Mel and Mo's Marvelous Balancing Act

How do you create a life in balance?

Mel and Mo may look alike, but these twins’ personalities are far from identical. As they grow up, their differences drive them apart . . . which suits them just fine. Mel’s umbrellas fly off the shelves and Mo’s high-wire feats are the talk of their seaside town. But then Theodora Tweedle’s Raincoats and Roller Skates draws Mo’s crowds away, and umbrellas go out of style. Finally, these siblings have something in common. And maybe each twin has just what they need to create something new . . . together.

Mel and Mo’s Marvelous Balancing Act balances complex concepts of compromise and complementary differences with spare language and a simple story structure. The twins are non-binary characters, adding a layer of diverse representation for young readers that can also serve as an entry point for gender fluidity discussions.

 
Nicola Winstanley was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. After studying at the University of Toronto and spending several years working in the publishing industry, Nicola now writes fiction and poetry for both children and adults. She lives in Hamilton, Canada.

Marianne Ferrer was born in Venezuela and moved to Canada in 1998. She studied illustration and design at Dawson College and graphic design at Université du Québec à Montréal. She lives in Montreal.