Mirror

by Jeannie Baker

Two diverse countries and cultures are linked with warmth and charm in this two-in-one picture book. This innovative picture book comprises two stories designed to be read simultaneously - one from the left, the other from the right. Page by page, we experience the lives of two little boys - one from an urban family in Sydney, Australia, the other from Morocco. From busy motorways to desert landscapes, these worlds couldn't be further apart. Yet with the journey of a homemade Moroccan carpet into the Australian boy's home, we can see how these separate lives become intertwined. At the book's conclusion, the family in Sydney can be seen enjoying their new purchase together while the Moroccan family are surfing the internet. A powerful book, "Mirror" illustrates how our lives reflect each other and that we are all, even in some small way, connected. It features innovative dual-book format, effectively communicating the way people's experiences and values are shared, despite geographical and cultural differences. The essential story is conveyed wordlessly, while the short introduction and author's note appear in both English and Arabic. There is a keystone in the vital bridge across the East-West gap.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cultural, Family, Nonfiction, Australia, Geography

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Jeannie Baker is the author-illustrator of a number of children’s picture books, including the critically celebrated Mirror and the award-winning Where the Forest Meets the Sea. Born in England, she now lives in Australia.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful idea for a story. This book opens on both sides and meets in the middle. A boy in Australia and a boy in Morocco both start the day. As you turn the pages you see their families, what they eat, their surroundings, it's fun to spot the differences and the similarities. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed, there is so much to see. I like the way their lives are linked at the end. I would like to see more books like this, turning the two pages at once was an interesting way to read a story.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The collage illustrations in this book are amazing. The textures make everything look so real. And it’s the pictures that tell the story as this is a virtually wordless picture book.

These two intersecting stories are not exactly mirrors of each other so I don’t know that it’s got an ideal title, though the author’s note at the end does explain it, and I enjoyed seeing the inhabitants and scenery in the two settings: the Valley of Roses in southern Morocco and Sydney, Australia, the latter being the author-illustrator’s home.

As a child I’d have carefully poured over these pictures, over and over again. The story of the differences and similarities of the two families is interesting.

This isn’t my very favorite Jeannie Baker book but I did enjoy it.

It did take a bit of dexterity and some light acrobatics to read this though. The reader has to hold the right and left sides of the book and turn pages on each side in order to simultaneously look at the pages side by side.

Particularly enjoyed the depictions of the dog and cat and of some of the clothes, surprisingly with the latter, not at all surprised by the former.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wordless book about two families - worlds apart - but maybe not so different after all.

Worth checking out for the author's collage artwork alone.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked the idea and the set-up more than the actual artwork and story portrayed, but it is a great idea and a very cool set-up, so it's definitely worth checking out :-) Also, I'm not sure I've encountered any books told with Arabic and English (as I have seen with some Spanish-and-English side-by-side books) so that makes this a great addition to multilingual homes and schools.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second wordless picture-book I have 'read' from immensely talented Australian children's author/artist Jeannie Baker - the first was the marvelous Home - this innovative book is really two stories in one. Or rather, two iterations of the same basic story, that mirror one another. Opening on both sides, Mirror chronicles the day in the life of two boys: one living in Sydney, Australia, the other in Morocco's Valley of the Roses. These tales are obvious companion pieces, meant to be read together, in their facing page foldouts, and they follow their two young protagonists through days that are both similar and dissimilar. The clothing they wear and the food they eat may be different, but both begin the day by dressing, and by having the breakfasts prepared by their mothers. Their modes of transportation may be different, but both accompany their father into a public marketplace, of sorts, to conduct the business of either buying and selling - a process that turns out to be connected, despite the distance lying between Morocco and Australia. A wonderful, thought-provoking book, one that can teach about both human diversity and unity, Mirror is printed (title, introduction, afterword) in English on one side, and Arabic on the other, making this a book that truly can be appreciated by people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Highly recommend to anyone looking for children's books about the world's diverse peoples, and those things that tie us together - think books like Children Just Like Me , or My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World - or to fans of Jeannie Baker, and wordless picture-books.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than brilliant! Baker has really created something special. The book opens up into two books. Each mini-book showcases a family doing similar things, like a mirror with two perspectives. One perspective is that of a family living in Australia and the other perspective is a family from Morocco.

