I love this book! I was looking for some additional books of poetry that were geared towards kids, had fun illustrations, and were new yet familiar themes (I can't stand Shel Silverstein recommended to me one more time!)
Anyway I thought this book was super cute and creative. My kids love the fairy tale aspect to it and I love the cleverness of the word play. Discussing how the meaning changes with the reversal of the words is fun.
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![Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems by [Marilyn Singer, Josée Masse]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61vI3ABNenL._SX260_.jpg)
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Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems Kindle Edition
by
Marilyn Singer
(Author),
Josée Masse
(Illustrator)
Format: Kindle Edition
Marilyn Singer
(Author)
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$12.95 | — |
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Reading age6 - 9 years
-
LanguageEnglish
-
Grade level1 - 4
-
Lexile measureNP
-
PublisherDutton Books for Young Readers
-
Publication dateMarch 4, 2010
-
ISBN-13978-0525479017
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Marilyn Singer is an award-winning author of more than 90 children’s books in a wide variety of genres.
Josée Masse is a recognized artist in her native Canada, having illustrated numerous French and American picture books. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.
Josée Masse is a recognized artist in her native Canada, having illustrated numerous French and American picture books. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 3–6—This appealing collection based on fairy tales is a marvel to read. It is particularly noteworthy because the poems are read in two ways: up and down. They are reverse images of themselves and work equally well in both directions. "Mirror Mirror" is chilling in that Snow White, who is looking after the Seven Dwarves, narrates the first poem of the pair. Read in reverse, it is the wicked queen who is enticing Snow White to eat the apple that will put her to sleep forever. "In the Hood" is as crafty as the wolf who tells of his delightful anticipation of eating Red Riding Hood. The mirrored poem is Red Riding Hood reminding herself not to dally since Grandma awaits. The vibrant artwork is painterly yet unfussy and offers hints to the characters who are narrating the poems. An endnote shows children how to create a "reverse" poem. This is a remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* This ingenious book of reversos, or poems which have one meaning when read down the page and perhaps an altogether different meaning when read up the page, toys with and reinvents oh-so-familiar stories and characters, from Cinderella to the Ugly Duckling. The five opening lines of the Goldilocks reverso read: “Asleep in cub’s bed / Blonde / startled by / Bears, / the headline read.” Running down the page side-by-side with this poem is a second, which ends with: “Next day / the headline read: / Bears startled / by blonde / asleep in cub’s bed.” The 14 pairs of poems—easily distinguished by different fonts and background colors—allow changes only in punctuation, capitalization, and line breaks, as Singer explains in an author’s note about her invented poetic form. “It is a form that is both challenging and fun—rather like creating and solving a puzzle.” Singer also issues an invitation for readers to try to write their own reversos on any topic. 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. Grades 2-5. --Patricia Austin
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"The poems are both cleverly constructed and insightful...giving us the points of view of characters rarely considered." --Horn Book
"A mesmerizing and seamless celebration of language, imagery, and perspective." --Kirkus, starred review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"A mesmerizing and seamless celebration of language, imagery, and perspective." --Kirkus, starred review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product details
- ASIN : B00P8RWQ70
- Publisher : Dutton Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (March 4, 2010)
- Publication date : March 4, 2010
- Language : English
- File size : 11392 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Print length : 32 pages
- Lending : Not Enabled
-
Best Sellers Rank:
#196,427 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #87 in Children's Poetry (Kindle Store)
- #119 in Children's Humorous Poetry
- #971 in Stories in Verse
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
119 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2021
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Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2010
Verified Purchase
This is a great concept, and a good book.
Each poem is readable frontwards and backwards, with each line acting as its own unit. (This means some of the lines are quite short, of course.)
And the front and the back version of each poem tells the fairy tale from a different perspective. My favorite? The Hansel and Gretel one:
Fatten up, boy!
Don't you
like prime rib?
Then your hostess, she will roast you
goose.
Have another chocolate.
Eat another piece of gingerbread.
When you hold it out,
your finger
feels like
a bone.
Fatten up.
Don't
keep her waiting...
Keep her waiting.
Don't
fatten up.
A bone
feels like
your finger
when you hold it out.
Eat another piece of gingerbread,
Have another chocolate -
Goose!
Then your hostess, she will roast you
like prime rib.
Don't you
fatten up, boy!
Each poem is readable frontwards and backwards, with each line acting as its own unit. (This means some of the lines are quite short, of course.)
And the front and the back version of each poem tells the fairy tale from a different perspective. My favorite? The Hansel and Gretel one:
Fatten up, boy!
Don't you
like prime rib?
Then your hostess, she will roast you
goose.
Have another chocolate.
Eat another piece of gingerbread.
When you hold it out,
your finger
feels like
a bone.
Fatten up.
Don't
keep her waiting...
Keep her waiting.
Don't
fatten up.
A bone
feels like
your finger
when you hold it out.
Eat another piece of gingerbread,
Have another chocolate -
Goose!
Then your hostess, she will roast you
like prime rib.
Don't you
fatten up, boy!
37 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020
Verified Purchase
It's poems that read differently if you read them too to bottom or bottom to top. I bought this for my classroom and for a library, it's a good fit. I thought perhaps I could have students emulate that in their poems but honestly, it's pretty complicated. Fun to read but didn't work quite how I had hoped.
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2010
Verified Purchase
I purchased this out of pure curiosity. I couldn't imagine that the poems, hemmed in as they were by topic and type, would be that great, but I had to see them. I was wrong. They were really great. I loved the insight of seeing the two different characters say such similar things (but reversed, of course) from their very different perspectives. I don't want to say too much about any of the poems because it would spoil the discovery. I'll just stick to a simple "Great!" so you can peel away the pages yourself. I've enjoyed sharing this with my elemntary school aged kids at home, and I have a composition challenge out to my middle schoolers in class. I'd highly recommend this for either age. Additionally, because there are two sides to everything, even the boys were able and willing to engage.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
There is no way to describe this book, one must experience. Each page has a poem about a famous fairy tale that makes perfect sense. The next page is the EXACT same poem written with the last line first to the first line last, and it changes the entire meaning, but still makes perfect sense. Working in a children's library, I read a lot of children's books, but this book is intriguing for adults as well. Some of the most clever writing I have ever come across.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021
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This book of poems is delightful. Both my personal children and my students are amazed at the writing technique used to achieve this.
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is an awesome book of reverso poems, based on fairy tales. The poem is written, and then the order of the lines is reversed in a second poem. Only capitals and punctuation are changed. The same lines tell two sides of a story, like Hansel and Gretel vs. the Witch's point of view.
This is a great mentor text for point of view or for poetry, but it is also just a fun read. This author has a new book of reverso poems coming out in 2013- I can't wait!
This is a great mentor text for point of view or for poetry, but it is also just a fun read. This author has a new book of reverso poems coming out in 2013- I can't wait!
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2010
Verified Purchase
See synopsis above.
After reading various fairy tales aloud to my classes in the library I shared this book with them. Also works in a poetry unit. Most of my upper grade students "got it" although some not as quick. Those that did loved it as did I. It is quite an amazing premise and book. Recommended for 3rd grade and above especially for teachers or librarians (or parents) to share aloud. Kids will also enjoy it on their own.
After reading various fairy tales aloud to my classes in the library I shared this book with them. Also works in a poetry unit. Most of my upper grade students "got it" although some not as quick. Those that did loved it as did I. It is quite an amazing premise and book. Recommended for 3rd grade and above especially for teachers or librarians (or parents) to share aloud. Kids will also enjoy it on their own.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

