Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer (Genre: Poetry)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Singer, Marilyn. 2010. MIRROR MIRROR. Ill. by Josée Masse. New York, N.Y.: Dutton’s Children’s Books. ISBN 0525479017


PLOT SUMMARY
This is a book of verse or reversible poems which is written in such a way that it could be read from top to bottom as one poem and from bottom to top as another poem. The book is a collection of 14 reverso poems of popular fairy tales like Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Ugly Ducking, Rumplestiltskin, Snow White , Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, Princess and the Frog and Beauty and the Beast.
The two poems are written in such a way that the readers will get two completely different points of view from the same fairy tale. For example, in the poem about Cinderella, the first poem is about her situation where she is doing all the chores and is unable to go to the ball, but in the reverse poem, the view point of the step sisters is told.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Author Marilyn Singer has created a unique and creative way of retelling popular fairy tales through verse, reverso or reversible poems.
The poems can be read from top to bottom as well as from bottom to top using the same exact words. By using the same exact words and making some changes in the capitalization and punctuation, the author completely changed the perspective of the reverse poem. This gives the readers, two different view points of the same tale. I felt that the author has created an amazing outcome from this unique experiment.
The colorful and textured illustrations by Josée Masse compliment the poems. Each poem has its own set of illustrations. One half of the poem depicts one view point and the other half depicts another view point. The illustrator has done justice to the book by providing illustrations that reinforce the theme of reverse poems. The pictures play with the readers mind in the same way as the poems do.
It is a beautiful book of poems that will keep the readers engaged. Readers who enjoy reading fairy tales will find a new way to look at fairy tales through this innovative poem book. It will be appreciated by all readers but it will be hard by young readers to understand the two view points of the same poem.


AWARDS/ REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist: “Matching the cleverness of the text, Masse’s deep-hued paintings create split images that reflect the twisted meaning of the irreverently witty poems and brilliantly employ artistic elements of form and shape—Cinderella’s clock on one side morphs to the moon on the other.”

BookPage: “Clever and delightful—those are the best words to describe Mirror Mirror, a new collection by noted poet Marilyn Singer.”

Kirkus Reviews: “A collection of masterful fairy-tale–inspired reversos—a poetic form invented by the author, in which each poem is presented forward and backward.”

School Library Journal: “This is a remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library.”


CONNECTIONS
• Children could be encouraged to write a short reverso poem using simple words.
• As an art project, children could be encouraged to draw a mirror image of any picture.
• Children could be asked to talk about their favorite fairy tale.
• Related Books:
-Maclachlan, Patricia.2010. WORD AFTER WORD AFTER WORD. New York.N.Y..:Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN 0060279710.

Button Up! Wrinkled Ryhmes by Alice Schertle (Genre: Poetry)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schertle, Alice. 2009. BUTTON UP! WRINKLED RHYMES. Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York, N.Y.: Harcourt Children’s Books. ISBN 0152050504

SUMMARY
This is a collection of 15 poems for children in which clothes of all kinds (shoes, shoelaces, hat, helmet, jammies and even undies) share their own personal story. Each item of clothing has its own point of view which is expressed in the form of a humorous poem. The children will enjoy seeing the mouse wearing an under wear, a dog wearing a jersey, an alligator wearing a pajama and a pig wearing galoshes. Each item of clothing has a special relationship with its owner which is described through the poem as well as the illustrations. The young readers will enjoy the simple and colorful illustrations by Petra Mathers.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Alice Schertle is an award winning poet who has given voice to clothing through this wonderful collection of poems. The poems are playful and rhyming with colorful illustrations of cute cartoon animals. The illustrations by Petra Mathers compliment the poems and bring the characters to life. Children will easily relate to the poems and the colorful and funny illustrations. Some illustrations show children how to dress up. For example in the poem “Bill’s Blue Jacket”, the illustration shows how to put a jacket on.
The poems have been written in simple language that the young children would easily relate too. The characters have simple names and are very expressive. Although the children would enjoy listening to each poem, I felt that some poems are more appealing than the others. The poems will be enjoyed by readers of all age gbut young children will easily connect with the poems and the funny colorful characters.

