Family Focus SPONSORED BY BEST SOURCE CREDIT UNION slaw ap romY!!! Alike -But Different A new children's book looks at the fun and camaraderie of being a twin. Shelli Liebman Dorfman Contributing Writer W ith more than a pretty good idea of what it's like to spend time with twins, Deanna Kleiman shares insight gained from her own sons in an informative, humorous, colorfully illustrated chil- dren's book. The mother of 71/2-year-olds, Jacob and David (in the book they are 5), Kleiman of Oak Park said they moti- vated her to pen her first book, My Twin Brother. "My boys inspired me to write the book because it was such an amazing, special experience to have two children at the same time, and I realized how quickly they were grow- ing up," she said. "I really wanted to try to capture the moment as much as I could. I just observed their daily interactions and wrote about them and thought about how lucky they were to have each other." Kleiman made the 18-page book c c very kid friendly" by writing it as if it is being narrated by Jacob. He speaks to the sometimes trials of being a twin in having someone use his toys or wear his clothes. But he also stresses the special moments like the comfort of having a friend around when he's scared and someone to sit next to on the bus. In words geared toward children ages 3-7, Jacob tells simply how he and David — who are in the second grade at Akiva Hebrew Day School in Southfield — are twins because they were born almost at the same time. In the book, he describes how "My mom says that before we were born, we both lived in her belly together. She must have had a really big belly!" Oak Park JCC Garage Sale Is Seeking Donations Volunteers and donations are needed for the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit in Oak Park's first garage sale, to be held May 15. All proceeds from the event will be used for the JCC's Camp Discovery summer program. The JCC is seeking clothing B ro t4e#, Written by Deanna Kleiman Illustrated by Shimra Greenes Because the boys are fraternal twins, Jacob says they don't look alike: he has curly locks and David has straight hair. The book's art shows realistic depic- tions of the Kleiman family, which includes Deanna's husband, Ira. "It is illustrated by Shimra Greenes, who took pictures of my kids based on the text of the book, and then made oil paintings based on the pictures," Kleiman said. "It is a fun, colorful book about what it's like to be a twin, but really relates to anyone who has a sibling:' Kleiman said. "I hope readers learn to appreciate how lucky they are to have siblings — twins or not — to share their life experiences with." My Twin Brother is sold on amazon.com ; doubleupbooks. corn; the Book Beat, 26010 Greenfield, Oak Park, and Self Esteem Shop, 32839 Woodward, Royal Oak. $10.95 (may be discounted at some venues). (cleaned and on hangers), house- hold items, books, jewelry, toys and everything else (except major appli- ances). Items to be donated for the sale should be brought to the JCC, 15100 W. 10 Mile Road, from April 27-May 13. To volunteer, contact Edie Simons, esimons@jccdet.org or (248) 432- 5628. VOLUNTEER PROJECTS 6th - 12th graders Pre-registration required www.jservedetroit.org Sunday, April 17, 2011 11:45 - 4:30 West Bloomfield JCC Jared Roth berger 248.432.5685 roth be rge r@b byo.o rg Jodi Gross 248.626.2153 jgross@adatshalom.org Participating Sponsors: Akiva Hebrew Day School • Adat Shalom Synagogue • ATID BBYO • B'nai Israel Synagogue • Boy Scout Troop 364 Congregation Beth Ahm • Congregation Shaarey Zedek Frankel Jewish Academy • Hillel Day School • Habonim Dror JARC • JCC Beverly Prentis Wagner Teen Center • Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit • Jewish Community Center • Jewish Community Relations Council • Jerusalem Pizza • Detroit Jewish News • NCSY • NFTY • Motor City USY • Mylocker.net • Tamarack Camps • Temple Israel Temple Kol Ami • Temple Shir Shalom • Temple Shir Tikvah Teen Connection • The Shul Supported by generous grants from the Stephen H. Schulman Millennium Fund and The Panim Institute of BBYO 7 - 2011 57