Two Is Enough

by Janna Matthies, Mourning Tuesday (Illustrator)

Two is enough when it's me plus you!

Two is enough for
joy . . .
love . . .
comfort . . .
support . . .
celebration . . .
a family.

From playing in the snow to a rainy-day ride, to double-scoop treats and crash-landing in leaves, two can be the perfect number for creating life's memories. And two can definitely be enough for a warm family, full of the love, support, and comfort that every child needs.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Storytime, Cultural, Divorce, Love

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

Janna Matthies is a picture book author and early-elementary music teacher in Indianapolis. Her books include the forthcoming MY TOWERING TREE (Beach Lane Books/S&S, Aug '24), OVER IN THE GARDEN (Doubleday/RHCB, Mar '25), BABY, LET'S GO TO THE ORCHESTRA ('25). Other titles are HERE WE COME! (Beach Lane Books, 2022), which earned a Horn Book starred review and JLG Gold Standard; GOD’S ALWAYS LOVING YOU (WorthyKids/Hachette); TWO IS ENOUGH (Running Press Kids), which made the 2016 Bank Street list and NYT Book Review; THE GOODBYE CANCER GARDEN (Whitman), which earned an SLJ starred review and Best Foreign Language Children’s Book at the Sharjah International Book Fair; PETER, THE KNIGHT WITH ASTHMA (Whitman); and MONSTER TRUCKS (Piggy Toes Press). When she’s not writing or making music, Janna can be found digging in the garden, swimming laps, or keeping up with her husband, three nearly-grown kids, and howling husky Juneau.

Reviews

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without ever mentioning the word "family" or relationship specifics like mom, dad, parent, grandparent, this simple book presents a continuous array of adult/child relationships using widely varied cultural/age/gender references. In the process any number of activities (well more than two) are depicted in which comfort, entertainment, problem-solving, and other life experiences take place within the safety and security of family support.

[Katie Portillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two is enough by Janna Matthies
This book is great to teach children about different cultures, identities and families. This book shows the love between two. Most children do not live with both parents so this book portrays that very nicely. This author has won awards for her books and was named Best Foreign Children’s Book. I recommend this book because it’s a window to other children’s lives that may not have both parents present. She keeps her message simple and clear, all that matters is having love present doesn’t matter by how many. It shows a variety of ethnicities through the illustrations and the pictures are very comforting. A teacher could us this book when teaching a lesson on families.

[Peggy Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in rhyme, TWO IS ENOUGH is a wonderful tribute to single parents. Illustrations show different types of families of two doing everyday things together. I like the variety of things that these families do together, and I like that the types of families shown are varied as well. A great read for anyone who is a single parent.

[Xaviera Hanif · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooooo cute and special in many ways! I think this story would definitely be interesting to the children that can relate with having one parent, guardian, or family member take care of them! It offers any child the opportunity to question why do the children in the book only have one parent through out the whole story! This book offers students a great learning opportunity to be educated about different family types and that not every family has to include two different people! The illustrations are beautiful! All of the drawings show different scenarios of a "two person" family successfully doing things together! The illustrations are very bright and they change from different seasons to different holidays! It portrays multiple different races of people and a variety of combinations that could be possible contenders of two people who make up their own small family. It seems to show a grandmother with a child, a mother with a child, and a father with a child! So it promotes a positive impact on each adult no matter what gender or family member they are! The language of this book is very appropriate for a young children's book. "Two Is Enough" will definitely keep a child's attention! This is such a unique story and helps educate the young lives on how there is not a standard "family type."

[Miss Leinbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic Fiction (in rhyming couplets)
K-3

"Two is enough when it's me and you."
The book delightfully illustrates and describes in short rhyming couplets all the different situations that are encountered in life in which "me and you" is enough. The illustrations show different examples of "two," including an African-American father and son and a Latino father and daughter in addition to the blond Caucasian mother and daughter. There is also a grandmother and grandson, but I'm not entirely sure of the ethnicity there; the grandmother appear Asian, but the child has bright red hair. *shrug* As long as it's me and you, though, it's all good!

Great book for community building and fostering a sense of inclusion of all kinds of family backgrounds. Would be a good lead in for drawing and/or writing our own examples of when "two is enough" in our lives.

Also, obviously, a great tie-in to math for the number 2. Additionally, good book to use in conversation about "what is poetry?" Most kids don't think of rhyming picture books as "poetry" but I found a great discussion with my third-graders when they were brainstorming what makes something a poem when I picked up several picture books we'd recently read and re-read the rhyming text to them... Is it a poem, or is it a book? Wait, a "book" isn't actually a category...

Text set ideas: family, community, numbers, poetry

[Yvee Martir · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Two is Enough” by Janna Matthies shines a light on families consisting of two people. The book shows many different variations of this family dynamic. This family could be a mother and daughter, a father and son, a grandma and grandson, and many more. The basis of this story is all the wonderful things a pair of two people can accomplish. This story aims to normalize a single-parent and child family. Although this is a common family dynamic, children may feel saddened by the fact that they do not have a “conventional” family with two parents. No matter the circumstance, this story does a wonderful job of illustrating the love between a parental figure and a child. The illustrations play a big role in this story as well. The love between the pairs radiates through each pair. The child and parent are always close together and experiencing similar emotions. It is obvious to the reader, through these illustrations, that the two characters have a close bond. Overall, I truly enjoyed this story because it emphasizes close-knit family relationships.

[Jared White · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not often that you find books that are specifically about a single parent or caregiver. I especially like this one because what/who those caregivers are is never specified, so it could be a single parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, or adoptive parent. As well as that ambiguity, there's great racial diversity and one pair that doesn't look the same (the grandmother/older caregiver looks of Asian descent but their charge looks of European descent).

I think it you were to do a mother's day or father's day or grandparent's day storytime, this may be a good one to throw in because those who may not fit/relate to your theme may relate to this book. I think it could work well in a preschool or lower elementary school storytime.

[Jackie Devaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Two Is Enough" by Janna Matthies celebrates the joys of a small family. The book tells the story of a family with two children who enjoy spending time together, playing games and having fun. Through their adventures, they discover that having each other is all they need to be happy. This book promotes a positive attitude towards small families. In a world where families come in all shapes and sizes, the book celebrates the unique bond that can exist between a single parent and their child and the importance of cherishing family time. Students with single parents can see their family represented in a book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book overflowing with love as single parents and their children share life together, happy to be ‘two.’ Written in rhyme we learn, “Two is enough for a snowball fight, for building a family, frosty and white.” Illustrations focus on four families in a variety of scenes, doing a variety of activities from cycling, gardening, singing, and even crying. It ends with, “Sure as one plus one will always be two, Two is enough when its’s me plus you!” A lovely poem and a heartwarming book for families with one adult and one child.
Originally reviewed on Bookd4theCuriousChild

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two is enough when it's me plus you!

Two is enough for
joy . . .
love . . .
comfort . . .
support . . .
celebration . . .
a family.

From playing in the snow to a rainy-day ride, to double-scoop treats and crash-landing in leaves, two can be the perfect number for creating life's memories. And two can definitely be enough for a warm family, full of the love, support, and comfort that every child needs.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book that shows two is all you need to make a family. While some families may have 5 people, 2 is just enough. This shows many different families that only have two people and what all is possibly with just 2 people. I think this book is really valuable for children of single-parent families.

[Emily Heid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it demonstrates and celebrates different types of families. It is a story about a single mom and her daughter who are still able to do fun things as just the two of them. I love the fact that it can relate to students and make them feel included if it is read in the classroom.

[Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it showed a variety of small family dynamics. It shows a father and son, a father and daughter, a mother and daughter, and a grandmother and grandson. The pictures really helped describe what was happening in the text.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A celebration of family. Two is enough shows pairing of grown-up and child, showing a range of diverse (in age and skin/hair) combos.

The simple rhyming text shows the pairs doing lots of things together.

[courtnei · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who was raised by a single mother and spent a lot of time with just her grandmother (when her mom was working) this was a beautiful story that is almost bringing me to tears. I loved all the various representations of the different pairings too. :)

[Dena Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a family of two this is a great book. It doesn't matter what kind of family of two, it is depicted in this book. Families sometimes just consist of two people. This books shows that a two person family is just enough, it can provide you with everything you need.

[Savannah Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to single guardians/parents. It explains that two people are enough to play Go Fish, get ready for school, celebrate with etc.

[typewriterdeluxe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the message behind this book; it's just way too long.

