Bibliography
Singer, Marilyn. 2010. Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse.
Josée Massee, Ill. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 978-0525479017
Brief plot summary
This book is a collection
of fourteen pairs of poems based on classic fairy tales. The poems are
reversible poems that the author calls reverso.
On one side of the page the poem is read traditionally from top to bottom and
on the other side of the page the poem has been written in reverse so that the
poem is read from bottom to top. The end result is delightful reading that
allows the reader to experience one story from two perspectives.
Critical analysis
Reverso
is a creation of the author, Marilyn Singer. When read from top to bottom, the
reader experiences one poem. However, when you read it from bottom to top (the
poem is written with the lines in reverse order and with changes allowed only
in punctuation and capitalization) the result is an entirely different poem.
This new form is well suited for giving well-known fairy tales new life as they
are retold through free verse and the reader is encouraged to think about the
story from another angle.
Both the design of the
book and the illustrations play on the reversible aspect of the poems. Each
pair of poems is set opposite a colorful, imaginative and humorous
illustration. The poems are printed side by side, but the top to bottom poem is
printed in blue ink on a tan background, while the upside down poem is printed
in red ink on a white background. Josée Massee’s ingenious paintings reflect
the “split personality” of the poems, as the illustrations are divided in half along
a vertical line to convey the viewpoint of both poems.
This is an inviting book
of poems that is sure to please children and adults. The use of fairy tales as
the basis for the poems will make them easily accessible. While not every pair
of poems is a masterpiece, they are all a pleasure to experience.
Review excerpts
"A mesmerizing and
seamless celebration of language, imagery, and perspective." – Kirkus, starred review
"The poems are both
cleverly constructed and insightful...giving us the points of view of characters
rarely considered." – Horn Book
Matching the cleverness of
the text, Masse’s deep-hued paintings create split images that reflect the
twisted meaning of the irreverently witty poems and brilliantly employ artistic
elements of form and shape—Cinderella’s clock on one side morphs to the moon on
the other. A must-purchase that will have readers marveling over a visual and
verbal feast. – Booklist, starred
review
Awards / Best Books
Cybil Award Winner, 2010
Texas Bluebonnet Award
Nominee, 2011-2012
Booklist Editors’ Choice:
Books for Youth, 2010
Horn Book Fanfare, 2010
Kirkus Best Children’s
Books, 2010
New York Public Library’s
100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2010
ALA Notable Children’s
Books, 2011
Publishers Weekly Best
Children’s Books, 2010
Washington Post Best Kids
Books, 2010
Classroom Connections
At the end of the book
Marilyn Singer has included a note explaining how reverso is written. Students can try their hand at writing reversos and creating illustrations to
accompany their poems.
Use the poems as an
engagement activity for learning about point of view.
Pair up one of the poems
with a reading of the fairy tale and have students analyze the connections
between them. Students can also analyze how well the points of view presented
in the poems are supported by the text of the fairy tale.
Other books of poetry by
Marilyn Singer that children may also enjoy include:
- A Stick is an Excellent Thing – ISBN 978-0547124933
- A Full Moon Rising – ISBN 978-1600603648
- Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom – ISBN 978-0375867101
- Creature Carnival –ISBN 978-0786818778
- Monster Museum – ISBN 078680520X
