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6th out of 78 books
—
131 voters
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse
What’s brewing when two favorites—poetry and fairy tales—are turned (literally) on their heads? It’s a revolutionary recipe: an infectious new genre of poetry and a lovably modern take on classic stories.
First, read the poems forward (how old-fashioned!), then reverse the lines and read again to give familiar tales, from Sleeping Beauty to that Charming Prince, a delicious...more
First, read the poems forward (how old-fashioned!), then reverse the lines and read again to give familiar tales, from Sleeping Beauty to that Charming Prince, a delicious...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
March 4th 2010
by Dutton Juvenile
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Jan 13, 2011
Ceridwen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Abigail, Chandra, Lisa, etc.
Recommended to Ceridwen by:
the library
This is the kind of book that I wish was not just hanging out in the children's book ghetto. I complain a lot, and loudly, about the books I endure at bedtime - although there are many, many good ones out there, do not get me wrong. Kids tastes are weird though, and they do not necessarily freak out on the things I find enjoyable. This one happily hit some kind of spot for all of us, and that is a wonderful thing.
Adults do not read poetry much anymore. There are many reasons for this, and not al...more
Adults do not read poetry much anymore. There are many reasons for this, and not al...more
view all 15 comments
My opinion of the book is that i like it sooo much cause is fairytales and Is poetry.The book is about the change the poems back words and has 2 diffrent points of view.My shema is that I am a princess cause they call me on the house.My question is why all the princess have wiches.I recommend the book to Jacqueline cause she likes fairytales.My favorite poem is mirror mirror cause i like ryming words and i alos love snow white whith her dress.
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse is one of those rare concept books of poetry that does not come along too often. What makes it unique is the technique of “reverso,” in which an initial poem is flipped upside down, with only a change to punctuation and capitalization, creating a different poem using the same words. In the case of this work, the experience involves the flipside of fairy tales – we all know one side of the story, but what about the other?
Take, for example, “Cinderella’s...more
Take, for example, “Cinderella’s...more
1. Genre: Poetry
2. Summary: This is a book of poems that uses the technique of reversing the poems by reading it backwards to tell a different story. These short poems provides new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature.
3. Critique:
a) The greatest part of the book is the different perspectives that the poems offers when they are reversed.
b) The reversible poems shows students a new way to write poetry, and shows them how fun and unique poetry is. Many students, like myself,...more
2. Summary: This is a book of poems that uses the technique of reversing the poems by reading it backwards to tell a different story. These short poems provides new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature.
3. Critique:
a) The greatest part of the book is the different perspectives that the poems offers when they are reversed.
b) The reversible poems shows students a new way to write poetry, and shows them how fun and unique poetry is. Many students, like myself,...more
What a different and fun book of fairy tale poems Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse is. This book might make you stop and think for a moment when you start reading the poems. The poem is read first from the top line to the bottom, but then the poem is flipped and it’s read from the bottom line to the top. Each poem’s tells a piece of a fairy tale, such as Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty, even Golden Locks and the Three Bears make an appearance. The poems tell two sides of the each story,...more
This book was filled with very short versions of different fairy tales and folk tales. Each fairy tale and folk tale had two different short versions. It gave two character's sides of the story. The tricky part was that, for the most part, the author used the exact same words for both sides of each story, but reversed the order of the words. So, the stories were not exactly in sentence form, but sometimes more like phrases. One of the stories was Red Riding Hood. With Red Riding Hood, it gave th...more
Marilyn Singer's book of "reverso", a poetic version of a palindrome that she created and used to re-tell the fairy tales in this collection, is a great re-aloud as well as a sneaky introduction to poetry for fairy tales fans, and fans of humorous verse alike. The form asks that the poem can be read both backwards and forwards, and in Mirror Mirror, each reading of the poem shows a different perspective on a well known fairy tale. The result is very often hilarious, and while occasionally unsucc...more
Mirror Mirror is an exceptionally clever book that will get students looking at poetry in a new way. This book is filled with a style of poems that the author has dubbed “reverso.” Typically poems are read top to bottom, but Marilyn Singer asked herself what would happen if they were read bottom to top. This book is the result of that inquiry. The only thing she allowed herself to alter is capitalization and punctuation. Here is a short example from the book:
It may be such
a fairy-take secret,
th...more
It may be such
a fairy-take secret,
th...more
Publication: 2010
Grade/Age: Grades 2-6
Annotation: A book of reversible poems based on popular fairy tales. Each fairy tale in the book has two reverse poems, each providing a unique character perspective.
