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Ling & Ting #1
LingTingNot Exactly the SamePassport 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.
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.
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First published July 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
July 22, 2018
A cute beginning book for new readers. What I like about Grace's work on Ling & Ting is that each chapter is a separate story and in the last chapter, she brings them all back together. The girls keep from being creepy which is a plus.
My niece read this on her own and she said it was good enough. She gave it 3 stars too.
I have one left to read and I'll get to it eventually.
My niece read this on her own and she said it was good enough. She gave it 3 stars too.
I have one left to read and I'll get to it eventually.
March 16, 2010
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 & Piggy 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 & 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.
Ages 5-8.
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.
Ages 5-8.
January 17, 2014
My 5-year-old daughter thinks that Ling and Ting, the twins, are the greatest invention since the fortune cookie.
December 4, 2019
Ling and Ting are identical twins. They have the same brown eyes, the same pink cheeks, and the same black hair. But although they look so similar to one another, they are not exactly the same, something they often find they have to explain to others in these stories. Ling is good at sitting still, while Ting is restless. Ting has a penchant for forgetting things in the excitement of the moment, while Ling has trouble using chop-sticks. But whatever their differences, the two sisters are boon companions, and rarely like to be separated.
This first early reader from Grace Lin, whose output ranges from older children's fiction like Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon , to holiday picture-books such as Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival , is a welcome addition to a form that often lacks diversity. I often speak with parents explicitly looking for beginning readers featuring a more diverse cast - a lot of the classics are either animal-centric, or feature Euro-American peoples - so it's a pleasure to have such excellent titles as Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! and its sequels to recommend. The six brief stories here are all amusing, highlighting the joys and frustrations in the lives of twin sisters, who long to establish their individuality, while also maintaining their close bond. The artwork is colorful and appealing. Recommended to anyone looking for good early readers!
This first early reader from Grace Lin, whose output ranges from older children's fiction like Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon , to holiday picture-books such as Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival , is a welcome addition to a form that often lacks diversity. I often speak with parents explicitly looking for beginning readers featuring a more diverse cast - a lot of the classics are either animal-centric, or feature Euro-American peoples - so it's a pleasure to have such excellent titles as Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! and its sequels to recommend. The six brief stories here are all amusing, highlighting the joys and frustrations in the lives of twin sisters, who long to establish their individuality, while also maintaining their close bond. The artwork is colorful and appealing. Recommended to anyone looking for good early readers!
November 17, 2010
It would take a cold, cold person to resist the charm* of Grace Lin's Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same. Ling and Ting are twins who are, as the title implies, similar but not completely the same. In the first story, The Haircuts, we see Ting get terribly butchered bangs because she can't sit still, which gives readers a handy visual clue to which girl is which.
In the five stories that follow, Lin skillfully shows us how the girls are both different and similar through words, actions, and illustration. Ting emerges as forgetful (she spoils her sister's card trick by forgetting her card) and fanciful (when Ling has trouble with chopsticks, Ting suggests glue and string as solutions), while Ling proves to be much more grounded and responsible when she closes her dumplings tight and logically uses a fork when she has trouble with chopsticks. However, both girls are great at working together and helping each other solve problems.
Lin ties up the book neatly by having Ting re-tell the preceding incidents in her own special Ting way, which is a perfect way to close out a book of interlocking episodes. This is a great book for emerging readers who enjoy realistic fiction with gentle humor. Highly recommended.
Reviewed from a library copy.
*Is charm one of those sloppy words reviewers aren't supposed to use?
In the five stories that follow, Lin skillfully shows us how the girls are both different and similar through words, actions, and illustration. Ting emerges as forgetful (she spoils her sister's card trick by forgetting her card) and fanciful (when Ling has trouble with chopsticks, Ting suggests glue and string as solutions), while Ling proves to be much more grounded and responsible when she closes her dumplings tight and logically uses a fork when she has trouble with chopsticks. However, both girls are great at working together and helping each other solve problems.
Lin ties up the book neatly by having Ting re-tell the preceding incidents in her own special Ting way, which is a perfect way to close out a book of interlocking episodes. This is a great book for emerging readers who enjoy realistic fiction with gentle humor. Highly recommended.
Reviewed from a library copy.
*Is charm one of those sloppy words reviewers aren't supposed to use?
January 22, 2019
Six short stories explore the activities of sisters Ling and Ting, who may be twins but aren’t exactly the same. For example, Ling makes smooth, tightly sealed dumplings while Ting makes full, fat dumplings. Working within the simple and repetitive sentence structures of the early reader genre, Lin describes numerous jokes and silly antics (with no adults in sight) that will entertain young readers. Age 5+.
