Grace Lin,
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same
Little, Brown and Company, 2010.

Ages: 4-8

Ling & Ting by Grace Lin (Where the Mountain Meets the Moon) is a story about twins.  Drawn to look identical, Ling and Ting are nonetheless, as the title indicates “not exactly the same.”  The difference is established early with the first story in the book called “The Haircuts.”  The girls’ personalities come through in the way they handle their haircuts, and the results will mark them throughout the rest of the book. Readers will learn how to identify the girls despite their matching dresses and similar names.

Lin has arranged this book as a series of tales about the girls that build on each other.  Starting with “Haircuts,” there are six stories altogether that work not only to establish the difference between the girls but also to illustrate their friendship and sisterly affection.  Among my favorites was “Chopsticks” and “The Library Book.”  In “Chopsticks,” Ting prefers to use chopsticks while Ling does not.  Although Ting tries to help Ling use them, in the end Ling comes up with her own solution which, predictably enough, is to use a fork!  In “The Library Book,” the girls’ different tastes in reading are revealed: Ting prefers fairy tales while Ling wants a book about dogs…

Lin has created a delightful and playful collection of stories here that is engaging to read.  It is perfect for anyone looking for good books for children about twins or indeed sisters.  Her colorful and distinctive illustrations make the book a visual delight as well; Ling and Ting are vibrantly and expressively depicted in the pictures.  Of particular appeal to a young reader  – as I discovered in reading this book with my daughter – was distinguishing between the two girls  since they look so much alike with such similar names and are always dressed the same.

Lin is an accomplished writer of children’s books, and Ling & Ting, her first foray into Early Readers, is yet another example of her finely tuned skill.  She is PaperTigers’ nominee for the Astrid Lindgren award for 2011.

Sally Ito
March 2011

Thanks to author Grace Lin (whose book Ling & Ting was just awarded the prestigious 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor by the American Library Association!) for alerting me to The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. Perhaps a PaperTigers reader can make one of Grace’s dreams come true!

Librarians, teachers, parents & kids–here’s a fun project! Take any Newbery award-winning story and make into 90 second movie. Then enter it into this contest to get it shown at the 90-second Newbery Film Festival at the New York Public Library!

I was particularly excited when I heard about this contest as I’ve dreamed for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon to be made into a movie. Unfortunately, so far, Hollywood has not called but if a reader makes a 90-second Where the Mountain Meets the Moon movie I think I would consider that a dream come true!

So much so, that if you do happen to make a 90-second Where the Mountain Meets the Moon movie for this film festival, I’ll send you a print from the Grace Lin Gallery (my etsy shop)! Is that bribery? So far, there’s nothing about that in the rules… Read all about the contest HERE.

Deadline for the contest is Sept. 15 2011 and if you do enter a 90-second Where the Mountain Meets the Moon movie, please send me the link too! Your Oscar awaits.

The NY Time’s has recently published it’s Notable Children’s Books of 2010 and Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2010 articles. Our congratulations go out to all the authors and illustrators who are mentioned! Among those listed are :

Big Red Lollipop, by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall  (Viking).

Busing Brewster, by Richard Michelson, illustrated by R. G. Roth (Alfred A. Knopf).

It’s a Book, written and illustrated by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook).

Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! written and illustrated by Grace Lin (Little, Brown & Company).

To celebrate the release of her new book Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same, author Grace Lin is hosting a party! Here are the details:

WHAT: Come celebrate Ling & Ting’s book birthday! My very first early reader will be available on June 19th and I’m having a party for it! As usual, I will be reading and signing and giving away cupcake + more loot-filled goodie bags!

And the fun game this time? It’s a costume party! Ling and Ting are twins so… Come with a friend (or relative) in a MATCHING OUTFIT and get a special-while-they-last-handmade prize!!

WHERE: Porter Square Bookstore
25 White St. Cambridge, MA, USA
617-491-2220

WHEN: Saturday, June 19th 3pm

Feel free to invite others and spread the word! The more the merrier! If you can, please RSVP gracelin(dot)manager(at)gmail(dot)com so I have an idea of how many goodie bags I should make–but you can always show up last minute, I’ll make extras! Hope to see you!!

Not local? Don’t worry! I’m going to have some online fun available too! Stay tuned…

To give you a bit of a sneak peak, I’ve made a short little book trailer (my niece, Lily, did the voice)!

So far Ling & Ting has received three starred reviews with Booklist saying that it will “…suit the target audience beautifully.” And most recently, Shelf Awareness declared that Ling & Ting is “…sure to be a hit. Young readers will clamor for more adventures about these charming sisters.”

Grace’s previous book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was a huge success and won many awards including the prestigious Newbery Honor.  It was chosen as one of seven books in our Spirit of Paper Tigers Book Set and Grace is one of our nominations for the  2011 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Don’t miss our interview with Grace or her two Gallery features here and here.

The last book of the year has been read (Sahwira: An African Friendship, by Carolyn Marsden) and a whole new year of reading is about to start. Oh the joys of being an avid reader!…

If, like me, you’re likely to ring in the New Year in bed, with a good book, you might want to consider Reading Into the New Year. “It hardly sounds like a challenge,” I hear you say. Well, it isn’t. It’s more like an invitation to have fun and share your passion for books with others. However, the book(s) you choose to curl up with to welcome the new year and new decade might reveal much about your aspirations and hopes—and I guarantee the fireworks in your mind’s eyes will be just as incredible as the ones outside!

Whereas I am still planning to get caught up with titles I missed from previous years, the list of 2010 releases I just started already excites me beyond words. Perhaps one or two of these titles might inspire you to start your own brand new pile of books to look forward to?

Ling and Ting by Grace Lin
A Million Shades of Grey by Cynthia Kadohata
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
Our Grandparents: A Global Album (A Global Fund for Children book)
Seeds of Change: Wangari’s Gift to the World by Jen Cullerton Johnson, illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler.

The always reliable CCBC is hard at work compiling the best of the 2009 crop: CCBC Choices 2010 will be available after March 6, 2010 (for information on how to have a copy sent to you, go to their website). And Fuse#8 has a great post on the best of the decade.

Happy New Year of Reading to all!