AWARDS/ REVIEW EXCERPTS
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2010

Best Childrens Book of the Year, 2010

Booklist Starred Review: "With varied rhymes and rhythms occasionally disrupted for emphasis, Schertle's poetry is reminiscent of A. A. Milne and begs to be read aloud."

Kirkus Reviews: “There are otters and pigs, alligators and rabbits, emus and moles. And these creatures have personality, exuberance and high style that perfectly match the verses. Loads of fun.”

School Library Journal: “Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections.

CONNECTIONS
• Children could be asked to describe their favorite piece of clothing after reading this book to them.
• Children could be encouraged to write their own poem about their favorite piece of clothing.
• As an art project, children could draw a picture of their favorite clothes.
• Related books:
-Janeczko, Paul B. 2001.DIRTY LAUNDRY PILE: POEMS IN DIFFERENT VOICES. Harper Collins.ISBN 0688162517.

-Polisar,Barry L.1999. BUG SOUP: BUG POEMS. Rainbow Morning Music. ISBN 0938663224.

Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky (Genre: Traditional Literature)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zelinsky, Paul O. 1997. RAPUNZEL. NewYork, N.Y.: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525456074

PLOT SUMMARY
After longing for a baby for a very long time, a couple comes to know that they are expecting a child. The wife craves for the rapunzel herb that grows in the garden of the sorceress next door. The husband goes to steal the herb but is caught by the sorceress who demands the newborn child in return. The sorceress takes the baby when she is born and names her Rapunzel. She raises her and when she turned twelve, the sorceress locks her up in a tall tower in the woods with no door and just one window.
Rapunzel’s long and beautiful hair was the only way to go into the tower. She lived in the tower all by herself and the sorceress was the only visitor. One day, a young prince happens to pass by the tower and is mesmerized by Rapunzel’s melodious voice. The prince sees the sorceress enter the tower so he mimics her and says "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!". Rapunzel lets her hair down and the prince climbs up the tower. They fall in love and get married secretly in the tower. When the sorceress discovers that she has been deceived, she cuts Rupunzel’s hair in anger and uses it to trap the prince. The prince is finally saved by Rapunzel’s voice and they are reunited. They go to their kingdom and lived happily ever after.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Paul O Zelinsky has won the Caldecott Medal for the book Rapunzel. He has retold the fairy tale of Rapunzel in a beautifully illustrated picture book. The detailed pictures that depict the characters and the background are beautifully painted in oil. The pictures complement the story giving it an impression of the Renaissance era. The architecture, the landscapes, the tower, the birds, the peacock and the background marble wall help readers connect to the Renaissance times.
The sorceress in this story has not been portrayed as an evil character. She had kept Rapunzel in the tower to protect her from the realities of the world. But, Rapunzel meets the prince in the tower and they get married. The convex mirror on the table reinforces the pregnancy of Rapunzel. There is some content in the story that may raise questions from young children. Though it will be enjoyed by all age groups of readers but this story may not be appropriate for very young children.
This is a well written retelling of the age old fairy tale of Rapunzel. Like all fairy tales, this story has a beautiful ending with Rapunzel going back to the kingdom with the prince and the twins and living happily ever after.

AWARDS/ REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Medal Book, 1998

Carl Sandburg Award

Publishers Weekly: "A breathtaking interpretation gives the fairy tale new art-historical roots, with illustrations that daringly-and effectively-mimic the masters of Italian Renaissance painting."

Kirkus Reviews: “grandly evocative, composed and executed with superb technical and emotional command.”

Horn Book: “Simply put, this is a gorgeous book; it demonstrates respect for the traditions of painting and the fairy tale while at the same time adhering to a singular, wholly original, artistic vision.”