Original thoughts: What a charming and funny little book. Where were early readers like this when I was a kid! I like how the twins are differentiated, how their stories are tied together in the final story, and the depiction of Chinese culture in the making of dumplings and using of chopsticks. The lack of adult presence allows for complete focus on the two girls and their humorous antics.
Original thoughts: What a charming and funny little book. Where were early readers like this when I was a kid! I like how the twins are differentiated, how their stories are tied together in the final story, and the depiction of Chinese culture in the making of dumplings and using of chopsticks. The lack of adult presence allows for complete focus on the two girls and their humorous antics.
October 2, 2013
This was recommended as additional reading for my 5 yr old's lesson on Asia, and it was a good choice. Besides being a solid level 3 reader which is good practice for him, it tells about some of the customs typical in Asia such as using chopsticks. We plan on getting some chopsticks and having my son and Dad make a meal of stir-fry and rice for all so we can try and eat with the chopsticks. A great way to experience and learn at the same time. The book also won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award. My son really enjoyed the book. A good addition to any library.
October 12, 2020
I've been looking for this awhile. I didn't realize it's an early reader... so I'm a bit disappointed at the simple words and stilted sentences. I do prefer books meant to be read aloud from educator to youngster. However, the girls and their adventures are charming. And the acknowledgements page reveals that several sets of real twins were consulted. I'd love to read the sequels.
October 16, 2011
1. Genre: Controlled Vocabulary
2. Summary: Ling and Ting are sisters and identical twins but Ling and Ting are not exactly the same, they do have some differences. Follow Ling and Ting through six short stories and find out how they are different.
3. Critique:
a.) This is a cute book that tells the story of Ling and Ting. The story is easy to read because of the repetition of words and phrases. The controlled vocabulary is pretty good.
b.) The vocabulary in this book is great. The use of action words such as “Snip!Clip!” and “AHH-CHOO” are great in this book. Action words make this book very fun to read. It is perfect for kindergarteners and first graders.
c.) Ling and Ting might look the same but they have different personalities and interests such as magic tricks, hair-cuts, library books, and cooking.
4. Curriculum Connection: This story is really good for first grade maybe even kindergarten depending on their reading level. Students who are having difficulties reading can use this book because of the controlled vocabulary. There are lots of words that are repeated so that the students can learn how to read through the use of repetition.
2. Summary: Ling and Ting are sisters and identical twins but Ling and Ting are not exactly the same, they do have some differences. Follow Ling and Ting through six short stories and find out how they are different.
3. Critique:
a.) This is a cute book that tells the story of Ling and Ting. The story is easy to read because of the repetition of words and phrases. The controlled vocabulary is pretty good.
b.) The vocabulary in this book is great. The use of action words such as “Snip!Clip!” and “AHH-CHOO” are great in this book. Action words make this book very fun to read. It is perfect for kindergarteners and first graders.
c.) Ling and Ting might look the same but they have different personalities and interests such as magic tricks, hair-cuts, library books, and cooking.
4. Curriculum Connection: This story is really good for first grade maybe even kindergarten depending on their reading level. Students who are having difficulties reading can use this book because of the controlled vocabulary. There are lots of words that are repeated so that the students can learn how to read through the use of repetition.
September 24, 2017
It is hard to find the right book for the right age at the right time. This one is perfect for my son who is just starting Kindergarten. He loved this book and thought it was hilarious. He can read some of it, but since there are twins there is a lot of repetition within the book in addition to him wanting to read it again immediately. So brilliant for an early reader book! Plus the subject matter is spot on for a five to six year old. I love the illustrations too. Did I mention it is funny? If only there were twenty books in this series...
July 14, 2010
Love this fun to read, easy to read, early chapter book. I especially enjoyed Lin's nod to some of her other titles in the book in the illustrations. I hope this will become a chapter series for young readers, I think they will be devouring these books.
June 20, 2016
Ling and Ting, Chinese American sisters who are identical twins, may look the same but they like different things, react to situations differently and want everyone to remember that they are not exactly the same. A delightful series full of humor and heart.
June 21, 2010
What a delightful look at the relationship of a pair of twins. Each short story provides a laugh with gorgeous full color illustrations to go with it. I plan to use this in my library!
July 21, 2016
I wish I had a twin...
January 26, 2023
This twin book gets all the stars from me. Even though Ling & Ting are identical twins, they are "not exactly the same!" I can relate to that. My sister and I are fraternal twins, but once people found out we were twins they would mix us up more often. Ling & Ting start their book at the barber. An "oopsie, daisy" gives Ting a more unique look. You can even see it on the cover. The chapters are loosely connected and include magic tricks, a library visit, and dumplings -- or "dumptings." Yum! This Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book is the first in a series of inviting and engaging chapter books for early readers.
