Mirror Mirror

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, mirror. New York: Dutton Children's Books.


Mirror Mirror is brilliant book that is written in verso and reverso. The author takes known fairytales and explains it from two different points of view. It's wonderful how at the beginning of the poem you are thinking one way but at the end you are thinking another. The imagery created by the word play is magnificent.

Visual Elements: Composition
We can see the use of lines where the division of the two stories is made. It is trying to balance the good and the bad. Showing how similar yet different they are. The circle in Cinderella’s story is used as a clock to show the time passing. The pentagon in Sleeping Beauties story helps to show the briars growing and guarding her. We see ovals in the eyes of the Three Bears as they are surprised by Goldilocks. There is a square that is a lock in Hansel and Gretel to show that’s the only way out. There are also circles for candies, and stars as cookies to entice the young children. A diamond is used as a frame to place the princess and the frog together. In Beauty and The Beast a heart shows the love they grew for each other. Triangles are used as the roofs of the castle to where the princess must get to. Color is also a huge element in this book darker colors are used on the side of the bad and lighter warmer colors are used on the good side. Snow White’s dress is yellow with baby blue to portray kindness and love while the witch is wearing red, black, and white to show she is in control. The ugly duckling is dull and gray, the beautiful swan is white like peace. Texture is shown by the thorny briars the prince is trying to cut down. You can see that Rapunzel’s hair is smooth and soft. The berries Red Riding Hood is eating look plump and juicy. The apple Snow White is holding is very realistic, it’s smooth, shiny, and crisp. The hay looks fresh and itchy next to Rumpelstiltskin.  This story too had it all, it made for a wonderful read.

Evaluative Criteria: Style
This book uses a lot of rhyme in the poems. The author uses word play by reversing the poems so we can see the poem from a different point of view. It offers a great amount of imagery for example when they describe Rapunzel’s hair as pale, tangled, and dangling. You can really paint a picture of her hair hanging from the side of the tower. This book was marvelous.