I love learning about other cultures and this is a unique way to show that while both cultures are different, they still partake in the same things. So neat!

[Alice Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a clever wordless picture book that showcases a literal 'mirroring' of two very different cultures - Western and Moroccan. It's unique because the stories being shown, for example families eating together, are the same activity but the way in which it is done is different. This shows children the similarities and differences in our culture compared to others and challenges stereotypes about people's lives.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's testament to this book that I forked out $40 for it (caught at a weak moment at some great south coast local bookstores). But I'm glad I did because the pictures and the message are fantastic. Something I'm confident I'll want to come back to and share with others.

The book follows a day in the life of a family in Sydney and a family in Morocco. When you open the book, two inner books sit side by side, one opening left to right (the Sydney story), and one opening right to left (the Morocco story), inviting you to read them side by side, thus highlighting the similarities and differences in the lives of the two families.

The pictures are beautiful collages, and highlight the different environments we live in. It makes me wistful about other ways of living. I am however caught in a consumeristic western cycle (as evidence by this $40 purchase). But it also makes me reflect on the similarities in the lives of people all over the world - we're all just family members at the end of the day.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this unique book, the story of a family in Australia is paralleled with a family in Morocco using side-by-side open-out texts, the story entirely told in Baker's unique artwork. Her collages are fascinating in their detail, and I found myself wondering at times, how she created this or that effect. Fortunately, there is a note at the end on the materials she used, and a photo that shows the actual size of these pictures--all the more amazing, given their intricate details. The pictures follow the lives of two boys and their families in their respective countries. What I liked is when their lives, unbeknownst to them, began to intersect. Very clever, a treat for the eyes. Recommended!

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read Mirror a few years ago and love the fact that Jeannie Baker progressed in her work to a point where she shares the story behind the story at the end of the book and leaves the rest, wordless. This is a dual narrative story in which we see the lives of two children being lived out within a single day. One child is from Baker's home, Sydney and the other is set in the Valley of Roses, Morocco. Told through painfully detailed collage, the idea of reading the book is that you turn over both story pages at the same time to get a mirror image of both stories. The contrast and comparison offers an absolutely fascinating ground for discussion around culture and tolerance.

[Agnė · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very clever concept and book format/design. Also, the amount of detail in Jeannie Baker's collage constructions is breathtaking:

[Michelle (driftingsong) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is GORGEOUS! The art style is so textured and there's so many interesting things to look at. When you open the book one side is (the left) opens like an English book and contains a day in the life of an Australian, while the right opens like an Arabic book and contains a day in the life of a Moroccon. If you ever have a chance to "read" (admire the gorgeousness) of this book than do so, it is well worth your time!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeannie Baker does it again. She creates two worlds, side by side, one that of a family living in a city in Australia, and the other that of a family living in Morocco, North Africa, with beautiful collages. Every image of life in Australia is reflected on an adjacent page with life in Morocco. The contrasts are fascinating but the similarities remind us that we are united as human beings.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book attempts to compare life in Australia with life in Morocco. Unfortunately, the author doesn't compare similar economic groups between the two cultures, thus not rendering an equivalent comparison. Also, the weaving of the carpet made by the Moroccan family ending up in the Australian home as a 'magic carpet' seems very inappropriate and culturally insensitive.

[Agnes U · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great idea for the way the book opens; insulting message of poverty and wealth distribution and people's worth of work. However, it is often the case that we buy goods which are pricey despite the fact that are made with diligence and hard work by people of different minorities and who earn themselves very little for the goods they make. Perhaps the message is intentional?

[Jemma Routledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The images in this book are artfully made and tell the two 'mirrored' stories beautifully. It is important to know how both cultures read books to fully understand the stories as the first time I read the Moroccan half I read the pictures as if I was reading a British book and therefore struggled to make sense of the story. however after realising this it made a lot more sense.