November 4, 2018
This slice-of-life start to a series gives us a good look at two characters who at face-value may look "the same," but who deep down are very different. Ling is pragmatic and careful - she sticks to the facts. Ting is forgetful and enjoys a good story - the more far-fetched, the better. With five distinct stories (chapters), Lin illustrates the differences between these two twin sisters.
May 20, 2021
“I really liked the whole thing and that they were silly.”
There’s almost a George and Martha humor here, which I am very here for.
There’s almost a George and Martha humor here, which I am very here for.
July 16, 2018
Good read about differences between identical siblings. Son received it as a gift and he has enjoyed reading it, although it is long enough to split into two or three reads.
October 6, 2014
This book is about a twin named Ling and Ting. Their stories are divided by 6 with different titles. The first story starts off with introducing Ling and Ting, and how everybody thinks that they look exactly the same. However, to them, they think they don't. Then one day, they go to get a haircut, and even their barber says they look exactly alike. Ling gets her haircut very smoothly as she sits still, while Ting can't sit still. Ting then sneezes in the middle of her haircut, and the barber messes up. This is how the author distinguish the two characters throughout the story. The second story is about Ling showing Ting a magic trick. However, the two little silly sisters mess up. Story three is about the two sisters making dumplings. Ling makes her dumplings all smooth and tight, while Ting puts in a lot of meat. Then Ting makes a funny pun with their names and the last four letters of the dumplings. The fourth story is about chopsticks. Ling can't use chopsticks, so the two sisters try to figure out a way for Ling to eat her dumplings. The fifth story is another funny story that includes the sisters going to the library. Then the book ends, with Ting recapping the whole book in her imaginative way.
This book is definitely one of my favorite children's book of all time. I thought it contained all the elements of a children's book. This book had a lot of humor, emotions, and overall good story line. It had so many parts where I literally chuckled out loud. I think the author did a really good job with telling this story and making it really relate to actual twins. My aunt also had twins, and the two kids acted just like Ling and Ting when they were little. They did everything together, and when people said they looked a like, they always denied it. I also loved the last story, where Ting recaps the whole story in a funny way. I thought it was super creative and nice when she did, and Ling kept denying it. However, when Ting ended with them always being together, that put a smile in my face. One last part I really liked was in story three, where Ting makes a pun using their names. She tells ling that shes a dumpling, while she is a dumpting. I thought it was super funny and cute.
I thought the illustrations the author used for the storyline was perfect. The author used a lot of colorings, and little details that made the story more enjoyable. Like at the beginning, Ting and Ling is shown with popcorn, getting ready to start the story. Then at the ending, they are shown again saying this is the end. At first, I thought I would not like the pictures, because it was a little different from other books. However, as the story went on, I really started appreciating it. The faces of Ling and Ting really started rubbing on me. As each page went on, I was looking forward to seeing their faces. I thought the author did a perfect job depicting the two characters' faces. This book definitely deserved five stars, for me, maybe more.
This book is definitely one of my favorite children's book of all time. I thought it contained all the elements of a children's book. This book had a lot of humor, emotions, and overall good story line. It had so many parts where I literally chuckled out loud. I think the author did a really good job with telling this story and making it really relate to actual twins. My aunt also had twins, and the two kids acted just like Ling and Ting when they were little. They did everything together, and when people said they looked a like, they always denied it. I also loved the last story, where Ting recaps the whole story in a funny way. I thought it was super creative and nice when she did, and Ling kept denying it. However, when Ting ended with them always being together, that put a smile in my face. One last part I really liked was in story three, where Ting makes a pun using their names. She tells ling that shes a dumpling, while she is a dumpting. I thought it was super funny and cute.
I thought the illustrations the author used for the storyline was perfect. The author used a lot of colorings, and little details that made the story more enjoyable. Like at the beginning, Ting and Ling is shown with popcorn, getting ready to start the story. Then at the ending, they are shown again saying this is the end. At first, I thought I would not like the pictures, because it was a little different from other books. However, as the story went on, I really started appreciating it. The faces of Ling and Ting really started rubbing on me. As each page went on, I was looking forward to seeing their faces. I thought the author did a perfect job depicting the two characters' faces. This book definitely deserved five stars, for me, maybe more.
January 15, 2011
For an easy reader/independent reader, Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same is great! The reason I say that is that independent readers tend not to have much in terms of complexity. They're very straightforward with an extremely simple and often formulaic plot. There are, of course, plenty of exceptions, and Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same is one of them. Broken into several very short chapters, the stories can stand alone, but also build upon each other. I think that the subtitle, "Not Exactly the Same!" is perhaps a wink to the idea that Asian Americans "all look same," even though the book is about twins and them being the same on the outside, but very different inside.
Ling is the very literal and well-behaved twin, while Ting is the fidgety and forgetful one. The illustrations are really simple and cute. In short, this is a really perfect independent reader--not too complex, but not boring. I have a feeling that it has child appeal as well, although I haven't road tested it, so to speak.
As a Chinese-American, I had a few problems with Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same. I know that Grace Lin writes a lot of books dealing with Chinese-American themes, but it bothered me nevertheless. They're small annoyances, but here's what I had a slight problem with:
-The names. Ling and Ting? I know a lot of Chinese people (with Chinese names), but I do not know anyone named Ling OR Ting. Just because they're Chinese doesn't mean they have to have super stereotypical sounding names, does it? Why couldn't they have been Gina & Tina? May and Kay?
-There's a chapter called "chopsticks," in which Ling has trouble using chopsticks. After brainstorming possible solutions to her problem, she eventually decides, "I know! I'll just use a fork!" Is she implying that forks are superior to chopsticks? Then again, chopsticks ARE difficult for children to use.
Maybe I'm being hypersensitive, and it's not anything where I wouldn't want my own (hypothetical) children to read the book. I actually liked it quite a lot. It's just those two things that got to me, I guess.
2011 Geisel Honor Book
Grades 1-3
Great for children who are starting to read chapter books, but good for read-alouds, too (more one on one though)
Ling is the very literal and well-behaved twin, while Ting is the fidgety and forgetful one. The illustrations are really simple and cute. In short, this is a really perfect independent reader--not too complex, but not boring. I have a feeling that it has child appeal as well, although I haven't road tested it, so to speak.
As a Chinese-American, I had a few problems with Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same. I know that Grace Lin writes a lot of books dealing with Chinese-American themes, but it bothered me nevertheless. They're small annoyances, but here's what I had a slight problem with:
-The names. Ling and Ting? I know a lot of Chinese people (with Chinese names), but I do not know anyone named Ling OR Ting. Just because they're Chinese doesn't mean they have to have super stereotypical sounding names, does it? Why couldn't they have been Gina & Tina? May and Kay?
-There's a chapter called "chopsticks," in which Ling has trouble using chopsticks. After brainstorming possible solutions to her problem, she eventually decides, "I know! I'll just use a fork!" Is she implying that forks are superior to chopsticks? Then again, chopsticks ARE difficult for children to use.
Maybe I'm being hypersensitive, and it's not anything where I wouldn't want my own (hypothetical) children to read the book. I actually liked it quite a lot. It's just those two things that got to me, I guess.
2011 Geisel Honor Book
Grades 1-3
Great for children who are starting to read chapter books, but good for read-alouds, too (more one on one though)
February 22, 2011
I love Grace Lin's picture books--I use Bringing in the New Year and Kite Flying often enough at story hours to have reading room copies of them. I loved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat, passed them on to my older daughter and SHE owns copies of both titles.
But I don't adore this book.
And contrary to the comment of one reviewer of this title--I DON'T have a cold heart--though my 11 yr old might disagree about that occasionally. I AM a mean mother when I have to be :D
Now know that I have had many, many, pairs of identical twins at story hours--I think older moms and IVF explains the trend in part, but there have been years when I have had 3 or 4 sets of twins at programs. Right now I have TRIPLETS, and each week their mom has to tell me who is who. And it's hardest when she's dressed them in matching outfits.
And there is the internal logic problem in this book from the start. Those identical outfits, which BTW look more 1961 than 2011!
If Ling and Ting operate in this Charlie Brownish world where grownups don't seem to exist (aside from the barber),surely they are picking out their own clothes. And if they are so determined to show that they are different the simplest way to show that would be to dress differently!
The stories are okay--I know that Lin is a Betsy-Tacy fan, and the end story is very Betsy-Tacyish. And I like the chopsticks vs fork story--I just saw my own 2 daughters do the same in a restaurant yesterday, as a matter of fact.
And yes, it is nice to see Asian Americans in a book. But do we really need one that smacks of that "they all look alike" nonsense. Isn't that what pisses people about The Five Chinese Brothers ?
Grace Lin is a terrific writer. I'll eagerly await her next picture book, or novel.
But I'm not waiting up nights for the sequel to this one.
But I don't adore this book.
And contrary to the comment of one reviewer of this title--I DON'T have a cold heart--though my 11 yr old might disagree about that occasionally. I AM a mean mother when I have to be :D
Now know that I have had many, many, pairs of identical twins at story hours--I think older moms and IVF explains the trend in part, but there have been years when I have had 3 or 4 sets of twins at programs. Right now I have TRIPLETS, and each week their mom has to tell me who is who. And it's hardest when she's dressed them in matching outfits.
