Two of Everything: A Chinese Folktale

In the state of Utah, the children in the schools and public libraries selected her book as The Best Picturebook of the Year in conjunction with nominees presented by the Utah Librarian's Association.

Lily's book shows Chinese characters and artifacts depicted in authentic dress and style. How do I know? I am one of her sisters raised in a loving home of parents and grandparents who immigrated from China and who preserved many of the ways of their roots.

Any classroom teacher (which I am) who is looking for a book to raise the spirits and share a fun Chinese folktale with need look no further than Two of Everything! (Math teachers can use it to introduce the concept of doubling, and expand it to tripling, etc.)

Respectfully, Kim Hong Wu


MY 5 YEAR OLD LOVES IT   June 11, 1998
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

There is something funny about saying Haktak. It makes the book enjoyable to read. A very fun folktale that I had never heard before. My daughter got it as a library book and I am considering buying it for her.


One for me, two for you   May 11, 2004
E. R. Bird (Manhattan, NY)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This book is the embodiment of everything (in a word) pleasant. It's just a pleasant pleasant story to read through. Based on a classic Chinese folktale, the book follows an old married couple and their life. The two live in utter simplicity, only eating the food from their garden and occasionally selling the surplus when they get the chance. One day the old man, Mr. Haktak, is digging in the garden when he finds an old pot. He brings it home to his wife (after a fair amount of struggling and straining) and it isn't long before the two discover that the pot is magic. Indeed, after Mr. Haktak's purse and Mrs. Haktak's hairpins fall in and wondrously duplicate the two come to the rather obvious conclusion that the pot doubles anything that falls into it. They're right of course, and the pot truly seems as if it is too good to be true. Unfortunately, the day Mrs. Haktak accidentally falls into the pot herself, things become a little more complicated for the two...three...four people.

The book is utterly charming. Filled with author/illustrator Lily Toy Hong's roly poly people, the humor of each and every situation is undeniable. There's a great moment when Mr. Haktak is pulling his wife from the pot, only to find another pair of legs are kicking in her place. The book also has (if this makes any sense) a rather contemporary feel to it. Though it may well be an ancient story, the way in which Ms. Hong has written it makes it feel as fresh and lively as the day it was conceived. There are wonderful little details in some of the more crowded scenes and each illustration is drawn with thick pleasant colorful lines that are enticing to the eye. Should you be looking for a good Chinese folktale to entertain the little ones with, and you'd rather not read anything too old or possibly racist, then this book is a perfect fit. Simultaneously elegant and easy to understand, it's sure to be beloved by the whole fam.


Delightful, humorous, appealing to all ages   February 18, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Before the book was released in 1993, I purchased the book thought a teacher catalog sight unseen after reading the description. I knew it would be a favorite in my collection of multicultural books. Although this is a children book, I have read this book every year with parents in my classroom. Both children and parents just love the anticipation of knowing what will be happening next. There is gleefully laughter when the two Mrs. Haktaks come out of the pot and double laughter when the two Mr. Haktaks do the same. I have used the book as a springboard to introduce doubling numbers to my kindergartners.
"Double Happiness" (popular Chinese phrase) is when we see more books from Lily Toy Hong in the future.


Did you ever want too much of one thing?   November 22, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful


Two of Everything
By Lily Toy Hong

This book, Two of Everything, is about a couple, Mr. Haktak and Mrs. Haktak, which had very little money. They lived in a little hut! The man finds a big pot in his backyard. He accidentally falls into the pot and when he comes out another copy of him comes out too! This happens to his wife and the four of them get into a big argument. I loved this book as a young reader. It taught me that too much isn't always good. I would recommend this book to anyone or to that little girl or boy that wants everything. The only thing I would have to say that I didn't like is the fact that the pictures weren't that great but there are many different books in publish since I got it so you can choose the style pictures you want. Overall I would give this book an eight on a one to ten scale. This book was my favorite book as a kid and I hope it is yours too.