Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josée Masse

 

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror Mirror. Illustrated by Josée Masse. New York: Dutton Children’s Books-Penguin Group, 2010. ISBN 978-0-525-47901-7

Plot

This collection of free verse poems are all based on well-known and well-loved fairytales. But there’s something extra special about these poems—they are “reversos.” The fourteen poems in the collection are all written twice so that they can be read traditionally, straight down, and read in reverse, straight back up. Each pair of poems tells two sides of the story, such as from the perspective of two different characters in the same fairytale, or from the perspective of the same character at two different points in time.

Analysis

These are free-verse poems that do not rhyme, but the use of punctuation, which at times strengthens the rhythm and at times helps it flow smoothly, makes the poems fun and easy to read aloud. Instances of alliteration, repetition, parallel construction, and short, one word sentences mixed with longer sentences all provide emphasis and variety for a dramatic reading. Punctuation again plays a part, often altering emphasis between each of the poems in a pair. This not only enhances the reading of the poems but also changes the effect of the phrase without changing the wording—an important element of a reverso poem. This allows the emotions of the characters to come through. A despondent character becomes elated, a sinister character is counterposed with a carefree one, and so on. One example of this is from the pair of poems “Bears in the News.” In the first poem, a defensive Goldilocks says, “Big deal? / No!” But from the perspective of the three shocked bears in the second poem: “No / big deal?!”

The layout of the book enhances the two versions and two perspectives of each poem; each pair of poems shares a page, but the page uses different background colors to appear divided in two. The illustrations are also divided in two to represent each version of the poem, but they meet up smoothly in the middle. Even without illustrations, it would be easy to identify the fairytales in the poems. Although these poems are based on traditional tales, they are never in danger of feeling old and stodgy. The language used throughout makes the tales feel fresh, such as in “In the Hood” based on Little Red Riding Hood. “In my hood / skipping through the wood” becomes “skipping through the wood, in my ‘hood” (the former from the perspective of Little Red and the latter from the perspective of the wolf). Singer cleverly uses words with double meanings in many of the poems, with one meaning coming across when the poem is read top to bottom and the other meaning coming across when the poem is reversed.

Many of the poems are humorous takes on the traditional tales and will make readers laugh out loud, and others will make readers wonder and marvel at seeing the tales in a new light.

Awards and Recognitions

Marilyn Singer is an award-winning poet and author, and Mirror Mirror has received several starred reviews, appeared on multiple “best book” lists, and is an ALA Notable Book.

“A collection of masterful fairy-tale-inspired reversos […] Masse’s gorgeous, stylized illustrations enhance the themes of duality and perspective by presenting images and landscapes that morph in delightful ways from one side of the page to the other. A mesmerizing and seamless celebration of language, imagery and perspective.”—starred Kirkus review

“Fun, thoughtful, beautifully written poems that employ a poetic form called a reverso to spin a familiar fairy tale in a new direction.”—starred Shelf Awareness review

“Truly a visual, as well as a literary, puzzle and such a treat!”—starred Library Media Connection review

Connections

Many of these poems would be a wonderful choice for a duo to read aloud, one child reading or reciting the poem top to bottom and the other bottom to top. This can be made even more fun with simple props or costume pieces to help listeners visualize which character is speaking.

If you enjoyed this book, you will also enjoy Marilyn Singer’s other two books of reverso poems (both illustrated by Josée Masse): Follow Follow and Echo Echo. 

Finally, try writing your own reverso poem! Though it can be, it doesn’t have to be long; Singer’s first reverso poem, featured in the author’s note, was just four lines—

A cat

without

a chair:

Incomplete.

*********

Incomplete:

A chair

without

a cat.

Singer also provides a list of pointers for those interested in writing their own reversos, found at Read Brightly here and listed below:

• "Find a story, subject, or character with two sides.
• Start with a few lines that can be flipped so they make sense in reverse.
• Select phrases that can be turned into questions and interjections.
• Use a lot of participles, infinitives, and single word sentences.
• The reversos have changes only in punctuation and capitalization, so get to know punctuation — how can you use a comma, period, dash, colon, semi-colon, etc.?
• Write the poem on the computer so you can move the lines around until they make sense.
• Don’t get discouraged — reversos are hard to write. Play and have fun!"

*This review was written for a youth literature class through Texas Woman’s University.