And there is the internal logic problem in this book from the start. Those identical outfits, which BTW look more 1961 than 2011!
If Ling and Ting operate in this Charlie Brownish world where grownups don't seem to exist (aside from the barber),surely they are picking out their own clothes. And if they are so determined to show that they are different the simplest way to show that would be to dress differently!
The stories are okay--I know that Lin is a Betsy-Tacy fan, and the end story is very Betsy-Tacyish. And I like the chopsticks vs fork story--I just saw my own 2 daughters do the same in a restaurant yesterday, as a matter of fact.
And yes, it is nice to see Asian Americans in a book. But do we really need one that smacks of that "they all look alike" nonsense. Isn't that what pisses people about The Five Chinese Brothers ?
Grace Lin is a terrific writer. I'll eagerly await her next picture book, or novel.
But I'm not waiting up nights for the sequel to this one.
September 27, 2011
1. { Genre }: Controlled Vocabulary
2. { Summary }: Ling & Ting are twins, but as the title states, they are not exactly the same. Ling and Ting express their individualities in each of the six chapters where they receive haircuts, play magic tricks and make dumplings.
3a. { Area for comment }: Vocabulary, Concept, Recall
3b. { Critique }:
The title, Ling & Ting: Not Exactly The Same, is divided into 6 chapters with the same characters, Ling and Ting. This is a “chapter” book, but is an easy read due to it’s straight-forwardness and limited vocabulary.
3c. { Critique Example }:
Controlled vocabulary can be found on every page of this title, but a specific example is on pg. 29, “I will eat with a fork.” Most of the vocabulary is just as depicted as this sentence - one-syllable words. The concept that two identical twins can indeed be different is expressed in all the chapters. A specific example can be found on pg. 20, “I will close my dumplings tight,” Lind says. ‘Then our money will not get away’” and pg. 21, “I will put a lot of meat in my dumplings,’ Ting says. ‘So we will be very rich.’” The sisters are always pictured completing the same actions but in a slightly different way/manner. Finally, on pg. 34, Lin asks the audience to recall, “I remember my card! it was the King of Hearts!” Although she does not deliberately ask her reader, Ting mentions something that happens in chapter 2 (which was three chapters before).
4. { Curriculum Connection }:
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same would be a great way to teach sequencing. Perhaps display the images on the board randomly and ask the students to place the pictures in chronological order. You could do this by chapter or by events within the chapter. This could also be used for students who are just learning to form sentences as well. The teacher could have the students pick their favorite chapters or assign chapters to groups and have each student act out a page of the chapter. OR to be more efficient, the teacher could pair students up and have each pair choose a chapter randomly from a bucket. From there, the students with play the parts of either Ling or Ting - a fun way to practice dialogue.
September 28, 2015
Might a series of books about twin girls Ling and Ting harbor the potential to become the next "Frog and Toad" in terms of popularity? There have been a number of book series since the 1970s that were notably reminiscent of the mini-adventures of Frog and Toad, meeting with varying degrees of success. I have to think, though, that Ling and Ting have as good a chance as any recent pair of protagonists of ascending to that throne of excellence established by Arnold Lobel all those years ago with the introduction of a simple, meaningful friendship between a frog and a toad.
First things first: it can be kind of hard to tell twins apart in a book, right? Especially when the book's illustrations, charming as they are, tend toward the simple side of the artistic spectrum. That potential difficulty is dealt with in chapter one of Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!. In addition to showing that the twins definitely have their own separate minds, the events of the first chapter provide a distinguishing physical feature that clearly marks Ling as Ling and Ting as Ting. After that point in the book, discerning which twin is which is no more difficult for the reader than just looking for that difference.
Ling & Ting is made up of six short stories, none lasting more than a few pages, with no more than a few lines on any one page. The six stories are connected in some ways, though there's no real central theme that ties them together as having necessarily occurred in chronological order. The stories are lightly humorous and work well with the author's warm, exuberant illustrations. It's hard to pick out any single one of the stories as a special favorite, but many readers would probably choose the final one, since it works well in bringing not only the sixth brief tale to its end, but also in moving the book as a whole to a satisfying conclusion that leaves us wanting more.
Grace Lin is an excellent talent in the art of writing, and I like the fact that she writes books for kids of all different ages. I hope that we see more of Ling and Ting's adventures in the future, and of Grace Lin's writing in general.
First things first: it can be kind of hard to tell twins apart in a book, right? Especially when the book's illustrations, charming as they are, tend toward the simple side of the artistic spectrum. That potential difficulty is dealt with in chapter one of Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!. In addition to showing that the twins definitely have their own separate minds, the events of the first chapter provide a distinguishing physical feature that clearly marks Ling as Ling and Ting as Ting. After that point in the book, discerning which twin is which is no more difficult for the reader than just looking for that difference.
