Swank Talk

Jean Free, a library consultant, is a retired public-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

The Swank twins, Hank and Frank, are unique. They substitute vowels (i
for a, etc.) in their conversations to create their own private, secret
language. By their eighth birthday, their parents can’t understand a
word of their conversations with each other. Mrs. Wu, a language
specialist and identical twin herself, is consulted and eventually
solves the language puzzle.

Swank Talk would strike a sympathetic chord with children who have
invented a secret language, or would like to do so. Its humorous
black-and-white drawings add interest for Grade 3 students beginning to
read chapter books. The large print would appeal to reluctant readers
looking for a short book.