Mirror Mirror

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Singer, Marilyn. 2010. MIRROR MIRROR. Ill. by Josée Masse. NewYork: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 978-0-525-47901-7

PLOT SUMMARY

This colorful book of poems takes classic fairy tales like “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Rapunzel” and provides an opposite take on the traditional tales.  The original story is written in verse on the left hand side of the page, with the exact poem reversed on the right side. With the new poem comes a whole new twist to the story!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book of poems is beyond witty. It gives the reader an opportunity to think about the opposite point of view of well-known fairy tales. The split page makes it easy for the reader to distinguish between the two tales. The gorgeous painted illustrations all split in the same way as the page, which helps give the reader a clue as to which speaker is talking. For children, it will be exciting when they understand the second poem, allowing them to feel like they solved a puzzle and unlocked a whole other world. 

This book is a perfect combination of visuals and verse.  One of the greatest poem twists is “In the Hood” which details the story of Little Red Riding Hood.  “But a girl mustn’t dawdle/After all, Grandma’s waiting” clearly details Red’s feeling about her trip through the woods. “After all, Grandma’s waiting/mustn’t dawdle…/ But a girl!”  With the same words, but reversed, the reader sees how Wolf feels about his trip through the forest. This book would definitely be an enjoyable way to show point of view and work with poems with a twist.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “This is a remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library.”

BOOKLIST review: “It is a form that is both challenging and fun—rather like creating and solving a puzzle.”

CONNECTIONS

Children can create their own reverso poems from their own original poems or from well-known works.

Other poems that may be of interest:

Dahl, Roald. REVOLTING RHYMES. ISBN 0140375333

Singer, Marilyn. FOLLOW FOLLOW. Ill. by Josée Masse. ISBN 978-0-525-47901-7