Myra here.
I am glad to be joining the Poetry Friday community hosted this week by Violet from Violet Nesdoly.
As part of our current reading theme that looks back on the best of the best in books in the year that was, I searched for poetry titles published in 2016 and found quite a few. Here is one that’s been receiving a lot of rave reviews – all justified, I thought.
Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths
Written by: Marilyn Singer Illustrated by: Josée Masse
Published by: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2016
ISBN: 0803739923 (ISBN13: 9780803739925). Borrowed a copy from the Jurong West Public Library. Book Photos taken by me.
I have always been fascinated with Greek myths. My earliest remembrances of cautionary tales as a child would include Pandora’s Box, King Midas and the Golden Touch (that was the title of the story I read then), Icarus and Narcissus – just to cite a few. It made me marvel at a world filled with whimsical gods and goddesses who can punish or reward mortals as they see fit.
Reading Marilyn Singer’s newest reverso poetry book reminded me of my forgotten childhood when I was lost in books, avidly reading these stories that I could not get enough of. The fascinating thing about this picturebook is that Singer managed to capture the very essence of truly remarkable and timeless tales and distill them in such challenging verse, a poetic form that she invented herself. She also included a brief summary of the story behind the poem as a footnote to provide context to readers unfamiliar with some of the Greek myths.
I am also especially taken by Masse’s art. I’ve always loved her portrayal of Singer’s poetry in Mirror Mirror and Follow Follow – but this one is made more special for me somehow because I’ve always held Greek myths in such awe, and I felt that she has outdone herself this time around.
For my Poetry Friday offering, I would like to share one of the poems in this collection that I felt conveyed the beauty of life’s myriad destinies played with and controlled by gods in our midst.
Gathering Books 
I remember being fascinated by the ancient myths when I was growing up, too. So much wonder to be found in those stories and legends. Imagine inventing your own poetry form! So much inspiration, right there.
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I loved Greek myths (and Norse and Egyptian and any more I could find), and I still do. I am amazed at the poetic form she created. I can’t imagine trying to craft such poems, especially while conveying the essence of each myth. Wow!
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I read this to my kids. Love it!
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Marilyn’s books are wonderfully creative, and for those who love the myths, this is especially interesting I do love books that show unique points of view. In my teaching, they helped mentor the writers so much. Thanks for another look at this, Myra.
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This looks like a beautiful book. And oh man, Marilyn Singer makes the Reverso look easy!
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Marvelous! I read Marilyn’s 1st reverso book to a girl I was helping learn to read and it was so fascinating for her. Aren’t words miraculous, especially when Marilyn is combining them?
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This is her best of all the reverso books (IMHO).
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I love poems like this! I need to find this book! 😀
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