Mirror, Mirror (Poetry)

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror, Mirror. Ill. by Josee Masse. New York: Dutton Children’s     Books, 2010.

Plot Summary
The book brings to light the difference one’s point of view can make. Mirror, Mirror is an amazing poetry puzzle that can be read from beginning to end and end to beginning resulting in new takes on the same story.  This new type of poetry, the reversible verse or reverso, makes for interesting and playful character studies of classic fairy tale heros, and the occasional villain.

Critical Analysis
This book of reversos will have both adults and children captivated by its unique charm and creativity. Popular fairy tale characters come to life in new ways as Singer allows them to express their perspective.

The layout of the book has been chosen to emphasize the alteration of the poems, as each reverso is paired side by side with its counterpart. In the same way, Masse has provided vivid illustrations for each side of the poem. They are juxtaposed perfectly next to each other. Bright crisp images divide pages in half and yet they comfortably entwine, showing the connection of stories.

The poem “Have Another Chocolate”, based on the story of Hansel and Gretel, is a great example of the books entirety. It demonstrates the dichotomy between the main characters by merely placing carefully worded lines in reverse and changing some punctuation. This combined with the discerning use of simile and carefully chosen words create delightful twists. Suddenly images change with words and “When you hold it out/your finger/feels like a bone” becomes the sage advice of another captive in “a bone/feels like/your finger/when you hold it out.”

“In the Hood” is another poem that will appeal to readers with its strong rhythm, refreshing rhymes, and delightful diction. Readers will appreciate the dual use of the word hood. As used by the innocent Red Riding Hood it is traveling cape but when the Big Bad Wolf relates his thoughts it is his territory through which Red Riding Hood is trespassing.

Mirror, Mirror is a new and exciting look at children’s poetry that is sure to impact authors and aspiring poets of the future.

Awards and Review Excerpts
Booklist- “will have readers marveling over a visual and verbal feast”
Kirkus- “celebration of language, imagery, and perspective”
School Library Journal- “a marvel to read” with “vibrant artwork”

Connections
*Discuss point of view after reading this book of verse in reverse. Use other books to continue discussion of point of view.
Bret, Jan. Town Mouse, Country Mouse. New York: Puffin, 2003. ISBN 069811986X
Housey, Amber. Just Because: Where Another Point of View Makes a Better You! Ill by Denise Clemmensen. Ferne Press, 2011. ISBN 1933916907
Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! Ill by Lane Smith. New York: Puffin Books, 1996. ISBN 0140544518
Stevens, Janet and Susan Stevens Crummel. Help Me, Mr. Mutt!: Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems. Ill. Janet Stevens. Orlando: Harcourt Children’s Books, 2008. ISBN 0152046283

*Invite students to perform a duo of poems from Mirror, Mirror. Students will love reenacting poems, especially when given prompts and taught to manipulate their voices.
*Use Mirror, Mirror as an opening in Math to discuss the importance of position and placement. This would be particularly well suited to lessons in writing word forms of numbers and ordering numbers.
*Pair this book with a favorite fairy tale to add more complexity to students understanding of the characters.