Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer and Josee Masse

Singer, M., & Masse, J. (2010). Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse. New York, N.Y.: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN: 978-0525479017.

Annotation

A picture book of reversible poems based on popular fairytales that includes different perspectives from the main character and villain using the same words.

My thoughts

Talk about misunderstanding someone’s words. It’s fascinating how the same words, the same poem, can be written in the opposite direction to give a new meaning and different tone. The only changes are capitalization and punctuation, but the points of view and perspective are entirely different. This book is a clever turn on words and an interesting word play with familiar characters from childhood fairytales. And, it makes an individual think about word order and perspective. The book truly shows that there are two different sides to the story and entire picture.

Curricular connections

Humanities- poetry grades 2-6: Recommended for readers who enjoy poetry and playing with words, lovers of fairy tales, teachers who teach writing (or poetry/fairy tales), or anyone who loves children’s books.

Lesson Plan

See 'Lesson Plan' page

Reading level/ Interest Age

Grades 2-6

Reviews and Awards

2011 ALA Notable Children’s Books, All Ages; 2011 NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts; CLA Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts 2011; Children's Book Committee Bank Street College of Education Children's Choices - Best Books of 2011, Special Interests, Poetry; Booklist 2010 Editor’s Choice, Books for Youth, Nonfiction, Middle Readers; Booklist Lasting Connections of 2010, Language Arts; Horn Book Fanfare, Best Books of 2010, Poetry; Kirkus Reviews 2010 Best Children’s Books; Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books 2010, Picture Books

"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

Author website: marilynsinger.net/

Illustrator website:  www.joseemasse.com/

Media: acrylic paint on illustration board

Genre: poetry

Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection by Matt Dembicki

Matt Dembicki - author. Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. Golden, Colo.: Fulcrum Pub., 2010. ISBN: 978-1-55591-7241

Author website: http://matt-dembicki.blogspot.tw/

Ilustrator website: There are 21 different illustrators.

Media: Various medias mainly pen and ink, watercolor, pencil.

Genre: Graphic Novel, Anthology

Annotation
 Twenty-one folktales based on various ‘trickster’ characters from a span of Native American tribes.

My thoughts

I’m constantly revising my opinion about this book. Right now, it is neutral and even though it is not a personal favorite, it is a book worth knowing about to recommend to younger readers because it might appeal to them and teach them some valuable lessons.

Originally, I checked out the 2010 edition, Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. Perhaps, part of the problem is that I was excited about this book and had high expectations. I think that there is a very rich tradition of Native American tales and art to be preserved and that the majority of stories in this book failed in representing both. There were some very good successes, some that were acceptable, and some that failed. This pattern of successful and those that aren’t as good seem to be typical of anthologies.  

Instead, a few stories represented good concepts and stories with cartoonish and commercialized illustrations that were not so good and added text that seemed too silly (like in the "Rabbit's Choctaw Tail Tale"). I understand that it not meant for adult connoisseurs and see that this humor might potentially be amusing for children learning about Native American folklore and are interested in the Trickster character. I did like "The Coyote and the Pebbles", "Raven the Trickster", "Azban and the Crayfish", "Rabbit and the Tug of War", and a couple of others.

My personal opinion is that the folklore would have been better served with art other than American styled cartoon art. But, in hindsight, I guess if that is what it takes to bring these stories to younger reader then so be it. It would probably be better to recommend this book and encourage an interest and supplement it with other Native American books than to dismiss it entirely.  

Overall, maybe I’m being too harsh and judging it more for myself than for its intended audience. I think that it is great that there was an attempt to make this anthology. In addition, I am aware that there aren’t too many folklore books being published for this demographic and there are even less on Native American folklore. That does add a few good points to this book. In addition, the range is impressive. There are over twenty stories and over twenty artists to illustrate those stories. And of course, it is interesting to compare the idea and representation of the trickster from the differing folklores. Short folklore stories provide a quick window into the tribes that might otherwise be lost.

Curricular connections
This book can act as a supplement to the academic studies of Native Americans or suggested to children interested in folklore, tricksters, Native Americans, cartoons, history, etc. Native American Studies grade 5-8.

