Helping Children Understand Their Unique Twin Story
By Stephanie Ernst
As twins grow, questions about their beginnings naturally start to emerge. These conversations rarely happen at a scheduled time. Instead, they appear unexpectedly, at bedtime, during a car ride, or in the middle of an ordinary day.
For families affected by Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence (TAPS), finding the right words to explain their children’s journey can feel challenging. Parents often want to be honest and informative without overwhelming their child with complex medical details.
That is exactly why The Red and White Twins was created.
A Story Designed for TAPS Families
Written by Stephanie Ernst and beautifully illustrated by Amanda Gautier-Ronopawiro, The Red and White Twins is a children’s book created specifically for TAPS twins and their siblings. Intended for children ages 5–10, it can be enjoyed together with a parent or independently by older readers.
The story follows twin sisters, Emilie and Mathilde, who shared a placenta during pregnancy. Through their journey, young readers learn how TAPS develops, how doctors monitor it, and what it can mean for babies and families, all explained in a way that is engaging, reassuring, and easy for children to understand.
Bringing Medical Complexity to a Child’s Level
Developing the book was a thoughtful and collaborative process. Extensive research, medical fact-checking, and conversations with healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and TAPS twins themselves helped shape the story.
These real-life experiences ensured the book remained authentic and relatable, while avoiding language that felt overly clinical or difficult for children to grasp.
To support learning and understanding, the book also includes:
- Simple medical illustrations
- A child-friendly picture glossary
- Helpful guidance for parents
- Easy-to-understand explanations of key medical concepts
Supporting the Questions Children Ask
Children rarely ask for all the answers at once.
Instead, they revisit their story through a series of questions, sometimes repeating the same one, and other times approaching it from a different angle. They are not simply looking for information; they are trying to understand how their own experiences fit into the larger story of who they are.
Many parents know these moments well: the unexpected question whispered after lights-out or the curious inquiry shouted across a crowded grocery store aisle.
The challenge is finding language that is truthful, calm, and reassuring.
The Red and White Twins offers families a starting point for these conversations, helping parents explain TAPS in a way that is clear, honest, and age-appropriate.
A Resource for the Whole Family
One of the book’s most important messages is that TAPS is not caused by anything the babies or their parents did.
The story creates space for the many different experiences families may face, including medical interventions, uncertainty, and varying outcomes, while maintaining a sensitive and child-friendly approach.
The glossary and parent notes at the back of the book encourage families to revisit these conversations over time, providing practical tools to keep communication open as children grow.
Learn more or purchase the book