Ling & Ting is made up of six short stories, none lasting more than a few pages, with no more than a few lines on any one page. The six stories are connected in some ways, though there's no real central theme that ties them together as having necessarily occurred in chronological order. The stories are lightly humorous and work well with the author's warm, exuberant illustrations. It's hard to pick out any single one of the stories as a special favorite, but many readers would probably choose the final one, since it works well in bringing not only the sixth brief tale to its end, but also in moving the book as a whole to a satisfying conclusion that leaves us wanting more.
Grace Lin is an excellent talent in the art of writing, and I like the fact that she writes books for kids of all different ages. I hope that we see more of Ling and Ting's adventures in the future, and of Grace Lin's writing in general.
July 26, 2017
Ling and Ting: Easy Reader
Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Easy Reader
Copyright Date: 2010
Estimate of age level of interest: Kindergarten-Grade 3
Estimate of reading level: Grade 2
Brief description: Ling and Ting are twin sisters who seek to prove that they are not exactly the same.
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book:
Fiction books truly represent the experience of the culture depicted: The two girls in this story are of Asian decent and are seen in the story making dumplings, but also doing things that all kids do. The culture depicted is accurately portrayed but it is not overdone to make it stereotypical or offensive. They show the girls, first and foremost, just being kids.
Early Fluent Readers have more formal and descriptive language: The language in this book is more formal and descriptive in the sense that the author uses lots of dialog, italics to accentuate words, uses more compound sentences, and brings in some new and more difficult vocabulary like “shazaam!” and “abracadabra!”
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?:
Ling and Ting Not Exactly the Same! serves it’s intended audience as it provides an interesting plot, with useful vocabulary and sight words for the age range. This book is also wonderful in terms of the diversity of the characters, the author, and the activities that the children do. This in turn serves a wider audience.
Awards if any:
ALA Notable Children's Books, 2011
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 08/01/10
Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor, 2011
Wilson's Children, 10/01/10
Published reviews from professional sources e.g. ALA, Booklist, Kirkus, SLJ, etc. if any:
Booklist starred, 05/01/10
Horn Book Magazine, 05/01/11
Horn Book Magazine starred, 07/01/10
Kirkus Reviews starred, 06/01/10
Library Media Connection, 08/01/10
New York Times, 08/15/10
Publishers Weekly, 06/21/10
School Library Journal starred, 07/01/10
Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Easy Reader
Copyright Date: 2010
Estimate of age level of interest: Kindergarten-Grade 3
Estimate of reading level: Grade 2
Brief description: Ling and Ting are twin sisters who seek to prove that they are not exactly the same.
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book:
Fiction books truly represent the experience of the culture depicted: The two girls in this story are of Asian decent and are seen in the story making dumplings, but also doing things that all kids do. The culture depicted is accurately portrayed but it is not overdone to make it stereotypical or offensive. They show the girls, first and foremost, just being kids.
Early Fluent Readers have more formal and descriptive language: The language in this book is more formal and descriptive in the sense that the author uses lots of dialog, italics to accentuate words, uses more compound sentences, and brings in some new and more difficult vocabulary like “shazaam!” and “abracadabra!”
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?:
Ling and Ting Not Exactly the Same! serves it’s intended audience as it provides an interesting plot, with useful vocabulary and sight words for the age range. This book is also wonderful in terms of the diversity of the characters, the author, and the activities that the children do. This in turn serves a wider audience.
Awards if any:
ALA Notable Children's Books, 2011
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 08/01/10
Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor, 2011
Wilson's Children, 10/01/10
Published reviews from professional sources e.g. ALA, Booklist, Kirkus, SLJ, etc. if any:
Booklist starred, 05/01/10
Horn Book Magazine, 05/01/11
Horn Book Magazine starred, 07/01/10
Kirkus Reviews starred, 06/01/10
Library Media Connection, 08/01/10
New York Times, 08/15/10
Publishers Weekly, 06/21/10
School Library Journal starred, 07/01/10
December 31, 2013
I registered for this book because in a few months I will become a grandmother to twin girls. As a twin myself, although fraternal, I can easily identify with the issues a twin faces growing up. There is a need to be one's own person. For identical twins, individuality is an even greater concern.
Ling and Ting is an absolutely adorable childrens book about identical twin girls who seem to have surmounted those problems! This book simply, but touchingly, explores the ways a charming pair of girls works things out between themselves so that they each feel special in their own way. This is the sweetest little book about twins finding their own place in life.
