Book Cover Image:
Book Summary:
In Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer readers are exposed to poems about many classic fairy tales, but what is different about these books is that the poems can be read either the way they were written or in reverse, changing the last line to the first line, then the next to last line as the second line and so on and so forth until the first line is the last line in the reverse poem. Don't worry the author has written the both versions of the poems on the pages for you to view. The classic fairy tales of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Ugly Duckling, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, The Frog Prince, and Beauty and the Beast all have poems and reverse poems within this book.
APA Reference of Book:
Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, mirror: A book of reversible verse. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books.
Impressions:
Mirror, Mirror is a fun book to read, especially out loud to hear how the poem changes between the original form and the reverse. The illustrations are very bright and very detailed and will help younger readers to stay engaged if this book is being read to them. This book shows how fun poetry can be and even though most people would say that they don't enjoy poetry this book will be entertaining and intriguing to most readers. This book is a great way to expose younger readers to poetry and to give them a fun and positive first experience with this style.
Professional Review:
Gr 2-5--Marilyn Singer's innovative book (Dutton, 2012) presents poetry based on fairy tales that can be read in two ways--the lines can be read from top to bottom and from bottom to top. Crafted in a minimalistic free verse, each set of reversible poems presents the thoughts of characters from various fairy tales. Sometimes the two poems give two points of view of the same character, while other sets represent two different characters in the same fairy tale. For example, the Cinderella poems portray Cinderella's attitude before and during the ball, while the Red Riding Hood verses are written from the girl's and then the wolf's point of view. Each set of poems is illustrated with Josee Massee's stylized acrylic artwork in rich jewel tones. She skillfully incorporates the characters of the poems and the idea of mirror images into each of her illustrations. The female parts are read by the author, while the male characters are voiced by Joe Morton. Both readers skillfully use tempo, expression, and inflection to make the meaning and feeling of the poems clear. Appropriate instrumental background music has been added to each poem. A great choice for a reading/listening center at school, or just for fun.
Cardon, D. (2011, November). Mirror, mirror: A book of reversible verse. School Library Journal, 57(11), 69. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/
Library Uses:
Mirror, Mirror would be a great book to use during a story time for younger elementary students since it is such a fun book to read out loud and to listen to someone read. I would have a poetry book display set up at the library that would include other poetry books for this age group that would be available for check out immediately following the story time and that would remain set up for a couple of weeks, until the next story time.
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