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A Mirror to Nature: Poems About Reflection
Jane Yolen and Jason Stemple join forces again in this new winning combination of poems and photos. Water possesses reflective qualities, creating fascinating patterns and doubled images that allow us to see things in new ways. Celebrated writer Jane Yolen and photographer Jason Stemple capture these natural beauties in twelve thoughtful poems and breathtaking pictures in this winner of the John Burroughs Nature Books for Young Readers Award. Watery reflections provide an appropriate backdrop for Jane's musings on nature, such as a raccoon swimming with his reflected self, the water-jagged legs of a snowy egret, and the double danger of a hungry alligator at the edge of a swamp. Jason's photographs offer whimsical peeks at the natural world we rarely chance to see. This artistic collaboration gives readers a unique opportunity to contemplate their world.
A Solitary Cockle
"O to be a solitary cockle
Sitting silent in reflection,
Somewhat open to the moment,
Somewhat into introspection.
Never needing to be acting,
Never having to be hammy,
Just a solitary bivalve
In the water, silent" ... "clammy.
"--FROM THE BOOK
A Solitary Cockle
"O to be a solitary cockle
Sitting silent in reflection,
Somewhat open to the moment,
Somewhat into introspection.
Never needing to be acting,
Never having to be hammy,
Just a solitary bivalve
In the water, silent" ... "clammy.
"--FROM THE BOOK
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
About the author
Jane Yolen
987 books3,249 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 14, 2012
A Mirror to Nature~Poems about Reflection by Jane Yolen and photographs by her son, Jason Stemple, is a book that makes its readers slow down for a moment to enjoy what nature has to offer. In her author’s note, Yolen writes, “Something new to look at: that is another way of defining the word reflection. To reflect on something is to give it a deep and different look, to think about it in a new way.” ~ and that is exactly what the reader does when turning the pages of this book. The photographs are crisp and take up most of the interchanging sides of the pages, as the poems are written specifically to accompany the images. Small bits of important information about each animal are also featured on every page opposite of the photographs. The layout of the entire book is similar to its theme with reflections and symmetry.
Booklist recommends A Mirror to Nature for grades 2 through 5, however, it can and should be enjoyed as young as kindergarten, particularly with a read-aloud. This book would be well suited for a lesson in environmental science or to introduce poetry as it is matched purposely to images. Most of the poems in this book rhyme and one is written as a haiku.
Booklist recommends A Mirror to Nature for grades 2 through 5, however, it can and should be enjoyed as young as kindergarten, particularly with a read-aloud. This book would be well suited for a lesson in environmental science or to introduce poetry as it is matched purposely to images. Most of the poems in this book rhyme and one is written as a haiku.
May 12, 2012
A Mirror to Nature: Poems About Reflection pairs a dozen photographs by Jason Stemple with the rhyming verse of Jane Yolen. Each photograph contains a reflective image of wildlife in water, including an assortment of birds and other animals such as the raccoon, deer, coyote, alligator and frog. Yolen provides a playful poem and interesting fact for every natural depiction.
The result is a wondrously entertaining and captivating picture book that invites the reader to reflect upon all types of reflections. Stemple’s photography is simply stunning, and Yolen’s poems are as contemplative as they are humorous. A reference to Hamlet on the dedication page credits Shakespeare for inspiring both the title and the concept: “To hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature ….” The juxtaposition of what is real with what is illusory, yet equally beautiful, encourages inquiry not only into nature’s literal reflections, but our own perception of the world around us. For example, Stemple’s photograph of one side of a shell and its reflection in a pool of water at the beach is accompanied by Yolen’s eight-lined poem entitled “A Solitary Cockle” describing the “solitary bivalve” as “somewhat open to the moment.” The fact portion explains the difference between a cockle and a clam: Both are bi-valves, meaning two shells connected by a hinge joint, but cockles have a foot they use to burrow into the sand.
A Mirror to Nature is perfect for intermediate readers in grades three through six to enjoy independently, but parents and teachers won’t want to miss the wonderful opportunity to join them and experience this unique combination of visual and literary art together. It’s very simply profound.
Laurie A. Gray
Reprinted from the Christian Library Journal (Vol. XV, No. 2, April 2011); used with permission.