[Beth Pollard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a clever, thought-provoking book! I loved how the two stories ran parallel to each other - this offers an amazing opportunity for discussion around culture, difference, and the links between lives that seem so far apart. The collage illustrations really create a sense of reality, and help the reader to associate the book with the real lives of people in Australia and Morocco.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is two (wordless) books in one that you read side by side, comparing a family in Australia with one in Morocco. My four-year-old son was very impressed with the double book. I liked the mixed media illustrations.

[Gabriella Carvell-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing picture book that portrays the difference between two young boys and the life they each live. However, although it shows they are different, there are some things that connect them.
This book would be great for group discussions.

[Jane Scholey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Baker - she tells a story like few others can. Very talented.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool idea for a picture if a bit weird. It's basically two wordless collage books that you open simultaneously. And parallel lives are shown. But I wasn't a big fan of the art. And it is a rare wordless book that I like though I do like some lots. So kind of a swing and a miss. But a cool one.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“wow” book!

[Rhiannon Hancox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful wordless book. A picture really does tell a thousand words. Side by side are two totally different lives and worlds that are so interesting to look in to.

[Brittney Finck · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s fair to say that Jeannie Baker went way beyond any criteria requirement with her story of two cultures, Mirror. The quality is unbelievable until you pick up the book and check it out for yourself. You will truly be amazed, as was I, and that is why I believe Mirror by Jeannie Baker would be a great candidate for the Honor award in the Notable Books for a Global Society category. There are many reasons that Baker deserves this award and as soon as the book is open the reader will understand why she is so deserving.
Mirror by Jeannie Baker is actually two stories based on two different cultures. The style and language are both unique in the book Mirror. I had never seen a book with this format before. The story is told twice, at the same time. The English side opens as Americans are used to and the story is meant to be enjoyed by flipping the pages to the left. The Arabic side opens as the Arabians are used to and the story is meant to be enjoyed by flipping the pages to the right. The author, Jeannie Baker, intended for each picture to be thoroughly analyzed and compared. The style is great as there are no words, only comparable pictures made from collages. Each picture is unique and beautiful in it’s own way.
In terms of physical characteristics, Baker was able to capture the uniqueness of two cultures in one book. The clothes can easily be compared. The Americans are all in very different clothes while the Arabians dress in different head coverings of similar fabrics. It is clear in both stories that family is important.
In terms of social and economic status, Baker made comparing the two very simple for the reader again. On the American side, a family travels to town via car. They are forced to wait for traffic and construction. On the Arabian side, a family travels through the desert on camel, avoiding the hassle of traffic and construction altogether. The social and economic status of the Arabians isn’t necessarily more poor on accident, rather, I believe it is more simple on purpose.
All of the rich, cultural details can be found within the pictures. The Americans travel to stores to buy food whereas the Arabians use their farming and bartering skills to survive. The Arabians are able to keep themselves busy through the struggle to survive yet they have the same technologies as Americans.
I was able to flip through the pages of this story numerous times. The collages are absolutely beautiful as well as the cultural focus. There is so much to look at in this story that it must be flipped through and analyzed more than once. It is easy to forget, as Americans, what is happening in the world around us. Jeannie Baker was able to mirror the lives of Americans with the lives of the Arab people in an insanely unique way.

[Paloma Calvillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wordless picture book Mirror by Jeannie Baker is about the lives of two boys and their families that live very different yet somehow the same lives. One boy lives in Australia while the other lives in Morocco. The book goes through the boys lives to show how differences in the way they live, but how some things connect them. This is a great book that I think all kids would enjoy because of how different the format of it is and it really tells an important story without actually using any words.

The setting of the book is clearly depicted on the first page. It shows one boy living in a city while the other lives in a desert giving the reader the evidence that these two boys are in different places of the world.The tone is very different on the different sides of the book. The side of the book to the left featuring the boy in Australia is more fast paced and exciting because of all the people, the cars, and the hustle and bustle of the city that they are a part of. While the right side is more calm and peaceful because of the desert land, the minimal people around, and the praying.