Themes: Fairy tales and folklore, poetry
Ways to use the book:
Identify moments where simple changes in punctuation or capitalization change both the message and the meaning. Emphasize the importance of writers editing their work to make sure they deliver the right message to readers.
Ask students...more
Grade/Age: Grades 2-6
Annotation: A book of reversible poems based on popular fairy tales. Each fairy tale in the book has two reverse poems, each providing a unique character perspective.
Themes: Fairy tales and folklore, poetry
Ways to use the book:
Identify moments where simple changes in punctuation or capitalization change both the message and the meaning. Emphasize the importance of writers editing their work to make sure they deliver the right message to readers.
Ask students...more
Mirror Mirror is one of the most interesting poetry books I have ever seen! The overall concept of the book is to include poems about various characters from fairy tales, and then give them in reverse. These reverso poems take the exact same words from the original poem being read top to bottom and reverses the order they are said, essentially reading the poem from the bottom to the top. I did not fully understand what the book was doing until I read the author's note at the end that explain...more
Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer is a story about different fairytales. However, each fairytale involves different perspectives from the main character and villain. Singer was able to reverse each story to mirror one another using the same words but just in a different way.
In the poem, each line was consistent that you were able to determine that it rhymed. The images throughout the poem supported the text and were able to create a clear picture for the reader. Furth...more
In the poem, each line was consistent that you were able to determine that it rhymed. The images throughout the poem supported the text and were able to create a clear picture for the reader. Furth...more
Dec 06, 2011
Sara Hannon
added it
1. Junior book, Poetry
2. A collection of poems based on fairy tales that tell two sides of the story using the same poem.
3. These reversals are such a neat idea. Not only is the idea to read a poem from bottom to top fantastic, but to use that to show a different view using the exact same poem, just "upside down", is extremely creative. This book was a great example of a new use of poetry. The poem tells the story of familiar fairy tales but it gives us two perspectives. The poem read from top t...more
2. A collection of poems based on fairy tales that tell two sides of the story using the same poem.
3. These reversals are such a neat idea. Not only is the idea to read a poem from bottom to top fantastic, but to use that to show a different view using the exact same poem, just "upside down", is extremely creative. This book was a great example of a new use of poetry. The poem tells the story of familiar fairy tales but it gives us two perspectives. The poem read from top t...more
mirror mirror
Marilyn Singer
Illustrated by Josee Masse
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 7 to 10
Dutton Children’s Books, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-525-47901-7
Marilyn Singer turns fairy tales upside-down with her witty reversos in a funtastical poetry book for early readers. Her poems are read top to bottom down one side of the page and then from bottom to top on the opposite side. Singer writes free verse in sassy, clipped lines that would be fun to read aloud, or even act out! The clever reverses explore the fl...more
Marilyn Singer
Illustrated by Josee Masse
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 7 to 10
Dutton Children’s Books, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-525-47901-7
Marilyn Singer turns fairy tales upside-down with her witty reversos in a funtastical poetry book for early readers. Her poems are read top to bottom down one side of the page and then from bottom to top on the opposite side. Singer writes free verse in sassy, clipped lines that would be fun to read aloud, or even act out! The clever reverses explore the fl...more
Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer is a children's poetry book with an outstanding concept. The topic of each poem is a fairy tale. For each fairy tale, two poems are written from different perspectives. The awesome thing is that the two poems are the reverse of each other. For example, in the poem "Cinderella's Double Life", the first line of one poem is "Isn't life unfair?", while it is the last line in the other poem about Cinderella. I truly enjoyed the concept and I think it is a fun, new, and...more
Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer is a picture book that can be used among all ages. It is a book filled with 'reverso' poems; a type of poetry created by the author. These are simply poems that are side by side, seemingly the same, just written in reverse. It is like reading the mirror image of the first poem. Most of the punctuation and words remain in the same places, but the mirror images changes the meaning. The book sleeve gives a preview of this type of poetry, saying: "Isn't this a fairy t...more
Mirror Mirror has won the 2010 Cybils Award in the Poetry division. The winners are chosen because they "combined literary merit with kid appeal."