The book is comprised of six chapters which can either be read together as one story or each chapter can readily stand alone. It would be a perfect book, reading one chapter at a time, to read to a child before bed. The book would also be suitable for young children who are just learning to read, to read by themselves. There are no complicated issues that require further explanation by an adult. The pictures are simple and colorful. They are expressive and pose no negative images. The content is appropriate for young children. It is a happy book that will make children smile.
Through simple tasks and shared experiences, each story shows the girls finding a way to declare their own self worth and a way to be happy with each other, accepting their similarities and differences. The little stories are amusing, yet sensitive to the feelings of each child. Because there are moral lessons about togetherness, cooperation, and sharing, I think the book would not only be good for twins, but for siblings and only children, since it shows how any two children, who are not always the same and who sometimes disagree, can get along beautifully because they care about each other.
Ling and Ting is an absolutely adorable childrens book about identical twin girls who seem to have surmounted those problems! This book simply, but touchingly, explores the ways a charming pair of girls works things out between themselves so that they each feel special in their own way. This is the sweetest little book about twins finding their own place in life.
The book is comprised of six chapters which can either be read together as one story or each chapter can readily stand alone. It would be a perfect book, reading one chapter at a time, to read to a child before bed. The book would also be suitable for young children who are just learning to read, to read by themselves. There are no complicated issues that require further explanation by an adult. The pictures are simple and colorful. They are expressive and pose no negative images. The content is appropriate for young children. It is a happy book that will make children smile.
Through simple tasks and shared experiences, each story shows the girls finding a way to declare their own self worth and a way to be happy with each other, accepting their similarities and differences. The little stories are amusing, yet sensitive to the feelings of each child. Because there are moral lessons about togetherness, cooperation, and sharing, I think the book would not only be good for twins, but for siblings and only children, since it shows how any two children, who are not always the same and who sometimes disagree, can get along beautifully because they care about each other.
January 18, 2015
Ling and Ting celebrates the quirky differences between identical twins in a series of short and engaging stories. This book embraces the transition into more advanced easy readers with short chapters which give readers convenient resting places as well as paragraphs, but still make strong use of illustration and uncomplicated plot lines. Humor drives each story, making them memorable. Each of the six chapters can read separately from the next, but a few recall elements of previous chapters, such as when Ting suddenly remembers something she forgot two chapters previously. The illustrations also support the events of previous chapters, such as the persistence of Ting’s un-identical haircut or the different dumpling textures following Ling and Ting into the story about chopsticks. Lin’s illustrations also embrace the marriage between the easiest reader and more transitional texts as the pictures contribute to but don’t retell the entire story. Each chapter has its own color palette, helping to distinguish the stories, but every illustration is bright and bold. In addition to excellent formatting, strong illustration, and entertaining text, Ling and Ting offers a taste of Asian culture without being overly saturated to the point where it drives the story. This book won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor in 2011 and is strongly recommended for children ages 6-7. (Four and a half stars)
May 4, 2018
I LOVE the Arnold Lobel series "Frog and Toad" for early readers and enjoy reading them even as an adult, though you need a child to read to for them to really shine. I mention it as an opening to reviewing "Ling & Ting: Not exactly the same!" because these charming stories, presented in short chapters, have the same charm.
The girls are darling. Their stories are simple and fun, yet full of gentle, meaningful instruction on the relationship between sisters/ siblings. The illustrations are well done and the kids studied them for images of the stories. Several times, we all laughed out loud. I'm so pleased to own the series and look forward to reading future editions. Highly recommended for all kids, but this series will be particularly delightful for Americans, Chinese and Chinese Americans who will see themselves in these adorable twins.
More for newly independent readers:
Frog & Toad Treasury, Lobel, 1987
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
More Ling & Ting:
Ling & Ting Share a Birthday (Ling & Ting #2), Lin, 2013
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
More Chinese American connections for older children...
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, Lord, 1984
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The girls are darling. Their stories are simple and fun, yet full of gentle, meaningful instruction on the relationship between sisters/ siblings. The illustrations are well done and the kids studied them for images of the stories. Several times, we all laughed out loud. I'm so pleased to own the series and look forward to reading future editions. Highly recommended for all kids, but this series will be particularly delightful for Americans, Chinese and Chinese Americans who will see themselves in these adorable twins.
More for newly independent readers:
Frog & Toad Treasury, Lobel, 1987
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
More Ling & Ting:
Ling & Ting Share a Birthday (Ling & Ting #2), Lin, 2013
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
More Chinese American connections for older children...
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, Lord, 1984
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 14, 2010
Twin sisters Ling and Ting are twins, but definitely not the same. Sure, they look the same, up until the end of the first chapter when a sneeze on the barber’s chair changes that. But they like different things, have different skills, and approach projects in different ways. At the same time, the girls are obviously great friends as well as sisters despite their differences. In short friendly chapters, readers get to know these young sisters and will be able to happily identify with both of them. This is an early reader with depth and something to say. It never loses its friendly, lightness and still offers an amazing amount of story.