OBakaSama
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reversos/ are/ tricky; tricky/ are/ reversos
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2012Verified Purchase
Singer has written a very interesting book which is predominantly inspired by fairy tales. The key feature of the work here is the 'reverso'. I've attempted one for the title of this review so you can see what it consists of. A reverso is a form of verse which can be read up or down (which my forward slashes try to denote). So:
Reversos
are
tricky.
can be read as:
Tricky
are
Reversos.
The only change allowed is punctuation. And this book consists of many reversos by Singer. The ones here are formed in such a way that many tell the story from two perspectives (whether you're reading up or down). Even the art reflects the duality of the prose, so the book works really well as a package.
Innovative and fun. May even inspire one to have a go at creating reversos.
Reversos
are
tricky.
can be read as:
Tricky
are
Reversos.
The only change allowed is punctuation. And this book consists of many reversos by Singer. The ones here are formed in such a way that many tell the story from two perspectives (whether you're reading up or down). Even the art reflects the duality of the prose, so the book works really well as a package.
Innovative and fun. May even inspire one to have a go at creating reversos.
One person found this helpful
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Bert
1.0 out of 5 stars
One Star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2018Verified Purchase
this only makes sense if you have read typical anti-female fairytales which we have not

Rachael
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clever, Enjoyable, Beautifully Illustrated, Poetry for Children
Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2016Verified Purchase
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems is both a delightful introduction to poetry, and a beautiful collection of fairy tales. The poems in Mirror Mirror are written forward and backward, the same words, two different poems--extremely clever! The illustrations are also lovely. Poetry is a wonderful addition to your family's regular read-aloud time. Poetry is fun, funny, and (believe it or not) accessible. Introducing children to poetry at an early age makes it far less intimidating when it comes time to analyze and write poetry at school. Mirror Mirror is one of our favorite children's poetry books. I also highly recommend Singer's second book of reverso poems Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for teachers!
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2017Verified Purchase
Great book for teaching perspective to even the youngest student. Illustrations are beautiful! Kids love the fairy tale characters. A teacher must!

Vid
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everything ok!
Reviewed in Germany on July 29, 2019Verified Purchase
Ok!