CONNECTIONS
• A discussion on Renaissance period and the artwork could be held with children.
• Children could be encouraged to paint a picture in oil paints.
• Related books:
-Roberts, Lynn & Roberts, David. 2003. RAPUNZEL: A GROOVY FAIRY TALE. ISBN 0810942429
-Mccafferty, Catherine. 2002. RAPUNZEL. Brighter Child. ISBN 157768379X

The Three Horrid Little Pigs by Liz Pichon (Genre: Traditional Literature)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pichon, Liz.2008. THE THREE HORRID LITTLE PIGS. Wilton, Conn.: Tiger Tales. ISBN 158925077X

PLOT SUMMARY
This is a story of three little horrid pigs who were so mean and rude that their mother drives them away. The first little pig builds a house by stealing straw from the cows. The second little pig builds his house by stealing twigs from the birds and drives the wolf away when he offered to help. The third little pig was so lazy that he did not build a house and instead he moved into a chicken coop. The cows eat up the first pig’s house and the birds pull apart the second pig’s house. A rooster drives the third pig out of his house. The wolf invites the pigs to his house because they had nowhere to go. The pigs finally learnt their lesson. They stopped being lazy and mean and also learnt how to make a house out of brick for themselves in which they lived happily forever.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This funny picture book is a variant of the classic “The Three Pigs”. The story has a funny start and a twist at the end that will keep readers engaged throughout the story. The reversal of the roles of the pigs and the wolf are very interesting. The wolf who is traditionally the villain of the story is actually very helpful and friendly in this story.

The illustrations are very funny and the illustrator has managed to capture the facial expressions of the pigs very carefully. The illustrations are very colorful and I really liked the pink colored pigs with mean looking eyes which made them look grumpy and bad. The text was written in such a way that it appeared to flow from one page to another. The author did an excellent job with the wonderful story complimenting the colorful and captivating illustrations.

Liz Pichon has created a simple, funny and engaging story for young children that will make them laugh and teach them a message.

AWARDS / REVIEW EXCERPT
The Three Horrid Little Pigs was shortlisted for both The Red House Book Award and The Stockport Book Awards.


CONNECTIONS
• This book could be used to talk about good manners with children.
• This story could be performed as a play.
• Another version of ‘The Three Pigs’ could be read to children to compare the character of the wolf.
• Simple craft work for children could include making a house with straw and paper.
• Related books:
Marshall, James. 1989. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-7587-3804-8

Rubin, Vicky. 2007. THE THREE SWINGIN’ PIGS. Ill. by Rhode Montijo. New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN 0805073353

The First Strawberries, A Cherokee Story by Joseph Bruchac (Genre : Traditional Literature)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph. 1993. THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES, A CHEROKEE STORY. Ill. by Anna Vojtech. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803713312

PLOT SUMMARY
Renowned Native American author Joseph Bruchac is retelling a Cherokee pour quoi tale which is also a legend of how strawberries came into the world. The Creator made man and woman who lived happily together. One day the man comes home from hunting and finds his wife picking flowers instead of cooking. The wife feels hurt at his harsh words and walks away in anger. The husband feels sorry for being so harsh but is unable to catch up to his wife. The sun takes pity on the man and shines itself on various berries to stop his wife but she was too angry to see them. So, the sun makes strawberries on the ground to unite the couple. The wife sees the strawberries and stops to pick them up so that she could share them with her husband. The husband catch’s up to her and they lived happily forever.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is a beautifully illustrated lyrical book which tells a simple pour quoi tale. The story starts with a couple who are happily married until they get into an argument. The wife leaves when she gets hurt by the husband’s harsh words. The sun has been shown to unite them by sending love in the form of strawberries to earth. The story teaches the children about the nature and also has a message about respect and forgiveness.
Anna Vojtech’s watercolor illustrations capture the beauty of the landscape. The grass looks beautiful with the yellow flowers and the red berries. The children can see the close connection between Native Americans and the nature through the illustrations.
The story ends on a happy note. The couple gets reunited and they lived happily ever after.

AWARDS WON/ REVIEW EXCERPT
Publishers Weekly: "Spare text, an uncomplicated story line and gentle illustrations keep this quiet but resonant tale accessible to even the youngest child.”

CONNECTIONS
*Children could be encouraged to talk about anger and forgiveness and how to deal with feelings.
*Children could learn about similarities and differences in cultures by discussing about different cultures.
*A discussion could be initiated with children to find out what they learnt from the story.
*Children could make Cherokee crafts such as a dream-catcher , a necklace or a headdress.
*Related Book : Oughton, Jerrie .1996. HOW THE STARS FELL INTO THE SKY: A NAVAJO LEGEND .Ill. by Lisa Desimini. ISBN 9780395779385