Two of Everything

By Lily Toy Hong

Editors' Choice: Books for Youth 1993, Booklist
100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know, The New York Public Library
1995-1996 Utah Children's Picture Book Award
1997-1998 Young Hoosier Book Award List (Indiana)
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, NCTE 1997

When old Mr. Haktak digs up a curious brass pot in his garden, he has no idea what use it can be. On his way home, Mr. Haktak decides to carry his coin purse in the mysterious pot. But when Mrs. Haktak's hairpin accidentally slips into the pot and she reaches in to retrieve it, the magic of the pot is revealed. Not only are there two hairpins inside, but there are also two purses!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Release date: Jan 1, 1993
• ISBN: 9780807593349

Lily Toy Hong

Lily Toy Hong lived most of her life in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up in a large Chinese-American family, the seventh of nine children. She says she always knew she wanted to write and illustrate children's books. Lily is married and lives in Utah.

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Reviews for Two of Everything

[ramfam5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite books to use in the classroom. I used this book when I taught second grade. We did many inferring and writing activities based on the characters of this book. I gave this book five stars because of how much I used it. It is great for teaching figurative language and min idea. I will use it for years to come.

[alswartzfager · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a cute book of a poor family who finds a lucky pot that produces two of everything. They begin to produce a lot of money from the pot, and then the woman falls in and out comes two of her. The husband falls in and out comes two of him too. The pairs become best friends and have matching everything. This is a chinese fairytale. It would be a good book to integrate into learning about other cultures because the illustrations had alot of chinese decoration.

[geniusbabies · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A delightful tale of an old Chinese couple and the magic pot they find in their garden. The pot doubles everything that goes in it, making the poor couple rich. But then, when they both fall in, they have more to deal with. The pictures and language are perfect with a happy cheerful tone. Very well done.

[ghimbert_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a funny Asian folktale about a couple who is barely making it by. The husband finds a pot when he is planting his vegetable seeds and brings it home. The couple then finds out it is a magic pot that makes a copy of whatever you drop into it. Unfortunately that includes people, Mrs. Haktak falls in and two of her come out then Mr. Haktak falls in and two of him come out. They realize that two are better than one so they begin to make two of everything and live happily ever after.

[carriedold_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Chinese folk tail about appreciating what you have. Good to talk about doubling (math)

[jaimie919 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mr. and Mrs. Haktak were old and they did not have much money. They counted on the harvest in order to make money. One day Mr.Haktak was digging in his garden he came across of big pot and brought it to his wife. His wife was looking inside when she lost her hair pin. Instead of pulling out one hair pin she pulled out two! They figured out that whatever you put in the pot it doubled. They put their gold coins in and became rich. Everything was going great until Mrs.Hatak fell in the pot and out came two of her! Then Mr.Hatak fell in and out came two of him! OH! what are they are going to do now? Well they made an identical house for the other Mr. and Mrs. Hatak and they all became good friends. This is great to show children when teaching about folklore its a very funny story. I really enjoyed it and even laughed myself!