Multiples Madness
Categories: Children's Books
Terrific twosomes are popping up like crazy in children’s books. We’ve got identical twins, fraternal twins, boy twins, girl twins, boy girl twins and even a set of triplets! There are twin chickens, twin crime fighters, and even twins at summer camp. I suppose this trend mirrors the current rise in the birth rate of multiples, but it also seems to be a key ingredient for fun summer reading; check out the great reads below.
Picture Books
The Twin Princes by Tedd Arnold
Why did Old King Chanticleer worry about his two sons? Because they were twins, and he could not decide which prince should inherit his throne. And so he planned a horse race-one that would determine the next king. But this race was an unusual one: The brother whose horse was last to cross the finish line would be the winner. How in the world could they finish this strange race? With puns on every page, exuberantly goofy artwork, the classic battle of hero versus villain, and even a riddle for the reader to solve, this featherbrained story is terrifically clever fun.
Hello Twins! By Charlotte Voake
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 over and over, and Charlotte likes to copy the numbers on the clock. And they don’t even look much alike! But whether upside down or right side up, these two like each other just the way they are.
Two is for Twins by Wendy Lewison
For toddler twins—and all their friends—here’s a picture book celebration of the joys of "two-ness." Simple jaunty rhymes are paired with watercolor illustrations that have so much verve; they almost look like they’ll bounce off the page.
Twin to Twin by Margaret O’Hair
A simple rhyme and lively, colorful, uncluttered illustrations make this picture book a joyful read-aloud for young children, twins or not. The boy-girl twins begin their journey as infants, but they progress through toddlerhood as the pages turn. Twins! By Charlotte DoyleFrom pat-a-cake to storytime, from bathtub splashes to bedtime lullabies, twins keep mommies and daddies very busy! Twins need double bottles and twice the swing pushes, have double the runny noses and take twice the patience. But they also bring twice the smiles, give twice as many kisses, play twice the peek-a-boos, and make each day twice as fun!
The Twins by John Wallace
Lil and Nelly are twin sisters, but they're nothing at all alike. While Lil is tidy, Nelly loves a mess. Lil loves to vacuum, dust, and listen to classical music. Nelly likes soccer, welding, and mud. But when Nellie gets her grubby fingers on the school project Lil has spent hours writing, the unexpected result will surprise and delight BOTH girls!
Little Rabbit’s New Baby by Harry Horse
Mama's going to have a baby and Little Rabbit's ecstatic because he thinks that he'll finally have a playmate. He's eager to be the best big brother ever and to share his knowledge and toys with the newcomer. When his mother gives birth to triplets, his excitement triples. But having babies around might not be as much fun as Little Rabbit thought. They sleep and cry a lot. They are too young to throw a ball and they get their sticky paws on all his toys. Can Little Rabbit and the new babies ever be friends?
Early Chapter Books
Uh-oh Cleo by Jessica Harper
In this delightful chapter book, eight-year-old Cleo Small relates the tale of “Stitches Saturday,” the memorable day her father calls “just another Small disaster,” one of many mild calamities that a family with six children comes to expect. When Cleo’s twin brother climbs up the toy shelves in their room, the unit topples and an unidentified flying object bonks Cleo on the head. Returning home from the doctor’s, she has a Stitches Saturday party, complete with food, dance, song, and her Halloween princess dress!
The Magic Half by Annie Barrows
Miri is the cheese in a twin sandwich. Her older twin brothers torment, while her toddler twin sisters annoy. But soon after the family moves to an old Victorian house, Miri has something to take her mind off her siblings. Looking through the lens of an old eyeglass, she is transported back to 1935 and begins and adventure that uncovers old secrets. Could Miri also be a twin?
The Trouble with Twins by Martha Freeman
Her identical twin brothers, Jeremy and Dylan, are about to turn two years old. Who has the time or energy to plan a birthday party for the boys? Holly eagerly volunteers and enlists the help of her friends. With Holly's detailed plans, Xavier's amazing science tricks and Annie's expertise with toddlers, what could go wrong? An entire class of preschoolers, a mud-soaked backyard, a cat with frosting- covered whiskers and birthday boys sleeping through their own party, and that’s just for starters!
Mokie and Bik by Wendy Orr
Mokie is bigger but Bik is faster. They are twins, and they have a nanny Ruby that looks after them while their mom is Arting and their dad is on his ship at sea. Whether they’re helping Erik the Viking splosh his decks or learning to swim fast as fisk, these two are always overboard or underfoot!
Supertwins Meet the Bad Dogs from Outer Space by Brian James
Meet Timmy and Tabby. They are twins with special secret powers. The evil canine, Mean Mr. Bark, along with his laser-bone throwing poodles, are on a mission to destroy the world. When the Supertwins discover his plan, they use their amazing powers to send Mean Mr. Bark and his bad doggies back to outer space.