[Katie Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't feel like it had much of a story for elementary school children, but this might be a good story to introduce reading to really young children like preschool or kindergarten level.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet rhyming book about how it just takes 2 to make a family. A mother and daughter, a father and child, a grandparent and child = family! Great for single parents.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story. Showing two is enough for a family, and the love shown throughout the book is evident.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An encouraging story for families who only have an adult and child. Matties shows all the ways two is the ideal number for activities, fun and love.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine, but the rhythm falls apart at the end.

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book about how two makes a family!

[Lara Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this poetic piece of literature about one-guardian families. I say guardians because this book included a wide variety of caretakers, such as moms, dads, and grandparents. The rhyming in this book is consistent but not overbearing, and it definitely shows that the author, Janna, has a background in early music education. The premise of the story is exactly like the title says: Two Is Enough. Two is enough to do anything you want to do, and two will always be enough. This book could be a fantastic read for not only single-parent families, but also families where one parent is deployed or incarcerated. It could also be used as a way to explain the dynamic of other people's families to confused children. I think that the language is simple enough for any elementary school-aged child, and the pictures are bright and attention-grabbing. Not only is there a wide variety of families pictured, but there is also a large variation of races, ethnicities, ages, and settings. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone looking to help their child feel secure in only having one "parent," or to spark conversation with a child undergoing a similar experience.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book shows how one-parent families thrive with lots of attention to the child. It speaks to two being a great number, just right for snowball fights and ice skating. Two is perfect in spring too when planting seeds or picking bouquets. In the summer, two is just right for ice cream cones, building sand castles, and riding tandem bikes. When fall arrives, two is right for playing in leaves, carving pumpkins and marshmallow roasts. Two is just right the whole year long.

Matthies has written a bouncy rhyme here that lends a lot of dash to this picture book. The rhyme bounds along, encouraging children in one-parent families to see themselves as having something entire special. The book can also offer encouragement for children who have a parent who is away often too. As Matthies runs through the seasons and the joy of doing things with one another, she makes sure to show how two people can have a great time doing all of the things you may see as group activities. In fact, they are all the more special when done one-on-one.

Mourning offers a multicultural look at these families as well. Parents of different races appear throughout the book with three families forming the heart of the story. There are mothers with a child and fathers with a child. Grandparents also make an appearance, taking care of grandchildren in much the same way.

This engaging picture book offers a cheery look at small families and the joy that they bring throughout the seasons. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

From playing in the snow to a rainy-day ride, to double-scoop treats and crash-landing in leaves, two can be the perfect number for creating life's memories. And two can definitely be enough for a warm family, full of the love, support, and comfort that every child needs.

This book would probably be considered an issue book, its audience being for children who have a single parent, whether that be from divorce, adoption, kinship care, or death. There isn't much to it, but the sentiment is important for little ones who may be struggling with the change in the family or for those that have noticed that they only have one parent while their friends have two. Even grandparents raising kids is addressed.Now, there are plenty of books our there that feature single parents (A Chair for My Mother, The Storm Whale, Lenny & Lucy), but having one that doesn't address a specific issue like divorce or death, gives it a wider audience. A nice issue book to add to a parent, teacher, or therapists to add to their collections.

[Ariel Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely picture book shows all the things two is enough to do - which is pretty much everything when it comes to being a loving family!

There's no note describing the technique used by the illustrator, Tuesday Morning, but they look to be hand-drawn and then painted. The illustrations are warm and realistic, with four different pairs of caregivers and children shown in different situations. Especially sweet is the inclusion of what appears to be a grandparent as single caregiver, and two pairs that are a dad and a kid.

Rhyming text is limited to just two lines per page, making this the perfect length to share in storytime. Perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or a storytime about family!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, rhyming look at single parent families, including dads, moms, and grandparents.

The rhymes aren't forced (yay), and the illustrations are lovely-- bright and colorful with absent or simple/suggested backgrounds to put the focus on the characters. This is certainly a book that needed to be written; from what I've seen, single-parent households aren't very well-represented in picture books at present. Hopefully this is a move toward more books on this topic.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this! So few books show 2 person family relationships and I love this one especially because it just shows a kid and an adult have fabulous interactions. We know this adult is important to the child but we don't know, or need to know anything else. I think most kids will be able to relate in some way to this one.