Lin excels at creating universal characters and these two twins are definitely that. She also has woven Asian culture into the story in ways that make sense for the story. Her superb choices in the book work very well. Lin also did the art for the book, which has the same engaging style as the story itself. The art is filled with bright, bold color and will serve new readers well as they read this book.
Highly recommended, this is an impressive easy reader. Let’s hope that Ling & Ting return for many more adventures. Appropriate for new readers, ages 4-6.
Lin excels at creating universal characters and these two twins are definitely that. She also has woven Asian culture into the story in ways that make sense for the story. Her superb choices in the book work very well. Lin also did the art for the book, which has the same engaging style as the story itself. The art is filled with bright, bold color and will serve new readers well as they read this book.
Highly recommended, this is an impressive easy reader. Let’s hope that Ling & Ting return for many more adventures. Appropriate for new readers, ages 4-6.
October 18, 2011
Ling & Ting, Not Exactly the Same
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Two fun-loving twin girls, Ling and Ting, seem as though they are exactly the same, but after observing them share many experiences together, it appears that this may not be true.
A.This critique focuses on the theme of this story. The author challenges the perception that twins are just alike in every way. Each twin has unique differences, in terms of preferences, feelings, and personality that make each of them unique.
B. The story does a good job of portraying the physical similarities between Ling and Ting. For example, on pg 1-2, the twins appear as duplicates of one another, however, a short while later we realized that Ling and sit still for a haircut, while Ting cannot. In addition, each twin has their own unique way of making a dumpling, pg 22. The fact that one twin cannot use a chopstick and the other can is another example of their differences, but may also allude to stereotypical beliefs which a person can have about others, and that we should look beyond the similarities the uniqueness of the individual.
C. This story is applicable for a social studies curriculum addressing Chinese American culture, Stereotypes, or a science class studying the biology of twins.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: Two fun-loving twin girls, Ling and Ting, seem as though they are exactly the same, but after observing them share many experiences together, it appears that this may not be true.
A.This critique focuses on the theme of this story. The author challenges the perception that twins are just alike in every way. Each twin has unique differences, in terms of preferences, feelings, and personality that make each of them unique.
B. The story does a good job of portraying the physical similarities between Ling and Ting. For example, on pg 1-2, the twins appear as duplicates of one another, however, a short while later we realized that Ling and sit still for a haircut, while Ting cannot. In addition, each twin has their own unique way of making a dumpling, pg 22. The fact that one twin cannot use a chopstick and the other can is another example of their differences, but may also allude to stereotypical beliefs which a person can have about others, and that we should look beyond the similarities the uniqueness of the individual.
C. This story is applicable for a social studies curriculum addressing Chinese American culture, Stereotypes, or a science class studying the biology of twins.
September 25, 2012
1. Genre: Picture Book- Controlled Vocabulary
2. Ling and Ting look alike and are always together, but are different in many ways. Each girl’s unique personality’s shine through as the story progresses.
3. Critique
a. Continuity & Cohesion
b. This book is a perfect read aloud for a lower level elementary classroom. The vocabulary and sentence structure are simple and repetitive, while still keeping the reader’s attention. There are six separate stories within the book, but each continues into the next. It is a great read aloud because each story is able to stand on its own, while still flowing with the others cohesively.
c. The students might be read only the first story one day. The next day they will not need prior knowledge to understand the next story, so it will not be an issue if the students forgot or were absent. However, there are subtle details like the mismatched haircuts that could be topics of discussion and help students work on reading comprehension skills.
4. As I have already stated, this book is a wonderful reading comprehension resource. It could also be used to teach children about family or differences. Students could write their own collection of stories about their family.
2. Ling and Ting look alike and are always together, but are different in many ways. Each girl’s unique personality’s shine through as the story progresses.
3. Critique
a. Continuity & Cohesion
b. This book is a perfect read aloud for a lower level elementary classroom. The vocabulary and sentence structure are simple and repetitive, while still keeping the reader’s attention. There are six separate stories within the book, but each continues into the next. It is a great read aloud because each story is able to stand on its own, while still flowing with the others cohesively.
c. The students might be read only the first story one day. The next day they will not need prior knowledge to understand the next story, so it will not be an issue if the students forgot or were absent. However, there are subtle details like the mismatched haircuts that could be topics of discussion and help students work on reading comprehension skills.
4. As I have already stated, this book is a wonderful reading comprehension resource. It could also be used to teach children about family or differences. Students could write their own collection of stories about their family.
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