Twins vs. Triplets #1: Back-to-School Blitz

by Jennifer Torres, Vanessa Flores (Illustrator)

Overview

David Suárez gets stuck in the middle of a prank war when the neighborhood twins and triplets compete to rule the school. This is the first book of this hilarious, highly illustrated early chapter book series.

David can’t wait to go back to school and get far away from his trickster neighbors. But he’s in for a surprise when a set of equally prank-loving triplets move onto his block—and into his class!

Now the twins and triplets are battling for control of the playground and David is stuck in the middle. Can he end the prank war before recess gets cancelled for the whole year?

HarperChapters build confident readers one chapter at a time! With short, fast-paced books, art on every page, and milestone markers at the end of every chapter, they're the perfect next step for fans of I Can Read!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063059443
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/01/2021
Series:	Twins vs. Triplets , #1
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	651,749
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Torres's debut picture book, Finding the Music, was published by Lee & Low Books in spring 2015, and her middle grade novel Stef Soto, Taco Queen was published by  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in fall 2016. She works at University of the Pacific, where she leads a countywide campaign to promote early literacy. Before joining Pacific, Jennifer worked as a reporter for The Record newspaper, covering education, children, and families, and she continues to write for local and national magazines. Originally from Southern California, she has lived in the Central Valley for the past 10 years with her husband, David, and daughters Alice and Soledad.

Editorial Reviews

"A good choice to grow any early chapter book collection." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

06/01/2021

Gr 2–5—David is excited to begin third grade. He studied all summer for Geography Club and is hoping to be captain of the Globetrotters. Also, the Romero twins will not be in his class this year. "Traviesos," Spanish for "troublemakers," is one of Mom's favorite nicknames for the twins, who are always pulling pranks on David. Once, they rigged a jumbo-size jar of pickles to pour over his head when he stepped outside his door. All summer, David had to avoid the shaving cream–filled balloons that the twins tossed at him. But since his parents spoke to the principal, David will not have to deal with Ash and Iris anymore. As his mom would say, "No hay problema." Now David is free from the Romeros, but what about his new neighbors? Bennie, Beckett, and Bird Benitez will be in his class…triplets! Plus, the teacher has asked him to help them acclimate to Arroyo Seco Elementary School. As recess becomes a competition between the Romero twins and the Benitez triplets for control of the tower, David and his friends must avoid the pranks while trying to keep their playground from becoming off-limits. David and his best friend, Edith, devise a plan to put an end to the competition using their geography skills. Will the plan work? Torres weaves Spanish terms throughout, and most of the primary characters have Latinx surnames. End-of-chapter reader prompts and activities at the book's conclusion will encourage reader interaction. The black-and-white digital illustrations enhance the wacky plot. VERDICT Early readers who appreciate humorous school stories will enjoy this series debut.—Annette Herbert, F.E. Smith Elem. Sch., Cortland, NY

School Library Journal

2021-05-19
A straight-laced boy deals with a mischievous pair of twins and a set of triplets in this series opener.

Poor, rule-following David! He’d been looking forward to the best school year ever on his first day of third grade. Thanks to his parents and school principal, he would never again have to be in the same class with his next-door neighbors, the Romero twins—or Travieso Twins, as David and his mom call them due to their troublemaking proclivities. Alas, David doesn’t realize his new neighbors include a set of triplets. Mischievous triplets. When the Benitez kids try to take charge of the tower on the school playground that’s been claimed as Twin Territory, a veritable war of the multiples begins. Hijinks ensue, and all the kids suffer, albeit in entertaining ways. David will have to step outside his comfort zone if he ever wants to enjoy some peace and quiet. Statements meant to encourage transitioning readers appear at the end of many chapters. Supported by textual naming conventions, Flores’ art portrays a racially diverse neighborhood and classroom; her characterizations are expressive and animated. David, the twins, and the triplets are cued as Latinx. Torres excels with this well-paced early chapter book that both respects her readers’ abilities and doesn’t pander to them.

A good choice to grow any early chapter book collection. (activities) (Fiction. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews