject that is always of interest. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); First Edition edition (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374318360
• ISBN-13: 978-0374318369
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #382,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nicole Rubel

Fun website: http://www.nicolerubel.com

Free traveling Rotten Ralph Art Show open to any library in the U.S. More information is on my web site.

A Short Biography

Nicole Rubel is an author/illustrator known for her uniquely colorful illustrations and charming stories. She has over fifty books to her credit and is the co-creator of the popular Rotten Ralph series.

Raised in Coral Gables, Florida, Ms. Rubel received a Bachelor of Science in Art Teaching from the Boston Museum School in association with Tufts University. Ms. Rubel's debut book, Rotten Ralph, earned her the Children's Book Showcase Award for Outstanding Graphic Design. She has since received awards from The American Books Association, The American Institute of Graphic Arts, and American Booksellers. She is a finalist for the Oregon Book award for No More Vegetables 20003. Twice as Nice has won a 2005 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award and will be featured in the 13th edition of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, and on their web site www.toyportfolio.com. Her first novel for ages 10 and up, "It's Hot and Cold in Miami," was received with glowing reviews in 2007.


Ms. Rubel's books It Came From The Swamp, Pirate Jupiter and the Moondogs, and Goldie have been adapted for CD-ROM by Vtech and IBM. Her Rotten Ralph books are the basis of a new television series, which began airing on Fox Family channel in 1999.

Ms. Rubel's art style was inspired by the paintings of Henri Matisse and the art deco architecture of her hometown of Miami. Her imaginative, poignant and sometimes comical storylines are often derived from growing up with her identical twin sister, Bonnie. As a child she let her sister speak for her. Through the encouragement of an insightful teacher, Ms. Rubel learned to speak and write for herself. Therefore, a significant theme in her stories is finding oneself and learning to express one's feelings and thoughts.

She currently resides with her husband on a farm in Aurora, Oregon. Cougar the cat, Fang the dog, their horses Dancer and Hippo and their sheep Lilly and Pansy keep them busy with mischief.

Fun website: http://www.nicolerubel.com

Free traveling Rotten Ralph Art Show open to any library in the U.S. More information is on my web site.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Combo of Fun and Fact, May 26, 2008

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Twice As Nice: What It's Like To Be a Twin (Hardcover)

Nicole Rubin (a twin herself) offers a multiplicity of twinship facts and "factoids" from biology, history, psychology, math, and zoology (all easier to master than those words might imply!). The varied format and perspectives keeps things moving, and will appeal to a wide audience

Rubin answers scientifically-oriented questions as "Where Do Twins Come From?" and "What are the Odds" clearly and factually. However, she also presents many entertaining anecdotes and stories about twins, often of the "Gee whiz" variety: The twins separated at birth who discover astounding similarites when they meet years later, the 3,000 sets of twins (there's a photo of them) who meet annually in Twinsburg, Ohio, and famous twins such as Abigail Van BUren and Ann Landers, bad guys Reggie and ROnnie Kray, Robin and Maurice Gibb, and Mary-Kate and Ashley (too famous to need a last name).

Aside from the humor (e.g., two pages of riddles such as: Q. "What do you do if twin tigers are running towards you?" A. "Run twice as fast!"). the most important sections deal with the advantages/disadvantages of twindom, and how to deal with these, either as a twin, or as an adult caregiver. Through interviews with young twins, humorous examples, and straight-on tips, we learn that while twins MAY have a special bond, others' silly questions and expectations can be a real burden too. Kids are offered some snappy comebacks ("What's it like being a twin?" "I don't know. What's it like not being a twin), and twins (and their parents/guardians/teachers) are encouraged throughout to celebrate the special bond, but develop their individuality as well. A one-page acknowledgements page contains books and a few websites (e.g., twinsmagazine.com) for further exploration.

Rubin, creator of the "Rotten Ralph" series as well as many other superb books, gives us an intriguing, light, but informative book that explores the relatively rare (no pun intended) phenomenon of twinhood, while understanding and respecting the experience.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book!, June 28, 2006

By 

JK "J" (OK) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twice As Nice: What It's Like To Be a Twin (Hardcover)

My daughter (a fraternal 7 yr old twin) checked this book out at the library. We loved it so much I'm here ordering one for us to keep. It explained the difference in the kinds of twins in a simple way. It gave some very interesting facts & stories and some funny things too. I think anyone that knows a twin would enjoy it.

5.0 out of 5 stars book review, January 13, 2012

By 

A. C. Turner "con" (london) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twice As Nice: What It's Like To Be a Twin (Hardcover)

i found the book very entertaining and informative. although it is targeted for the your reader, i found it equally enjoyable as an adult. as a twin, it is still nice and intriguing to read information regarding twins and unknown facts. thoroughly recommendable