Arlington Teacher Publishes Second Children’s Book ‘Twin Time'

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington teacher Katherine Picarde is celebrating the release of her second children’s book, Arlington Public Schools said.

Picarde, who teaches first grade at Rodney J. Hardy Elementary School, published Twin Time at the end of September. The book is based on her own experience growing up with her twin brother Christopher in a loving family that included her parents and older siblings Lauren and Nicholas.

"Hardy first grade teacher Katherine Picarde enjoys sharing silly childhood memories with her students, so it comes as no surprise that she reached into her own life to find the material for her second children’s book,” the district said in a statement.

Picarde’s first book, The Little Ouch, came out in December 2020. Although she wasn’t planning to write a second book, her happy memories of growing up as a twin and the fact that there are few children’s books with twin characters convinced her to create Twin Time.

"The book describes the real-life shenanigans that take place while growing up in a family of four where two young twins are constantly conspiring against the rest of the family, protective older siblings are learning to be patient with them, and selfless, loving parents are working to create a memorable childhood for all of them,” the district added.

Picarde collaborated with illustrator Khalima Murzina for a second time for Twin Time, even sharing real life pictures of herself and her siblings for inspiration.

“Seeing her name pop-up in my inbox with new, beautiful illustrations of what I had once imagined in my mind is one of my favorite feelings–it’s surreal to see your dreams come to fruition in that way,” Picarde said in a statement.

Twin Time is available for purchase on Amazon and at local bookstores.