Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer

Summary:

This book is filled with very short versions of different fairy tales and folk tales mixed with poetry. Each fairy tale and folk tale has two different short versions. 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. It is told from two character’s points of view. The tricky part is that for the most part the author used the exact same words for both sides of each story, but reverses the order of the words. The stories are not exactly in sentence form, but sometimes more like phrases. One of the stories is Little Red Riding Hood. In Red Riding Hood story, it gives the wolf's side and then Little Red Riding Hood's side. Each poem’s tells a piece of a fairy tale. Other fairy tales are Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Goldie Locks and the Three Bears and Rapunzel are also different parts of the poems as well. It’s up to the reader to determine which story to believe.

Mrs. Garza's Thoughts:

What a unique way to mix fairy tales, folk tales, and poetry together! I enjoyed reading this book because of the illustrations. The illustrations are appealing because of the bright and vibrant colors the illustrator used. The illustrations also help readers determine which character the poem is written about. A beautiful woman and a beastly man help readers recognize that they are reading about Beauty and the Beast. I especially liked "Cinderella's Double Life". The illustrations were simply beautiful! Mirror Mirror will teach readers that there is always two different versions to a story. We can never just believe one person. This book is creatively written and it shows readers that there is no right way to write a book. Creativity is everything! This is a fun, new, and interesting way to get everyone to read poetry!