Twins

A boy and a giraffe call themselves twins though they look nothing alike, and in the pages that follow, it’s easy to see why. They sport identical bow ties (“Sometimes our friends can’t tell us apart,” says the boy), share a bunk bed, and enjoy a lot of activities together, even if “we like to do them differently.” The boy dresses up as a cardboard box robot for Halloween, while the giraffe goes as a tall bedsheet ghost; the boy eats fresh greens from a salad bowl as the giraffe munches them right off the tree. Sometimes the twins hit a rough patch (“When we have a disagreement, it might last all afternoon”), but they always make up after a break. They form a great team, after all, and they cherish “knowing there’s someone who’s just like you.” The vignette cartoons are emotionally direct and sweet, rendering the two protagonists with eager eyes and openhearted smiles. Debuting author Ciccotello notes that he’s the father of fraternal twins, but his story will be equally relevant to any child who is lucky to have a close sibling or an unrelated soulmate. Ages 2–6. [em](Aug.) [/em]