The result is a wondrously entertaining and captivating picture book that invites the reader to reflect upon all types of reflections. Stemple’s photography is simply stunning, and Yolen’s poems are as contemplative as they are humorous. A reference to Hamlet on the dedication page credits Shakespeare for inspiring both the title and the concept: “To hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature ….” The juxtaposition of what is real with what is illusory, yet equally beautiful, encourages inquiry not only into nature’s literal reflections, but our own perception of the world around us. For example, Stemple’s photograph of one side of a shell and its reflection in a pool of water at the beach is accompanied by Yolen’s eight-lined poem entitled “A Solitary Cockle” describing the “solitary bivalve” as “somewhat open to the moment.” The fact portion explains the difference between a cockle and a clam: Both are bi-valves, meaning two shells connected by a hinge joint, but cockles have a foot they use to burrow into the sand.
A Mirror to Nature is perfect for intermediate readers in grades three through six to enjoy independently, but parents and teachers won’t want to miss the wonderful opportunity to join them and experience this unique combination of visual and literary art together. It’s very simply profound.
Laurie A. Gray
Reprinted from the Christian Library Journal (Vol. XV, No. 2, April 2011); used with permission.
January 16, 2022
Not as successful as Wild Wings. Not all the photographs achieved the full mirror effect.
February 23, 2015
A Mirror to Nature by Jane Yolen and photographs by Jason Stemple is a book about poems that reflect. The poem uses two meanings for the word reflect. The poems are based on the photographs of the animals that were taken in the water. The animals in the poems are always in or near the water so the water is a part of them. In the pictures you have the animals, the water they are always near or in, and their reflections in that water. These poems are written about or reflect on this occurrence.
The poems rhyme in an amusing way. They all use the word “reflections” but “reflections” has different meanings in each poem. These poems would be great for introducing students to the fact a word can have different meanings and can be used in different ways. The book is for K-3 but it could be used in higher grades for word study and how some words have different meanings.
This poems with the photographs will take the students to the place where the animals live. They will see the animals in a different way because they may not have realized how necessary being in or near water is to these animals. I think next time the students who have read or heard this book will be looking for other animals that in or near the water.
The poems rhyme in an amusing way. They all use the word “reflections” but “reflections” has different meanings in each poem. These poems would be great for introducing students to the fact a word can have different meanings and can be used in different ways. The book is for K-3 but it could be used in higher grades for word study and how some words have different meanings.
This poems with the photographs will take the students to the place where the animals live. They will see the animals in a different way because they may not have realized how necessary being in or near water is to these animals. I think next time the students who have read or heard this book will be looking for other animals that in or near the water.
September 23, 2010
The ecology poems in this book muse over reflection. The book begins with contents, and a note from the author which states, “The first mirror was water: puddles, pools, lakes, quiet rivers.” (p.9) In this case, it is clear Stemple’s photographs came first, and Yolen wrote the poems around the images her son created. The photographs are focused and artistic. The poems are sparse; they heavily use rhythm and rhyme. The bottom of each page includes an italicized paragraph of additional information about the wildlife presented. There is an emphasis on human effects on nature. This book causes the reader to reflect on the connections between life, and would be appropriate to share with elementary school students studying ecology.
November 18, 2013
This is a lovely collection of short, mostly rhyming poems framed by gorgeous photographs that depict reflection in nature.
The book is a quick read and we liked that it was a collaboration between Jane Yolen and her son, Jason Stemple. We enjoyed reading this book together.
The book is a quick read and we liked that it was a collaboration between Jane Yolen and her son, Jason Stemple. We enjoyed reading this book together.
January 12, 2010
"A mirror to Nature: Poems About Reflection", by Jane Yolen (2009), photographs by Jason Stemple, is a photographic book celebrating twin images in nature. It introduces wildlife to children in a National Geographic-type of way, pairing a simple poem with the image. Inspired by and dedicated to Yolen's twin granddaughters.
May 11, 2009
I'm giving this 4 stars more for the illustrations than the poems, which were ok. Jason Stemple's photos here are stunning, especially the picture of the racccoon in the water. I'd give him a Caldecott for these photos!
July 28, 2010
This book of nature poems was average, although I did find originality in the theme of "reflection".
March 22, 2013
Enjoyed the theme of "reflection" in the poems. Great photographs. Interesting nature facts included as well. Another in this talented mother - son duo's series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews