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Mirror / Specchio
Stunning in its simplicity and grace, Mirror is visual tour-de-force that requires no words to tell its universal tale. Author and illustrator Suzy Lee masterfully creates a world where a little girl explores and dances — at first cautiously, later exuberantly — with her reflection in the mirror. When discord between the girl and her reflection surfaces, Lee's unforgettable story provides a gentle reminder that our actions have consequences. A beautiful book sure to be embraced by the many fans of Wave, Suzy Lee's Mirror strengthens her growing reputation as one of the most exciting new authors to watch.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Suzy Lee
37 books135 followersSuzy Lee is an artist and illustrator, born in Seoul, Korea. She received her BFA in painting from Seoul National University and her MA in Book Arts from Camberwell College of Arts, London. Her books and paintings have won numerous international awards and have been featured in exhibitions worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 18, 2019
my word…
when did picture books become so bleak??
i mean, i'm all for it, but sheeeeeesh this is one beautiful little soul-killer.
for your children.
and don't believe what it says up there, that Lee's unforgettable story provides a gentle reminder that our actions have consequences. i mean, this book doesn't have any words in it, but words still exist, right? and "gentle" means "soft," "tender," "gradual?" and not "you will never sleep again because of the implications this book will breed in your child's still-growing skull?"
i love this book, but i think it would have broken my brain if i'd read it as a young'un, when this was enough to give me nightmares and a hero complex (spoiler tagged because it was giving me seizures, NOT because i was concerned about spoiling the ending of an a-ha video):
this is a well-designed book; it's a taller, thinner rectangle than usual, making it more mirror-like in shape, and the (really stunning) artwork takes place along the bottom half of the page which opens with a young girl alone and with a posture that implies sorrow and vulnerability:
until she discovers her mirror-twin and they begin a dance that ranges from shy and coquettish
to more joyful and exuberant, frequently suggestive of a rorschach test
until they merge in the center of the book
and then this happens:
and if you call that "gentle," i would like to check your crawlspace for bodies, ma'am.
it's a fantastic book whose use of empty space and ability to convey powerful emotions without the use of words is astonishing, but i feel like it might be super-traumatizing, right? just me?? am i the delicate flower in the room here? either way, i'm still going to read more from her. because i am grown and can handle it.
come to my blog!
when did picture books become so bleak??
i mean, i'm all for it, but sheeeeeesh this is one beautiful little soul-killer.
for your children.
and don't believe what it says up there, that Lee's unforgettable story provides a gentle reminder that our actions have consequences. i mean, this book doesn't have any words in it, but words still exist, right? and "gentle" means "soft," "tender," "gradual?" and not "you will never sleep again because of the implications this book will breed in your child's still-growing skull?"
i love this book, but i think it would have broken my brain if i'd read it as a young'un, when this was enough to give me nightmares and a hero complex (spoiler tagged because it was giving me seizures, NOT because i was concerned about spoiling the ending of an a-ha video):
this is a well-designed book; it's a taller, thinner rectangle than usual, making it more mirror-like in shape, and the (really stunning) artwork takes place along the bottom half of the page which opens with a young girl alone and with a posture that implies sorrow and vulnerability:
until she discovers her mirror-twin and they begin a dance that ranges from shy and coquettish
to more joyful and exuberant, frequently suggestive of a rorschach test
until they merge in the center of the book
and then this happens:
and if you call that "gentle," i would like to check your crawlspace for bodies, ma'am.
it's a fantastic book whose use of empty space and ability to convey powerful emotions without the use of words is astonishing, but i feel like it might be super-traumatizing, right? just me?? am i the delicate flower in the room here? either way, i'm still going to read more from her. because i am grown and can handle it.
come to my blog!
November 2, 2019
A little girl finds a mirror and tentatively looks at her reflection, soon she gains confidence and pulls faces, poses and dances. It would be fun to read this with a small child and watch their reaction when they notice the reflection has stopped being a mirror image! A lovely, fun book with no text, we loved the smudged charcoal drawings and the movement in the illustrations.
Bought this today from a library sale. Sadly it's one of those better quality books that haven't been taken out enough times so they get read of.
Bought this today from a library sale. Sadly it's one of those better quality books that haven't been taken out enough times so they get read of.
January 12, 2016
A really fine silent picture book that uses a mirror, duh, and mirroring to tell its tale about a girl who looks into and dances in the mirror. I think of that Marx Bros scene with Groucho and Harpo making a mirrored scene, which at one point made me think this is about a relationship between two friends who work together, and then, sadly, (mid-sentence spoiler alert!) don't. It still could be that, really, or about identity, your seeing yourself and being in sync with yourself. . . and then not.
At any rate, it's not as funny or as exhilarating as the Marx Bros scene (google it right now! I know I should have done that for you, but I am just not so much a gif or attachment person, as much as I enjoy it when others do that for me. . . sorry).
Okay, here it is, sigh, the Marx Bros Mirror scene, where will it all end?
https://youtu.be/j5lU52aWTJo
Isn't that hilarious? In somewhat contrast, Lee's Mirror is sort of sad or at least seriously thoughtful. The art is terrific, simple, with lots of contemplative space for you to spend a lot of time with it--a picture book without words--and try to figure it out. I liked it quite a bit and may add more thoughts as I engage with house kiddos about it.
At any rate, it's not as funny or as exhilarating as the Marx Bros scene (google it right now! I know I should have done that for you, but I am just not so much a gif or attachment person, as much as I enjoy it when others do that for me. . . sorry).
Okay, here it is, sigh, the Marx Bros Mirror scene, where will it all end?
https://youtu.be/j5lU52aWTJo
Isn't that hilarious? In somewhat contrast, Lee's Mirror is sort of sad or at least seriously thoughtful. The art is terrific, simple, with lots of contemplative space for you to spend a lot of time with it--a picture book without words--and try to figure it out. I liked it quite a bit and may add more thoughts as I engage with house kiddos about it.
January 20, 2019
An imaginative little girl dances joyfully and playfully with her mirror image. But what happens when the mirror image develops a mind of her own and no longer imitates the little girl, but does her own thing?
While I do much appreciate the main premise of Mirror and like Suzy Lee's simplicity of illustration (as wordless picture books that are too involved and ornate tend to distract and even sometimes rather confuse me), I really have not liked the ending of Mirror all that much (rather sad, and potentially even creepy, especially since in folklore and superstition, a broken mirror indicates seven years of bad luck). Still, Mirror is to be recommended, as precisely the rather problematic, basically not all that happy ending, would be and could be a great starting point for discussions and debates. And furthermore, I have also in the past used Suzy Lee's Wave for first year, novice language teaching (ESL, basic French and German), and while her Mirror is definitely and of course not quite as versatile as Wave, the antics of the little girl and her mirror image could still be used for basic verb conjugation activities (both present tense, but also past and imperfect tenses, and certainly much more fun and less tediously mundane than simply having students recite conjugations from memory as drills).
While I do much appreciate the main premise of Mirror and like Suzy Lee's simplicity of illustration (as wordless picture books that are too involved and ornate tend to distract and even sometimes rather confuse me), I really have not liked the ending of Mirror all that much (rather sad, and potentially even creepy, especially since in folklore and superstition, a broken mirror indicates seven years of bad luck). Still, Mirror is to be recommended, as precisely the rather problematic, basically not all that happy ending, would be and could be a great starting point for discussions and debates. And furthermore, I have also in the past used Suzy Lee's Wave for first year, novice language teaching (ESL, basic French and German), and while her Mirror is definitely and of course not quite as versatile as Wave, the antics of the little girl and her mirror image could still be used for basic verb conjugation activities (both present tense, but also past and imperfect tenses, and certainly much more fun and less tediously mundane than simply having students recite conjugations from memory as drills).
January 21, 2011
I first didn’t know what to make of this wordless picture book, but as I read on, I became impressed.
The illustrations are truly lovely. All of the illustrations did a wonderful job of eliciting emotions; the first/last pictures touched me the most, but some of the ones in the middle were really fun and funny.
The story can be looked at as a simple one of a girl playing in front of a mirror, something with which all children (and all adults with memories of their childhoods) can identify. It can also be evaluated and analyzed more deeply, and so I think this book can be enjoyed by readers/listeners of all ages groups developmental stages. I can also see using this book with children in a psychotherapeutic setting.
However, this book is more than a bit melancholy and, although it has some lighthearted parts, ultimately it’s not a cheerful story.
The illustrations are truly lovely. All of the illustrations did a wonderful job of eliciting emotions; the first/last pictures touched me the most, but some of the ones in the middle were really fun and funny.
The story can be looked at as a simple one of a girl playing in front of a mirror, something with which all children (and all adults with memories of their childhoods) can identify. It can also be evaluated and analyzed more deeply, and so I think this book can be enjoyed by readers/listeners of all ages groups developmental stages. I can also see using this book with children in a psychotherapeutic setting.
However, this book is more than a bit melancholy and, although it has some lighthearted parts, ultimately it’s not a cheerful story.
December 21, 2022
I think I actually gasped. I would not give this book to a child; this is some of the best horror I have ever seen. Would love to chat about it if anyone wants to read it and stop by.
November 30, 2019
Korean children's book artist Suzy Lee - whose
Wave
was selected by the New York Times as one of the Best Illustrated Children’s Books 2008 - delivers another astonishing wordless story in Mirror! A young girl, spying herself in a mirror, begins to play a game with her reflection: making faces, dancing joyfully, and generally hamming it up. But when the girl and her reflection start to go their separate ways, and their actions become less harmonious, there are some surprising results...
Although I am not always a huge fan of wordless picture-books - I can be won over, but it takes something pretty extraordinary - I thought that this made an engaging story. I can recall playing some silly games in front of the mirror myself, when I was a girl, so the images here really translated well for me. I liked the simplicity of Lee's art, which looks like it was done in black pencil, with some orange accents. I also really liked the design of the book, with facing pages representing the "real" world and the mirror one, and with large swathes of each page completely blank. Finally, I appreciated the fact that there was no "happy ending" here - just a brief, joyful interlude. All in all, I was very impressed, and will definitely make an effort to find some of Lee's other books!
Although I am not always a huge fan of wordless picture-books - I can be won over, but it takes something pretty extraordinary - I thought that this made an engaging story. I can recall playing some silly games in front of the mirror myself, when I was a girl, so the images here really translated well for me. I liked the simplicity of Lee's art, which looks like it was done in black pencil, with some orange accents. I also really liked the design of the book, with facing pages representing the "real" world and the mirror one, and with large swathes of each page completely blank. Finally, I appreciated the fact that there was no "happy ending" here - just a brief, joyful interlude. All in all, I was very impressed, and will definitely make an effort to find some of Lee's other books!
June 6, 2011
This wordless picture book is a little thin on story, but I love Lee's drawing style.
July 26, 2017
There was a resonance of dharmic teaching in this simple book - you reflect back what you are in both exterior and interior mirrors - and the difference between the two is often shattered.
November 18, 2010
E Lee
Very emotional wordless book. Sophisticated. Older kids can talk about what it makes them feel and what the girl(s) go through. Is the mirror image a metaphor for self? Friendship?
Probably only for older kids. I found it confusing,disturbing and nihilistic. AMF
Very emotional wordless book. Sophisticated. Older kids can talk about what it makes them feel and what the girl(s) go through. Is the mirror image a metaphor for self? Friendship?
Probably only for older kids. I found it confusing,disturbing and nihilistic. AMF
August 22, 2024
Moody and pretty. Very creepy. Is this for kids??
