The Twins' Blanket

The Twins

by Hyewon Yum

One of School Library Journal’s Best Picture Books of 2011
These look-alike twins have always shared everything—their room, their toys, a crib, and, since the day they were born, a blanket. But as they grow into new beds, they need new blankets, too. Now they face a new dilemma: they don’t know how  not to share.
Told from the perspective of two five-year-olds, The Twins’ Blanket playfully illuminates squabbles and affection between young siblings. Yum’s minimalistic art astutely captures these twins’ emotions as they toss, turn, and tug their new and old blankets—and embrace their growing independence.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Storytime, Realistic Fiction, Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2011

About the author

Hyewon Yum is the author and illustrator of several acclaimed books for children. She has received the Society of Illustrator's Founder's Award, the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, an Honorable Mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Award, and the Golden Kite Award for her work. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, I appreciated the honest portrayal of a sibling relationship and that the twins fought sometimes and wanted to have their own separate identities -- yet still were close and needed one another. The ending was very sweet. But, on the whole, I'm not sure I really enjoyed the book all that much. I did like how the mom incorporated the original blanket into the new blankets :->

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five-year-old identical twin sisters who have shared everything from a room to a blanket since their infancy, find that they must begin the separation process in this picture-book from author/artist Hyewon Yum, herself a twin. As their mother sets out to make them separate blankets, when the one that they have long shared becomes too small, they choose different color fabrics, and argue about whose blanket should be sewn first. But when they are finally in separate beds, under separate blankets, they find that it is more unnerving than they expected to be apart...

Chosen as one of our December selections in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is "Warm Quilts and Soft Mittens," The Twins' Blanket is a sweet little tale of (fairly gentle) sibling rivalry and affection. The story is engaging, and the artwork appealing. I especially liked some of the visual details, such as the decorative motifs on the vividly-hued cloth that the mother is working on, or the fact that the two new blankets both incorporate some of the old shared blanket. Recommended to young children who are just starting to feel that they want a little space of their own, but who still need the safety and warmth of close family bonds.

[Elissa Luckhardt]

Twins growing up and growing apart, but still needing each other to do so

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twins have shared everything - even a well-loved blanket - since birth, but it may be time for separate blankets . . . AND separate beds.

With delightful illustrations!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identical twin girls are just turning five, and having shared everything all their lives, both of them seek a little independence. When the blanket they have slept under is too small to cover both of them comfortably, their mother has them select material and makes two blankets, using part of the fabric from the old blanket. One chooses yellow fabric and one selects pink, but when the blankets are finished, and the girls lie in their own twin beds, both reach out to touch the other's hand for comfort, separate, yes, but still linked together. This is a well-told story about growing up accompanied by lovely illustrations by the author of Last Night. The illustrator captures the roses in the girls' cheeks and their emerging personalities on the book's pages as they fight over the blanket, argue over the best color, and still, share moments of laughter and comfort. Pair this with Take Two! A Celebration of Twins, poetry about twins by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet tale about growing older and becoming more independent, along with the anxiety of separation from things that are comfortable and familiar.

The narrative is short and the illustrations are adorable. I loved seeing how the girls were still able to have a part of their past, while still embracing their 'grown up' future. We enjoyed reading this book together.

This story was selected as one of the books for the December 2012 - Warm Quilts and Soft Mittens reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Yoo Kyung Sung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally another contermporary book about Korean children came out. The color of Korea was not mixed with Japanese or Chinese colors/prints/patterns etc in this book which brought my childhood memory as well. This part, it is contrasting with the book like Goyangi Means Cat in which prints and colors are little bothersome-- beautiful but not quite culturally pseudo. Universal theme in twin sisters and their riverly and sibling friendship are delightful. I will keep my eye on Hyewon Yum who is supposedly to be an insightful and great talented illustrator graduated from SNU.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two twin girls have shared everything all their lives. One of their favorite things, and one of the things they shared all their lives is a blanket. Now the girls are five and the blanket is too small for both of them. This poses a problem for the girls.

“But we are big girls now.
I’m already five.

I’m five, too. We’re twin sisters, remember, silly?
The blanket has gotten too small for both of us.”

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't seen very many picture books about twins, and so it was a delight to come across this one. Twins are such a unique experience in growing up, and the idea of having to share everything is a difficult concept, especially when small. The solution for who gets the blanket that both girls have always shared is clever. But even moreso, is the way the twins look out for each other when it matters most. I liked this book.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not every child has a twin, but most kids can identify with having a beloved blanket or moving to a new bed. And they will all like this story.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2015...

[Meagan Walker (EDUC 378) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Twin’s Blanket

Text-to-Self

This could be a simple read for younger readers to enjoy independently. The simple text and engaging illustrations keeps the reader at great interest. Young readers will find this book relatable from the culture or even life with a sibling. The twins of course share so many things in common, such as their favorite blanket, however they began to notice that they have many things they enjoy as individuals. By the end of the story, the girls realize that it’s okay to enjoy different things and most importantly, their bond is inseparable! This book reminds me of my twin cousins who have very different personalities but are super close!

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hyewon Yum did an excellent job of creating the voice for the twin girls and their voice is what makes this story works. I appreciated the subtle and more straightforward differences between the two girls, this is important for twins and other siblings close in age. However, I also found that having a piece of the old blanket passed on into the new blankets was a nice way to show that the twins will always be connected and share similarities in addition to their differences.

[Sue H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about identical twins who have shared eveything since birth (and even before that - they shaed a womb).
Now at 5 years old, their beloved blanket (which they have had since they were babies) is too small for them both. They’re mother informs them that they will be getting individual beds with their own blanket which they will get to choose their own color for.

This book shows us that though they look the same, they can still have different tastes and likes, but that their connection will always bring them back together.
Would make a cute read aloud due to the dual narration of the story.

[Jacob Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and simple story about twins who become too big to share their blanket. Commonplace arguments ensue between the twins, such as one being older than the other (by three minutes), so she should keep the blanket. After much fussing, they each pick out their own blanket, demonstrating their growing independence and individuality; as well as their incessant competition.

Although the twins are whiny, the story has an elegant flow and adorable appeal. Illustrations are done in soft colored pencils with touches of water color, which contrast nicely against the white background.

[Sydney M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twins Blanket
Two Korean American sisters are twins and they share everything, including the striped blanket they’ve had since they were born. Now they’re five and they have out grown the blanket. They argue over who should have it. Mommy says it’s time for new blankets, and separate beds. Each girl picks a different, distinct fabric. There is more fighting over whose blanket Mommy should make first. The girls have a hard time sleeping in separate beds, until each finds the other’s hand

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes how two identical twin sisters who were always together and shared a blanket together, but as they grow older they are becoming more independent. Reading how they both received different blankets yet still were afraid to be alone and represent was really beautiful. The visuals were really beautiful, especially the cover which caught my eye. The one thing I wish there was more to it about the story.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the art of the things, but not of the children. But that's me. I love that even though they're twins and therefore in many ways of similar temperament and with similar perspectives, they squabble. I love that they are supported in being individuals... who are also best friends.

Mom is a saint, though. A sewing machine would have made much quicker work of the project at no loss and very little cost, honestly. But where's the rest of the family?

[Maria Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s kind of interesting that while the twins claim to “share everything”, they never actually even share a page in this book together. They are always mirror images on the left and right pages. I love the way the blankets are illustrated, but the ending felt a little abrupt.

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[Sidney McQuade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! The illustrations are great and fun to look at. The story captures what having a twin sister is like, or any sibling in general. It is so hard to share with a sibling, especially at a young age. The girls are constantly butting heads about everything. In the end, the girls realize that they just need each other, and together they are able to face their fears.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, as twins you share a room, toys, gifts (birthday and christmas), a classroom, friends, a birthday and party, each other's looks, mother's womb, etc. But like every twin out there, we sometimes fight over something and demand independence of property among other things. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend for little twins.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me tear up as a twin who isn’t speaking to my brother right now. Beautiful illustrations and I read it at a thrift store where someone had put little post its explaining or rephrasing things clearly to relate to someone much smaller going through something similar. Beautiful colors and pictures and sentiment. A good book.

[Caitlyn Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book because so many students do not necessarily know how to share due to different situations, or even similar ones to this book, and they need to learn; plus it includes a multicultural aspect!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captures the experience of having a sibling. It demonstrates that not everything has to be a competition and even though they always do things together, they are still individual people that have their own personal preferences.

[Anne with Violets · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wonder. Does this story come from the author's experience, is she one of the twins herself, or is she raising twins herself? It's a pleasure to read the vivid conversations between the two children. The mother's wise decision at the end made me as happy as the two girls.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twins are growing up. They no longer want to share their blanket. Mom makes them each their own, but uses their old one, cut in half, to trim the new blanket so they each get part of it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

twins..that's my sister and I. I remember fighting over our blankets/beds. .. The good 'ol days. This was a very good book.

[Megan Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

These twins are so much like my own twin boys! They fight and get along the same ways. I loved that connection. Very sweet book!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such thoughtful use of white space. Very realistic, childlike twins! Yum’s studying of printmaking came in handy with the making of the blankets, and her painting is sheer sweetness.