Literary Devices
Use of Metaphors: (an example: the Raven kicking the sea anemones because he can and because he delights in disorder can serve as a deeper metaphor for the need of a good leader.)

Reading level/ Interest Age

Grade 3/ Age 9 and up

Rewards

2010 Cybil’s nominee

Cinderella Skeleton by Robert D. Souci and David Catrow

Robert D. Souci- Author. David Catrow- Illustrator. San Diego: Silver Whistle/Harcourt, 2000. 32 pages. ISBN: 978-0152050696.

Author website: http://www.rsansouci.com/

Ilustrator website: http://www.catrow.com/

Media: Pencil and watercolor.

Genre: Fairytale/ folklore, Halloween

Annotation

A retelling of the classic fairytale, Cinderella, told in a rhyming macabre verse, with characters that are ghoulish skeletons, and is set in a graveyard. In this story, however, Cinderella Skeleton loses more than her shoe.

My thoughts

Cinderella Skeleton is another retelling of the timeless fairytale with a touch of Tim Burtonesque dark humor that should draw giggles out of unexpecting audiences. Cinderella, as most expecting audiences know, is traditionally a story of unjust oppression and triumphant reward. There are thousands of Cinderella stories adding up to millions of words that generally fall into these same concepts and storyline. Cinderella is bullied by her stepsisters and mother, finds escape in a ball thrown by the Prince, also finds love in the ball, loses love, she finds love again, and then the happy ending.

The words for most Cinderella stories stay mostly the same. Except for the words in Cinderella Skeleton. This poetic rhyming book is very different than other versions of Cinderella. Through rhyme, alliteration, and its ghoulish concept, Robert D. San Souci makes this a unique and cleverly written tale that becomes more about the experience of the language rather than Cinderella’s standardized plight. Examples of alliteration in this story are “decayed decrepit/ withered wreath/ common clay/ pursuing prince/ witch’s warning/ burnished bones.”

In addition, this storyline and setting is completely displaced from the ordinary and usual version because of the unique slant. This is a story of the undead dead and takes place in a graveyard and its mausoleums. In contrast to the traditional character, this Cinderella “hung up cobwebs everyplace, arranged dead flowers in a vase, littering the floor with dust and leaves, fed the bats beneath the eaves: she shad no time for rest or fun.”

Contributing to the text are David Catrow’s spooky illustrations that compliment the lushness of the language. The skeleton stepmother is adorned is a lush fur collared dress while the stepsisters are more skeleton’s do fou-fou. Color schemes suggest the sunset, night, or sunrise with the exception of a bright yellow spread dedicated to the moment of Cinderella’s first connection with Prince Charnel. They add just the right amount of spooky creepy to keep the book light and humorous.

The challenging vocabulary, complex rhyme scheme, and the macabre theme made this book more suitable for readers in Grades 3-7 than preschoolers or a Halloween storytime for older listeners. I found this copy at the Taipei Public Library Da’An (Main) Branch.  

As a side note, I recognize that this might not be considered an “outstanding” picture book. The one that I was going to write about, American Born Chinese, is only considered to have folklore as a subgenre. I still would recommend it because it includes a basic telling of Monkey King and is a good book, but I did not know if it ‘qualified’ for this discussion post since the folklore part was not the book’s main focus. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to investigate an adequate pictorial Monkey King/ Journey to the West this week, but it will make it onto my blog when I find it. I love the stories of Monkey King.

C01總館
398.2 S229	1	書刊	Due: 2012/7/11

Literary Devices
Use of Rhyme

Cinderella Skeleton

Heard Charnel say, “Your beauty burns

Like bonfires ablaze at night.

Your brightness fills me with delight!

Dance with me, lady, I implore.”

She smiled; he led her to the floor,

Where they waltzed with

Graceful dips and turns.

Use of Alliteration:

decayed decrepit/ withered wreath/ common clay/ pursuing prince/ witch’s warning/ burnished bones

Reading level/ Interest Age

Grades 3-7