Twin sisters publish confidence-boosting children’s book

Sisters Ashley and Breanna Bolliger have done it all together.

The identical twins have travelled the world together. Played music – piano and ukulele – and sports – badminton, basketball, soccer and volleyball – together. Launched a Healthy Smiles Club together in 2021 to provide dental kits to people in the community. The sisters graduated together last spring from McMaster with Honours Bachelor of Science degrees in Kinesiology.

And they’ve now written, illustrated and published a children’s book together. Carrie Can Fly Too is a story about kindness, confidence and inclusivity for all, say the sisters. It features a yellow bird who wants to fly but has a flock of blue birds doubting her dream. “It’s an optimistic and inspiring rhyme for the entire family. Being different shouldn’t prevent any of us from achieving our lifelong dreams. All we need is a little confidence and our imagination can suddenly become a remarkable reality.”

The sisters started working on the book after their first year at McMaster, sharing both writing and illustrating duties. They say publishing their children’s book was a full-circle moment: a testament to staying true to themselves, maintaining their enduring bond and illustrating – figuratively and literally – the depth of their connection and the strength they draw from working together.

“We’re the type of twins who just love each other’s company and have never treated anything as a competition,” say the sisters. It’s a bond that was frequently misunderstood and unfairly judged outside their home. “While our close connection was a source of strength for us, it was often met with skepticism from people around us. They’d try to separate us even though we flourished when collaborating and doing activities together.”

The inspiration for the children’s book grew out of their twinlife blog and ukulele lessons.

The twins launched their blog in 2020 to share how and why they’ve made personal wellness and mental health their number one priority. In telling their personal stories, they’re hoping to inspire other young people to find their own strategies for achieving a balanced and mindful lifestyle. That’s the central message in their children’s book.

The sisters also taught ukulele lessons at a local elementary school. That’s where they noticed how many of the kids lacked the self-confidence to learn a new skill – it was like being in a class full of self-doubting Carries in need of a confidence boost.

Writing and illustrating a children’s book takes time and lots of patience. “It’s a very slow process that can’t be rushed or accomplished overnight,” say the sisters. “It can be mentally draining to invest months and years into a project without immediately getting tangible results from all your efforts.”

They adopted a simple mantra: good things take time. “That kept us motivated to consistently pour our time and effort into the book.”

The payoff finally came when the Amazon box full of their books was delivered to their front porch. Of course, the sisters opened it together. Their parents and brother were also there for the unboxing. “Witnessing years of dedication and hard work transform from digital pages on our iPad to a hardcopy book was a moment we’ll never forget.”

The sisters have since launched a website and give talks at elementary schools to connect directly with young readers.

They’d love to publish another book and now know what to expect. “We hope to keep telling meaningful stories that resonate with children and help them grow and thrive. Our ultimate goal is to contribute in positive ways to the lives of young readers and inspire them to fully embrace their uniqueness.”