Poetry #1 - Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems

Author: Marilyn Singer     Illustrator: Josee Masse

Credit: Marilyn Singer & Josee Masse

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Singer, Marilyn, and Josée Masse. Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books, 2010. ISBN 9780525479017

PLOT SUMMARY

This unique blend of poetry and traditional literature create a beautiful picture book for all ages. Both sides of these famous fairy tales are told from different viewpoints to create a reversible verse from Beauty and the Beast to Sleeping Beauty and the Prince. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Marilyn Singer manages to provide both sides of the story from famous fairy tales using a new style of poetry called reverso. You can read the poems from top to bottom and then you can reverse the lines and read them from bottom to top to give these poems a new turn of events. The poems in Mirror, Mirror are complex. Understanding both perspectives of the poem could be challenging for some readers, thus reading these reverso poems aloud would be beneficial. There is no rhyming in this poem, but for poetry does not need to rhyme. The use of imagery is often repeated through her use of language and strong emotion is portrayed throughout the picture book.  An example, "In The Hood" Little Red Riding Hood is, "skipping through the wood, carrying a basket, picking berries to eat - juicy and sweet what a treat!" While the Wolf is thinking "But a girl! What a treat - juicy and sweet, picking berries to eat, skipping through the wood in my 'hood."

Illustrator, Josee Masse creates vibrant images and imagery to portray the fairy tale characters feelings and emotions in this beautiful picture book. For example, in Beauty and The Beast, the image shows a side by side shot of Beauty and the Beast, with a heart in the middle showcasing their love and longing for one another. In the midst of the heart, their arms are reaching for each other. It then shows an up close shot of their arm intertwined.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS

* Cybil Award in Poetry and the Land of Enchantment Picture Book Award - 2010

* Horn Book Fanfare list - 2010

* New York Public Library's - 2010 

* Best 100 Children's Books - 2010 

* Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Books - 2010

* Booklist's Editors' Choice list - 2010 

* A mesmerizing and seamless celebration of language, imagery, and perspective. - Kirkus Review 

* A must-purchase that will have readers marveling over a visual and verbal feast. - Booklist

CONNECTIONS

Activities to use with this book:

* Create own reverso poems to share with the class.

* Read more reverso poems by Marilyn Singer and in a group of 2/3 act out the poems to share with the class

Book Connections:

* Echo, Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths - ISBN 978-0803739925                           

* Follow, Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems - ISBN 978-0803737693

* Blog created for the purpose of TWU, Children's Literature Course #5603, and for the love of reading!