I actually purchased Mirror Mirror sometime last year because it combined interesting poetry techniques with fairytales. The first few entries were so witty, I had to go home and read the rest.
At the end of the book, Marilyn Singer states, "We read most poems down a page. But what if we read them up? That's the question I asked myself when I created t...more
I actually purchased Mirror Mirror sometime last year because it combined interesting poetry techniques with fairytales. The first few entries were so witty, I had to go home and read the rest.
At the end of the book, Marilyn Singer states, "We read most poems down a page. But what if we read them up? That's the question I asked myself when I created t...more
This book is so much fun for word-lovers! Singer's poetry takes the form of reversos--a poem that reads one way down but takes on a new meaning when read "up" (reversed, with changes in punctuation and capitalization). As Singer notes in her Author's Note, this is especially effective in telling two sides of one story.
Here, the stories presented are fairy tales. I really enjoyed the selection but felt that some of the poems were more successful than others. In a few cases, it just seemed too awk...more
Here, the stories presented are fairy tales. I really enjoyed the selection but felt that some of the poems were more successful than others. In a few cases, it just seemed too awk...more
The idea is clever but I wished there was more depth or discussion to these fairy tale poems. The concept is interesting - Singer attempts to shed light in the well-known fairy tales by exposing both sides of the story through reversible verse. Singer writes the traditional version of the story and then rewrites the same words from bottom to top. I understand that she is limited in her words since the verse has to make sense top to bottom and then bottom to top, but some of the fairy tales told...more
The thing that I love about reading and all the arts in general is that even though that particular art form has been around for hundreds or thousands of years, the well of creativity does not run dry. Marilyn Singer has created the reverso, a poem that reads backwards and forwards and composed a book about fairy tales. Here's an example:
Isn't life unfair?
Stuck in a corner,
while they're waiting for a chance
with the prince,
dancing waltz after waltz
at the ball,
I'll be shining
these shoes
till the cl...more
Isn't life unfair?
Stuck in a corner,
while they're waiting for a chance
with the prince,
dancing waltz after waltz
at the ball,
I'll be shining
these shoes
till the cl...more
Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse is a poem book of several different fairytales which have two different versions. Each poem is flipped to show a different point of view. It's a twist to the classic fairytales.
There were parts of the poems where there would be some rhyming. However, it was not a main element. There was definitely clear imagery in each poem. The fact that you see the same poem in two different views gives two different ways to imagine the poem and it's content. There is...more
There were parts of the poems where there would be some rhyming. However, it was not a main element. There was definitely clear imagery in each poem. The fact that you see the same poem in two different views gives two different ways to imagine the poem and it's content. There is...more
I like to think that the world of children's literature has gained a bit more respect in the last decade or so. Folks notice it and reference it more often. And as sales continue to be good and scholars take note of it more often, its sub-genres proliferate and gain acceptance. Graphic novelists of children's fare increase. Non-fiction writers for kids demand more attention. And then there are the poets. Poets like Marilyn Singer who has been doing good steady work for years and years. I'm looki...more
Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer is a novel that contains two different fairytales. One of the fairytales shows the story throught the protagonist's point of view and the other story is told by the antagonist. She was able to manipulate the words to give two different sides of the same story.
