THE TWINS
John Wallace, THE TWINSJohn WallaceLil and Nelly may be twins, but they are more like an "odd couple" than two of a kind. Lil aspires to be a princess; her favorite activities include vacuuming, eating healthy food and looking down her nose at people (such as her sister) "who splash and make a mess." The perpetually disheveled Nelly adopts "Slimey the Snail" for a pet, plays in the mud and wants to be "a weight lifter or a rock star or a truck driver" when she grows up. These details unfold as Lil labors over her autobiography for a kindergarten project, fashioned as an illustrated journal. Wallace introduces Nelly's handiwork on the opposite side of each spread, as the girl surreptitiously adds her own information; he color-codes the girls' pages (pink for Lil, green for Nelly). Lil is horrified when she discovers Nelly's additions (her usually "smooth and blonde" hair literally stands on end). But when the dual journal wins first prize, the twins eagerly share credit. Wallace's light-as-air watercolors have an appealing loopiness, and he admirably demonstrates the contrast between the twins while he subtly conveys their underlying affection for each other (the opening illustration shows the sisters walking hand in hand). Readers may identify more with Nelly's devil-may-care attitude than the prissier Lil's, but there's much to like about this sibling pair. Ages 3-6. (Apr.)
closeDetailsReviewed on: 04/02/2001
Genre: Children's
Lil and Nelly may be twins, but they are more like an "odd couple" than two of a kind. Lil aspires to be a princess; her favorite activities include vacuuming, eating healthy food and looking down her nose at people (such as her sister) "who splash and make a mess." The perpetually disheveled Nelly adopts "Slimey the Snail" for a pet, plays in the mud and wants to be "a weight lifter or a rock star or a truck driver" when she grows up. These details unfold as Lil labors over her autobiography for a kindergarten project, fashioned as an illustrated journal. Wallace introduces Nelly's handiwork on the opposite side of each spread, as the girl surreptitiously adds her own information; he color-codes the girls' pages (pink for Lil, green for Nelly). Lil is horrified when she discovers Nelly's additions (her usually "smooth and blonde" hair literally stands on end). But when the dual journal wins first prize, the twins eagerly share credit. Wallace's light-as-air watercolors have an appealing loopiness, and he admirably demonstrates the contrast between the twins while he subtly conveys their underlying affection for each other (the opening illustration shows the sisters walking hand in hand). Readers may identify more with Nelly's devil-may-care attitude than the prissier Lil's, but there's much to like about this sibling pair. Ages 3-6.
Reviewed on: 04/02/2001
Genre: Children's
