Follow Follow
A book of Reverso Poems
By Marilyn Singer
Cover image retrieved February
25, 2013 from
Bibliography
Singer,
Marilyn, and Josée Masse. Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems. New York:
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. ISBN 9780803737693
Critical Analysis
Beginning
to end, end to beginning: Marilyn Singer’s latest book of “reverso” poetry is
delightful, cunning fun. Hidden meanings, secret messages, and loaded imagery
connect the reader to opposing sides of familiar folk tales and fairy tales.
Accompanied by split-page full color illustrations, each short poem pair
invites the reader to remain on the page just a bit longer to consider the
words, clever arrangement, and fully loaded depictions of standard tales. A
simple change in punctuation alters meanings here, giving the reader food for
thought, as well as chuckles.
Inventive
word choice and arrangement are the foundation to establishing contrasting
meanings in these paired creations. Rhythm and tone change considerably as the
lines of the first poem are reversed to form the second poem. Readers young and
old will find connections to familiar fairy and folk tales, challenging
long-held assumptions on the meaning of those tales. The prolific Ms. Singer
sheds fresh light with creative word choice and thought-provoking viewpoints. This
book would be a terrific addition to a collection at any level. Young readers
will simply enjoy the fun poems and trickery of reversing the lines. Mid-level
readers will begin to understand the subtle
variations in meaning created by word arrangement, and how words and
phrases can have multiple meanings. High-level readers will savor interpreting
deeper meanings and seeing firsthand the power of word choice. Follow Follow is a welcome addition to
the worlds of poetry, folk and fairy tales, and creative writing inspiration.
Book
Reviews
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews,
January 15, 2013 (Vol. 81, No. 2))
A companion piece to
the acclaimed Mirror, Mirror (2010), this offering presents more delightful
"reverso" poems to treasure. Read alongside the traditional tales it
plays off of or enjoyed on its own, this volume is one to savor.
Deborah Stevenson (The
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Feb. 2013 (Vol. 66, No. 6))
With Mirror, Mirror
(BCCB 4/10), Singer introduced the cunning poetic “reverso,” a free-verse poem
that creates a very different meaning when the order of the lines is reversed.
This volume brings fourteen new poems, with an introduction and a valedictory
bookending a dozen folktale-themed verses.
Poetry
Break!
Spotlight
Poem
Ready, Steady, Go!
That ridiculous loser! Take
me to the finish line!
I am not I’ve got rabbit feet to
a slowpoke. beat.
Though I may be I can’t be
the smallest bit
distracted, the smallest bit distracted.
I can’t be Though
I may be
beat. a slowpoke,
I’ve got rabbit feet to I am not
take me to the finish
line! that ridiculous loser!
Learning
Extensions
Introducing the poem:
·
For Middle
School or older students, refresh their memory of The Tortoise and the Hare by
viewing the short rendition of the Aesop’s Fable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjokVI0LJzw
·
Who should
the rightful winner of the race be? Students will debate this with the Talk a
Mile a Minute cooperative learning strategy. Ask students to form a single line
across the front of the room, with those who think it clearly should be the
hare on the left side, those who think it clearly should be the tortoise on the
right side, filling in the middle with those who favor one side slightly more
than another. Then split the line in the middle, move half the line from the
middle to form a second line that will be standing across from a classmate,
each with opposing views on the subject. Students will have one minute each to
try to convince the other that their view is correct.
·
Students
will return to their seats. Share the reverso poem “Ready, Steady, Go!” orally,
first presenting the hare’s story, then the tortoise’s.
·
Invite
class discussion of the opposing views.
·
Display the
poems for the class via document camera. Allow volunteer readers to alternate
reading the poems as students follow along.
·
Now switch
volunteer readers. With both poems still displayed, have the first reader read
the first line of the hare’s poem, then the other reader read the first line of
the tortoise’s poem. Continue this pattern, alternating readers/poems after
each line.
·
Invite
class discussion of the power of the words in the different order, with different
punctuation and emphasis.
Other
Books by Marilyn Singer
Marilyn Singer’s
website http://marilynsinger.net/
FOLLOW FOLLOW: A Book
of Reverso Poems (Dial Books, 2013 , Illustrated by Josee Masse)
A STRANGE PLACE TO CALL
HOME (Chronicle, 2012 , Illustrated by Ed Young)
THE SUPERHEROES
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY (Clarion, 2012 , Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones)
TALLULAH’S SOLO
(Clarion, 2012 , Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger)
THE BOY WHO CRIED ALIEN
(Disney-Hyperion, 2012 , Illustrated by Brian Biggs)
A STICK IS AN EXCELLENT
THING (Clarion , 2012 , Illustrated by LeUyen Pham)
EVERY DAY’S A DOG’S DAY
(Dial , 2012 , Illustrated by Miki Sakamoto)
CATERPILLARS
(EarlyLight Books, 2011 )
A FULL MOON IS RISING
(Lee & Low, 2011 , Illustrated by Julia Cairns)
WHAT IS YOUR DOG DOING?
(Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2011 , Illustrated by Kathleen Habbley)
TALLULAH’S TUTU
(Clarion, 2011 , Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger)
TWOSOMES: Love Poems
from the Animal Kingdom (Alfred A. Knopf, 2011 , Illustrated by Lee Wildish)
MIRROR MIRROR: A Book
of Reversible Verse (Dutton Children's Books, 2010 , Illustrated by Josee
Masse)
I’M GETTING A CHECKUP
(Clarion Books, 2009 , Illustrated by David Milgrim)
I’M YOUR BUS
(Scholastic Books, 2009 , Illustrated by Evan Polenghi)
EGGS (Holiday House,
2008 , Illustrated by Emma Stevenson)
FIRST FOOD FIGHT THIS
FALL and Other School Poems (Sterling, 2008 , Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa)
SHOE BOP! (Dutton
Children's Books, 2008 , Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata)
CITY LULLABY (Clarion
Books, 2007 , Illustrated by Carll Cneut)
VENOM (Darby Creek
Publishing, 2007 )
LET’S BUILD A CLUBHOUSE
(Clarion Books, 2006 , Illustrated by Timothy Bush)
CATS TO THE RESCUE
(Henry Holt & Co., 2006 , Illustrated by Jean Cassels)
WHAT STINKS? (Darby
Creek Publishing, 2006 )
MAKE ME OVER: 11
Original Stories About Transforming Ourselves (Dutton Children's Books, 2005 )
MONDAY ON THE
MISSISSIPPI (Henry Holt & Co., 2005 , Illustrated by Frane Lessac)
CENTRAL HEATING: Poems
about Fire and Warmth (Alfred A. Knopf, 2005 , Illustrated by Meilo So)
FACE RELATIONS: Eleven
Stories About Seeing Beyond Color (Simon & Schuster, 2004 )
BLOCK PARTY TODAY!
(Alfred A. Knopf, 2004 , Illustrated by Stephanie Roth)
CREATURE CARNIVAL
(Hyperion Books for Children , 2004 , Illustrated by Gris Grimly)
HOW TO CROSS A POND
(Alfred A. Knopf, 2003 , Illustrated by Meilo So)
FIREFLIES AT MIDNIGHT
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003 , Illustrated by Ken Robbins)
BOO HOO BOO-BOO
(HarperCollins, Inc., 2002 , Illustrated by Elivia Savadier)
QUIET NIGHT (Clarion
Books, 2002 , Illustrated by John Manders)
THE COMPANY OF CROWS
(Clarion Books, 2002 , Illustrated by Linda Saport)
FOOTPRINTS ON THE ROOF:
Poems About the Earth (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 2002 , Illustrated by Meilo So)
DIDI AND DADDY ON THE
PROMENADE (Clarion Books, 2001 , Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay)
FRED’S BED
(HarperCollins, Inc., 2001 , Illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi)
MONSTER MUSEUM
(Hyperion Books, 2001 , Illustrated by Gris Grimly)
TOUGH BEGINNINGS: How
Baby Animals Survive (Henry Holt & Co., 2001 , Illustrated by Anna Vojtec)
A PAIR OF WINGS
(Holiday House, 2001 , Illustrated by Anna Wertheim)
THE CIRCUS LUNICUS
(Henry Holt & Co., 2000 )
I BELIEVE IN WATER:
Twelve Brushes With Religion (HarperCollins, Inc., 2000 )
ON THE SAME DAY IN
MARCH (HarperCollins, Inc., 2000 , Illustrated by Frane Lessac)
THE ONE AND ONLY ME
(HarperCollins, Inc., 2000 , Illustrated by Elivia Savadier)
A DOG’S GOTTA DO WHAT A
DOG’S GOTTA DO (Henry Holt & Co., 2000 )
JOSIE TO THE RESCUE
(Scholastic, Inc., 1999 )
SOLOMON SNEEZES
(HarperCollins, Inc., 1999 , Illustrated by Brian Floca)
STAY TRUE: Short
Stories for Strong Girls (Scholastic, Inc., 1998 )
GOOD DAY, GOOD NIGHT
(Marshall Cavendish, 1998 , Illustrated by Ponder Goembel)
PRAIRIE DOGS KISS AND
LOBSTERS WAVE: How Animals Say Hello (Henry Holt & Co., 1998 , Illustrated
by Normand Chartier)
DEAL WITH A GHOST
(Henry Holt and Company, 1997 )
BOTTOMS UP! A Book
About Rear Ends (Henry Holt & Co., 1997 , Illustrated by Patrick O'Brien)
ALL WE NEED TO SAY:
Poems About School from Tanya and Sophie (Atheneum Books for Young Readers,
1996 , Illustrated by Lorna Clark)
THE MAIDEN ON THE MOOR
(Morrow, 1995 , Illustrated by Troy Howell)
IN THE PALACE OF THE
OCEAN KING (Atheneum, 1995 , Illustrated by Ted Rand)
THE MORGANS DREAM
(Holt, 1995 , Illustrated by Gary Drake)
PLEASE DON’T SQUEEZE
YOUR BOA, NOAH! (Holt, 1995 , Illustrated by Clement Oubrerie)
A WASP IS NOT A BEE
(Henry Holt& Co., 1995 , Illustrated by Patrick O'Brien)
THE PAINTED FAN (Morrow,
1994 , Illustrated by Wenhai Ma)
FAMILY REUNION (Simon
& Schuster, Inc., 1994 , Illustrated by R.W. Alley)
SKY WORDS (Simon &
Schuster,, 1994 , Illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray)
BIG WHEEL (Hyperion,
1993 )
IT’S HARD TO READ A MAP
WITH A BEAGLE ON YOUR LAP (Henry Holt & Co., 1993 , Illustrated by Clement
Oubrerie)
CALIFORNIA DEMON
(Hyperion, 1992 )
CHESTER, THE OUT OF
WORK DOG (Henry Holt & Co., 1992 , Illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith)
IN MY TENT (Macmillan
Publishing Company, 1992 , Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully)
THE GOLDEN HEART OF
WINTER (Morrow, 1991 , Illustrated by Robert Rayevsky)
NINE O’CLOCK LULLABY
(HarperCollins, Inc., 1991 , Illustrated by Frane Lessac)
EXOTIC BIRDS
(Doubleday, 1991 , Illustrated by James Needham)
TWENTY WAYS TO LOSE
YOUR BEST FRIEND (HarperCollins, 1990 )
CHARMED (Atheneum, 1990
)
Sam and Dave Mysteries
(HarperCollins, 1984-1989 )
STORM RISING
(Scholastic Inc., 1989 )
THE HOAX ON YOU
(HarperCollins, 1989 , Illustrated by Richard Williams)
THE CASE OF THE FIXED
ELECTION (HarperCollins, 1989 , Illustrated by Richard Williams)
MINNIE’S YOM KIPPUR
BIRTHDAY (Harper & Row, Publishers, 1989 , Illustrated by Ruth Rosner)
TURTLE IN JULY (Simon
& Schuster, Inc., 1989 , Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney)
SEVERAL KINDS OF
SILENCE (Harper & Row Publishers, 1988 )
THE LIGHTEY CLUB (Four
Winds Press, 1987 , Illustrated by Kathryn Brown)
GHOST HOST
(HarperCollins, 1987 )
MITZI MEYER, FEARLESS
WARRIOR QUEEN (Scholastic, Inc., 1987 )
Samantha Spayed
Mysteries (Warne and HarperCollins, 1983-1986 )
LIZZIE SILVER OF
SHERWOOD FOREST (HarperCollins, 1986 , Illustrated by Miriam Nerlove)
WHERE THERE’S A WILL,
THERE’S A WAG (Henry Holt and Company, 1986 , Illustrated by Andrew Glass)
HORSEMASTER (Atheneum,
1985 )
A NOSE FOR TROUBLE (Holt,
1985 , Illustrated by Andrew Glass)
THE CASE OF THE
CACKLING CAR (HarperCollins, 1985 , Illustrated by Judy Glasser)
A CLUE IN CODE
(HarperCollins, 1985 , Illustrated by Judy Glasser)
ARCHER ARMADILLO’S
SECRET ROOM (Macmillan, 1985 , Illustrated by Beth Lee Weiner)
THE CASE OF THE
SABOTAGED SCHOOL PLAY (HarperCollins, 1984 , Illustrated by Judy Glasser)
LEROY IS MISSING
(HarperCollins, 1984 , Illustrated by Judy Glasser)
THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE
NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH (HarperCollins, 1983 )
THE FIDO FRAME-UP
(Warne, 1983 , Illustrated by Andrew Glass)
TARANTULAS ON THE BRAIN
(HarperCollins, 1982 , Illustrated by Leigh Grant)
THE FIRST FEW FRIENDS
(HarperCollins, 1981 )
WILL YOU TAKE ME TO
TOWN ON STRAWBERRY DAY? (Harper & Row Publishers, 1981 , Illustrated by
Trinka Hakes Noble)
THE FANATIC’S ECSTATIC,
AROMATIC GUIDE TO ONIONS, GARLIC, SHALLOTS AND LEEKS (Prentice-Hall, 1981 ,
Illustrated by Marian Parry)
IT CAN’T HURT FOREVER
(HarperCollins, 1978 , Illustrated by Leigh Grant)
THE PICKLE PLAN (E.P.
Dutton, 1978 , Illustrated by Steven Kellogg)
NO APPLAUSE, PLEASE
(E.P. Dutton, 1977 )
THE DOG WHO INSISTED HE
WASN’T (E.P. Dutton, 1976 , Illustrated by Kelly Oechsli)
