Marilyn Singer invented the reverso poetry form with her seminal picture book, Mirror Mirror.
In this Read Brightly article, Marilyn Singer describes her new poetry form. Here are some excerpts:
A reverso is a poem with two halves. In a reverso, the second half reverses the lines from the first half, with changes only in punctuation and capitalization — and it has to say something completely different from the first half (otherwise it becomes what one blogger’s kid called a “same-o.”)
I’ve always found dogs and cats inspirational. I’ve written poetry, nonfiction, and fiction featuring canines and felines, yet I never expected that a cat would lead to a new poetry form. One fateful day, I was sitting in my living room and I saw her snuggled in a chair. What came into my head was this:
A cat Incomplete:
without A chair
a chair: without
Incomplete. a cat.I couldn’t swear to it, but I’m pretty sure that that doll was in the back of my brain when I wrote “Cinderella’s Double Life,” my first fairy tale reverso:
Isn’t life unfair?
Stuck in a corner,
while they’re waiting for a chance
with the prince,
dancing waltz after waltz
at the ball,
I’ll be shining
these shoes
till the clock strikes midnight.Till the clock strikes midnight,
these shoes!
I’ll be shining
at the ball,
dancing waltz after waltz
with the prince,
while they’re waiting for a chance,
stuck in a corner.
Isn’t life unfair?
Most importantly, here are her tips for writing reverso poems:
“But if you and your kids want to try writing reversos at home, I can offer a few tips:
- Find a story, subject, or character with two sides.
- Start with a few lines that can be flipped so they make sense in reverse.
- Select phrases that can be turned into questions and interjections.
- Use a lot of participles, infinitives, and single word sentences.
- The reversos have changes only in punctuation and capitalization, so get to know punctuation — how can you use a comma, period, dash, colon, semi-colon, etc.?
- Write the poem on the computer so you can move the lines around until they make sense.
- Don’t get discouraged — reversos are hard to write. Play and have fun!”
I was really excited when I first read Mirror Mirror, but I never dreamed that I could write a reverso poem myself! In fact, it was Margaret Chiu Grenanais’s reverso picture book, Amah Faraway, that inspired me to take a free verse poem and turn it into a reverso poem. This is how it happened…
During Covid lockdown, I missed going to book events. When I saw that a librarian in a Long Beach public library branch was doing a book talk on Amah, Faraway, I signed up. (It was free.) She explained that Amah, Faraway was a reverso poem and then explained how the poetry form worked. I had read Amah, Faraway, but didn’t realize it was a reverso poem.
All of a sudden, something clicked. That “Kids in Cages meets Japanese Internment Camp” picture book manuscript that I had been working on for more than five years could become a reverso poem… I raced to my computer and pulled it up. I flipped the poem and then started removing lines. Then for the second part … making it different. It didn’t take much to turn it into another story. Within an hour, Barbed Wire Between Us took shape as a reverso poem.
Still, it sat on my computer for many months before I was ready for anyone to see it. I had received a lot of negative feedback that this topic wasn’t a children’s book, which made me hesitate to show it to anyone. My agent, Lary Rosenblatt, read it, and he said it was my best book so far. That was the boost of confidence that I needed. I’m so happy that it became a book with illustrations by the amazing Violeta Encarnacion.
I am giving away 5 signed copies of Barbed Wire Between Us. To enter, please leave a comment.
5 Reverso Poem Picture Books
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josee Masse
This book of reverso poems features classic fairy tales. It’s a fun way to see two perspectives of each story. The reverso poetry form was introduced this seminal picture book! [reverso poetry picture book, ages 7 and up]
Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josee Masse
More classic fairy tales are covered in this sequel to Mirror Mirror. [reverso poetry picture book, ages 7 and up]
Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josee Masse
Marilyn Singer uses Greek mythology to showcase two points of view in classic stories. Fans of Percy Jackson will recognize many of these Greek gods and heroes. [reverso poetry picture book, ages 7 and up]
Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Grenanais, illustrated by Tracy Subsisak
I didn’t recognize the story as a reverso poem during my first reading. It switches starting with
“Could
she?
She
could!”
Kylie and her mama visit her grandmother, Amah, in Taiwan. At first, Kylie finds the unfamiliar city uncomfortable and worries that seeing her grandmother in person might be different than their video chats. But as she settles into live in Taiwan, she knows she will miss her Aman and this wonderful city. The story flips as Kylie is back home in San Francisco, but soon her beloved grandmother will be visiting them. [reverso poem picture book, ages 4 and up]
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
This picture book tells the story of two girls who are experiencing similar harrowing family seperatation but they are separated by both barbed wire and eighty years of history. On one side of the barbed wire fence, a Japanese American grandmother is weaving origami cranes as someone who stands witness to the atrocities inside children held in a detention city. She is remembering her own experience during WWII when those of Japanese descent were forced into concentration camps, euphemistically called “Internment Camps.” As an origami crane reaches a girl inside the detention center, the story switches to her story leaving South America as an undocumented immigrant now held in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The setting is significant because not only was it an Internment Camp during WWII, but it also illegally held the Iroquis including Geronimo. The reverso poem form is a metaphor for history repeating itself. Depsite the heavy topic, Cuban American illustrator Violeta Encarnación balances the story with scenes of joy and a sense community, leaving the reader feeling that good can also exist besides evil. [reverso poem picture book, ages 7 and up]
This short list encompasses all the reverso poem picture books that I could find. Am I missing any? I’d love your suggestions. If you want to explore this poetry form further, I found this article:
7 Reverso Poems Your Middle Schoolers Will Love
Barbed Wire Between Us 5 Signed Book Giveaway!
I am giving away 5 signed copies of Barbed Wire Between Us. To enter, please leave a comment. I can only ship to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
p.s. Related posts:
Fun & Easy Ways to Expose Kids to Poetry
Poetry in Sports Books for Kids and the Kid Lit Blog Hop
Teaching Poetry at Home To Your Kids
3rd Grade Poetry and Dreams Coming True
12 Great Poetry Books for Kids and Teens
5th Grade Poetry: Help Please!
4 Novels in Verse for Kids: Poetry in Motion
10 Poetry Picture Books for POEM IN MY POCKET
11 Poetry Anthology Books for Kids
8 Great Poetry Books for Kids!
Top 5: Latinx Poetry Picture Book List
13 Poets And Their Poetry For Kids
Poetry for Kids: Haiku using Japanese Art
Barbed Wire Between Us included in Sneak Peek list of Poetry for Young People 2026
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- ⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I have read the pdf version of “Barbed Wire Between Us” and would love to put a physical copy in my local laundromat library! I love reverso poems and thought it was the perfect format for this wonderful book!
It takes such skill to write a reverso–kudos, Mia! What a powerful, book! Sad that it’s so timely. Again 🙁
I am so glad to have found this site. I had never heard about “reverso poems” and now I can’t wait to read Barbed Wire Between Us and share it with my students.
The creativity from Mia and others just amazes me! Every time I open one of the books that Mia has sent me, I’m really very grateful, and I’ve enjoyed sharing them with younger people. Thank you, Mia! 🙂
Reverso poems always surprise me and delight me as I read them to experience the new emotions and ideas from each. Congratulations, Mia, on your book!