This book gave me a different outlook because I was able to view the story through the two different veiwpoints of the characters. Furthermore, I enjoyed how the imgages painted a...more
This book gave me a different outlook because I was able to view the story through the two different veiwpoints of the characters. Furthermore, I enjoyed how the imgages painted a...more
Marilyn Singer has turned poetry upside down with her creation of the reverso. A reverso is a poem that can be read from top to bottom and then reversed and read from bottom to top to create a new poem and a new point of view. In Mirror, Mirror: a Book of Reversible Verse, she uses the concept to retell some favorite fairytales. The poems are presented side by side, in different color fonts. Singer is adept at using short phrases that can take on double meanings when read in the reverse. I parti...more
This book told different fairytales such as snow white and little red riding hood, in the form of poems. After the poem was read once then it would be re-read but it would start from the end of the poem and then go back to the beginning. I really enjoyed how the poems were put together. I have not read poems that were re-read, starting from the end before. It really put a whole different perspective on how the poems were portrayed and it was interesting to see that they based the poems off of f...more
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse is a brilliantly written collection of fairy tale poetry which truly shows that there is indeed two sides to every story! The author uses a poetry style she refers to as "reverso", where she writes a poem normally and then takes the same poem and writes it in reverse, only being allowed to change capitalization and punctuation, and by doing this creates an entirely different poem. This works especially well with the fairy tales in the book, as most of th...more
Singer, Marilyn. (2010). Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse. New York: Penguin Putnam/Dutton. 32 pp. ISBN 978-0-525-47901-7 (Hard Cover); $16.99.
When we tell our poetic fairy tales, they have a whole different meaning when we read them in reverse order.
This fairy tale book is written in a poetic form entitled, Reverso, as named by its creator, Marilyn Singer! The form takes each line and has that line read down with one meaning and read up with a slightly different version often featurin...more
When we tell our poetic fairy tales, they have a whole different meaning when we read them in reverse order.
This fairy tale book is written in a poetic form entitled, Reverso, as named by its creator, Marilyn Singer! The form takes each line and has that line read down with one meaning and read up with a slightly different version often featurin...more
A "reversible verse" is a poem that becomes a new poem when the lines are read from the bottom up. The poems in "Mirror Mirror" are all based on well-known fairy tales, and by flipping the poem upside down, the reader gets a new perspective on the story.
The concept of the reversible verse is very clever, and some of the poems in this book are very clever as well. I liked the poems about Cinderella, Goldilocks, and Hansel and Gretel; they were well executed. But some poems didn't work very well....more
The concept of the reversible verse is very clever, and some of the poems in this book are very clever as well. I liked the poems about Cinderella, Goldilocks, and Hansel and Gretel; they were well executed. But some poems didn't work very well....more
Mirror, Mirror on the wall.....no this book won't answer that question, but it will give you both sides of the fairytale story. This children's book allows you to read the poem going forward and then read the exact same words but in reverse. The punctuation is different, but the words are the same! Yet, you can read two very different stories. My favorite poem was, "The Doubtful Duckling", most will remember "The Ugly Duckling" story, but here's a sample of this story in reversible verses; "Some...more
I find it strange that I sincerely dislike most of the books that everyone screams from the rooftops about. I don't get it.
This fails. I'm talking like, epic fail here. I get what Singer wanted to do and I like the idea of it. But it doesn't work. Maybe it would with some things and if I'm totally honest it did in fact work here - with maybe two of the poems. The rest? Failed.
I don't know - if you want to read and scream your love for the books the masses say they love this is for you. Otherwi...more
This fails. I'm talking like, epic fail here. I get what Singer wanted to do and I like the idea of it. But it doesn't work. Maybe it would with some things and if I'm totally honest it did in fact work here - with maybe two of the poems. The rest? Failed.
I don't know - if you want to read and scream your love for the books the masses say they love this is for you. Otherwi...more
Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer (2010)
Beginning Reader, 32 pages
Marilyn Singer turns traditional fairytales upside down in Mirror Mirror by using her reverso, two way paired poems that tell both sides of each story using the same words. A reader will need background knowledge of the original tales to appreciate and understand the juxtaposition of the poems, as in “Bears in the News” where the first poem finds a startled Goldie Locks a victim, and the other shows the innocent bear family coming h...more
Beginning Reader, 32 pages
Marilyn Singer turns traditional fairytales upside down in Mirror Mirror by using her reverso, two way paired poems that tell both sides of each story using the same words. A reader will need background knowledge of the original tales to appreciate and understand the juxtaposition of the poems, as in “Bears in the News” where the first poem finds a startled Goldie Locks a victim, and the other shows the innocent bear family coming h...more
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Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.
In 1974, after teaching English in New York City hig...more
More about Marilyn Singer...
In 1974, after teaching English in New York City hig...more
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