July 9, 2010
Is it a Rorschach test? I'd love to read Esme Codell and Elizabeth Bird's thoughts on this book.
July 2, 2019
C est une véritable artiste !!! J aime beaucoup ce qu'elle produit!!
May 24, 2013
I found this relatively short, wordless, picture book to be amazing. The book is about a girl looking at herself in the mirror and the art is stark and somehow so earnest. It presents this fascinating concept of not just looking at yourself in the mirror but also recognizing the image in the mirror as yourself. What if the image isn’t you? Even though it looks like you, acts like you and seems like you? How do you know? And when you break the mirror, are you also shattering? Fascinating sequences and beautiful art! Check it out.
November 10, 2010
Another fantastic wordless picture book from Lee. I really loved following the story, and, even though I was expecting some of the events in the tale, I was slightly confused as to what really happened. This will still be a great book for kids to tell the story with someone, but because it starts off so strong, I was expecting something more "clear." My own disappointment is probably the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars.
January 27, 2012
I like how Suzy Lee's books come full circle in the end. Her books are snapshots when the routine is changed for a split second.
All of her books require reflection. Why is the girl upset at the beginning of the book? Maybe because she has no one to play with? Then, she does. They get mad at each other. Then she is sad and alone again. The illustrations are gorgeous. I love the gray pencil/charcoal drawing with the bursts of color when something magical happens.
All of her books require reflection. Why is the girl upset at the beginning of the book? Maybe because she has no one to play with? Then, she does. They get mad at each other. Then she is sad and alone again. The illustrations are gorgeous. I love the gray pencil/charcoal drawing with the bursts of color when something magical happens.
November 25, 2011
Drawn to the cover and the size of the book, I picked this up while shopping for the Library.
I finished it quickly, as there are no words, and the story was so wonderful. It has so much potential to be used for inferring.
I recommend this to all those who are waiting to dance the dance that is inside of them.
I finished it quickly, as there are no words, and the story was so wonderful. It has so much potential to be used for inferring.
I recommend this to all those who are waiting to dance the dance that is inside of them.
June 7, 2010
The most existential children's book. Wordless. Surreal. Perfect.
June 25, 2010
Nicely done! My 2.5 year old son really enjoys this book. He can't get enough of looking at the pictures (great illustration).
June 26, 2010
It's only the mirror, which take out the sad feelings out of my body.
A "wise" wordless picture book.
A "wise" wordless picture book.
October 25, 2010
No words. Simple charcoal drawings tell a story of a young girls interest in her reflection in the mirror.
February 12, 2011
Wordless picture book. Simple but good to look closely at the development of the pictures.
April 2, 2011
Another amazing wordless book by Suzy Lee ( check out Shadow). Simple but memorable!
April 19, 2016
Fun. Great stances/expressions.
October 18, 2011
It made me chuckle in the library. :D
February 28, 2023
Me encanta. 🥰
October 10, 2018
Todo lo que destruimos cuando nos dejamos llevar por el deseo de control. No recuerdo la última vez que un libro me destruyó el corazón así. Brutal y hermoso.
April 29, 2024
I mean, another -this time almost- crying in the middle of the bookstore bc of a goddmamn children's books. Yep.
October 29, 2025
Uma menina brinca com o que vê no espelho, a fronteira entre a realidade e o reflexo é o meio do livro, a divisão das páginas. Até que numa dessas, ela entra no espelho! E ao sair, ela e a sua versão refletida já não fazem mais a mesma coisa. Genial e profundo, como a maioria dos livros de Suzy Lee
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2015
A picture book with no words, and I LOVED it. The illustrations are so easy to follow, and you can just what the author means with the title mirror. I looked this book several times, and is perfect to show students that stories can be told without words at times. This is a perfect book to use to introduce how pictures alone can tell a story. It would be fun to use this book in groups to see just what interpretations each group has, or to allow the students to write the story for this little girl. I can't wait to get my own copy of this book. A must have for all classrooms.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews