This spot-on depiction of twins celebrates individuality. Vibrant gouache paintings also extend each story, emphasizing the sisterly warmth that prevails even when the two don’t see exactly eye to eye. Imbued with humor only a sibling could get away with, the episodes build on one another until the final chapter, featuring a picnic with the author’s now-trademark cupcakes, serves as a funny summary of the twins’ tales. The author introduces Chinese cultural elements as Ling and Ting make dumplings and try out chopsticks. As the girls perform magic tricks and head to the library, young readers will begin to focus more on Ling and Ting’s different personalities and less on their identical faces. While Ling sits still, fidgety Ting sneezes, causing the barber to lop off too much of her bangs. The similarities soon end after the girls visit the barber. The first of six short stories introduces identical Chinese-American twins Ling and Ting, who always wear matching patterned dresses. *Starred Review* Newbery Honor author Lin makes a stunning entree into the world of early readers.

Lin, whose previous books include Dim Sum for Everyone (2001) and the 2010 Newbery Honor Book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (2009), shows her versatility once again in an original book that tells its story clearly while leaving room for thought and discussion.

These endings, as well as bits of comic byplay that occur in the brief framework vignettes, will suit the target audience beautifully. The chapters often end with mildly humorous turns, from a neat play on words to a smack-your heard obvious solution to an apparently impossible dilemma. Framed with narrow borders, the paintings illustrate the stories with restrained lines, vivid colors, and clarity. Despite those differences, in the end each girl subtly affirms her affection for the other. The chapters that follow reveal distinct differences in the sisters personalities, inclinations, and abilities. In the first chapter, “The Haircuts,” Ling sneezes while her bangs are being cut, and for a while at least, it’s easy to tell the twins apart.

Children will come to their own conclusions after reading the six short, interconnected stories that make up this pleasing book for beginning readers. *Starred Review* Sisters Ling and Ting may be twins, but that doesn’t mean “they’re exactly the same,” no matter what everyone says upon first meeting them.

Ling & Ting by Grace Lin