Mirror, Mirror

Singer, M.  (2010).  Mirror, mirror.  New York:  Dutton Children’s Books.

Instead of the usual ‘happily ever after’ line that is received at the end of every fairytale, this book of reverso poems creates a completely different understanding to how we might have originally viewed some of these popular fairytale characters.  With the first poem being a representation of a character and meant to be understood one way, the second part of the poem its reversal and changes how the reader originally comprehended the first poem.  These poems then give a new voice to characters we are all well accustomed to.  In creating a different outlook to familiar scenes and stories.  The illustrations by Josée Masse are rich and vibrant in color with split images that portray the reverso poems, which indicates who the speaker what their point of view is.  Because of the complexity of some of these poems, this would be an upper elementary and middle grade reading; although early elementary would enjoy the illustrations.  This book would also be a great resource for English classes covering various forms of poetry and its use of poetic devices, like rhyme and imagery.  Here is the link to the author’s website: http://marilynsinger.net/