Two of a Kind

by Jacqui Robbins, Matt Phelan (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet Kayla and Melanie—two of a kind and official first-grade mean girls. This is a new kind of playground bullying. These girls tease, whisper, and get their way all of the time, even when that means turning one friend against another. Anna is too smart to fall for their charms. . . . Well, almost. The allure of the in crowd is strong. But after an early falter, Anna discovers she’s stronger when she stands up for herself and for her friend Julisa. This book is modern, multicultural, and has a message worth sharing— the perfect book to read to a classroom, to a daughter . . . or to a bully!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416924371
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/07/2009
Edition description:	Repackage
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,070,292
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	520L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jacqui Robbins for years an elementary school teacher, lives with her husband and young daughter in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Matt Phelan's black-and-white illustrations first appeared in The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney. His picture books include The New Girl...and Me and Two of a Kind, both written by Jacqui Robbins. Matt lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Read an Excerpt

Kayla and Melanie are two of a kind. That's what Kayla and Melanie say. Even our teacher, Ms. Becky, says it sometimes, like when Kayla and Melanie beg to be partners at work time.

Julisa and I like to be partners too, but nobody calls us two of a kind. Ms. Becky does say, "Julisa, Anna, can you help?" a lot. And we do.

copyright © 2009 by Jacqui Robbins

Julisa stands below the jungle gym. She says, "Recess is over, you know."

Kayla makes a face and laughs. Melanie says, "We're not coming."

Julisa looks at Melanie. Her eyes are sharp and her voice is calm. "I'm not talking to you. I don't care about you." And I can tell she really doesn't.

Julisa turns back to me. She blinks. "Anna?" Her voice is shakier, like maybe now she does care.

"If you get down...," Melanie says.

copyright © 2009 by Jacqui Robbins

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 2—Anna and Julisa are friends who both wear red glasses and are quiet, shy, and helpful. Kayla and Melanie, referred to by everybody as "two of a kind," are not as nice, and their mocking, self-importance is somewhat alluring to naive Anna. When they begin to include her in their games, she is secretly delighted. She feels guilty about leaving Julisa alone but sits silently by as the two malicious girls scoff openly at Julisa and call her "Miss Giant Eyes." It soon becomes clear to Anna that she doesn't have much in common with these bossy and unkind classmates. When she finally realizes that she much prefers the company of her goodhearted and true friend over the two "popular" girls, she leaves them behind with no regrets. The well-designed pastel watercolor illustrations connect this story with the author and illustrator's previous title, The New Girl…and Me (S & S, 2006). Filled with characters reflecting varying ethnic backgrounds, both offerings could easily be set at the same school. There's not much here that hasn't been done before but the book imparts a good lesson that needs reinforcing.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

What makes a true friend? Kayla and Melanie are "two of a kind," but not in a good way. They stick together, dress the same, exclude others and even mock other girls in the class. Julisa and Anna are buddies, too, but they're the kind of girls who help others and invite everyone else to play with them at recess. This sweet friendship is threatened when Anna briefly joins the mean girls and ignores her friend. Schoolchildren will nod with recognition and empathy when Anna is torn in two directions and will breathe a sigh of relief when she makes the right decision. This straightforward and familiar situation is made even clearer by Phelan's expressive watercolor illustrations, in which Kayla and Melanie's sharp eyebrows let the reader know just what kind of girls they are. Teachers and parents in need of a springboard for discussions of exclusion and social cruelty will find this book very helpful. Julisa and Anna are fine models for young girls looking for guidance in the ways of friendship. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews