Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny twins serve up smiles in third book.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
This collection features six fun stories. In the first, Ting tries to grow cupcakes in the garden. Then she exuberantly paints Ling's toys and ends up painting herself, too. Ting devises an elaborate plan to pick apples, requiring help from a monkey, a penguin, and worms, but Ling shows her an easier way. Ling responds to her sister's antics with good-natured laughter and joins in the jokes; Ling gets the punch line in a how-high-can-you-swing game. They even try to see if they can read each other's minds. In the final story, the twins work together on a story but vow, "It will not be silly." They incorporate elements of their early adventures in their writing, and it isn't silly -- it's very, very silly, just like the twins.
Is It Any Good?
LING & TING: TWICE AS SILLY is an engaging book to entice beginning readers to try longer stories. Each short story rewards readers with a funny punch line, a sure way to motivate kids to try reading on their own. Author-illustrator Grace Lin's brightly colored paintings are full of sweet details, such the girls' matching outfits and mismatched shoes and Ting's cupcake garden markers.
There are moments of touching empathy, too: Ting is crestfallen when her cupcakes don't sprout, and Ling regards her with growing concern as she watches the garden in vain. This book celebrates sisters, best friends, and partners in mischief -- and the delight to be had with creativity and imagination.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about being silly. With whom do you like to be silly?
Does being silly help you feel better or help you cheer up a friend?
Write a very silly story together.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : November 11, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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