The modality of the illustrations are pretty low, but in a great way that adds uniqueness and character to the pictures. Every illustration was made as a collage things like wood and fabric. It almost made the pictures come to life more because there were made with real materials. Composition zones were used in a very different way as well. When you open the book it is almost like two book in one because instead of the pages coming together at the spine of the book the pages open to the left and right like the pages are mirroring each other, hence the name of the book.

The way this book is formatted definitely changed the way I read it because it was more about looking at the photos on each side and pointing out the differences and the similarities and using your own thoughts to figure it out. There were no words to actually tell you what was going on and I think that a book like this that was very important because it is good for kids to understand and realize that there are kids just like them living their lives in different parts of the world, but somehow their daily lives are very similar. Having kids thinking of that on their own I believe will open them to thinking about life outside themselves and what they are used to.

[Esperanza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, Mirror, by Jeannie Baker is very unique, there are two sides to the book that mirror each other. The left side of the book takes place in Australia and reads left-to-right. The right side takes place in Morocco and reads right-to-left as books are read in Morocco. The stories show the lives of two families from each of the countries. It starts with the morning routines for each of the families, then it shows what seems to be their daily commute, in Australia, they are in a car stuck in traffic and in Morocco, they are riding a donkey through the desert. Next it shows each of the families shopping and we see how different each are. Finally, we see how the two families eat dinner and end their night.

I chose to read this book because as I said, it is very unique, also, I am a quarter Moroccan and I love learning more about the culture since I don’t know much. Overall, I love learning about new cultures and making connects between them as were shown in this book when the families eat and spend time together.

Motif was used in this book multiple times, the first is with a rug that appears many time on both sides of the story, the other is the moon that appears on both sides of the story, this shows that although these two stories take place in two completely different places, they still share some of the same things. Typography is another element that is used in the beginning of the book when on the right side, the text on the first couple of pages is in Arabic and also is read from right-to-left. One visual element used in the book is modality, the illustration in the book is sort of a cross between realistic and cartoon, it makes the book more realistic and easier to comprehend but also entertaining and interesting to look at. Salience is another visual element that was used, again the moon showed this; it is bright and up higher so the reader's eye is drawn to it. The moon standing out allows for the reader to make the connection that the moon appears wherever you are on Earth.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirror creatively expresses the similarities that humans share, despite difference of culture, race, or geography. Despite being wordless (save for a short introduction in both English and Arabic, as well as an outro/about page), she eloquently builds parallels between two different families across the globe (one in Australia, the other in Morocco) through her seemingly 3-dimensional collages. The pictures are laid out in a comic panel effect that serves as the descriptive and narrative leaders as we watch the daily routine of the two families and the inherent similarities that appear in spite of dramatically different settings.

Response
The 3-dimensional effect of the images gives life to this book. While the author does share that she initially constructed 3D collages for the pages, their 2-dimensional rendering still holds a tactile quality. Even without words, Baker manages to lead the story with her descriptive and narrative artwork. We watch as daily routine is narrated in the largest panels: the two families preparing breakfast, or shopping; and smaller panels are utilized to explore these everyday endeavors more in-depth and plays to our senses: close ups of a brick and hammer, a cat bowl, a car parked next too a tree, or close ups hands collecting eggs, kneading dough, or carrying a sack over a shoulder. The backgrounds of the images are mostly blank spaces, making the images seem much more cavernous and helping the reader focus on the subjects. In cases where the background is displayed in detail appear to only be when the outside scenery comes into play: for instance the desert or the Sydney skyline; or when time is an important factor in the activities taking place (morning and night routines).

[Brianna Deines]

1.Text to world connection- Since this book has two stories about different places/cultures that relate to real world events I think text to world connection would be accurate.

2. Mirror does a nice job offering multiple perspectives and values for different cultures. The story is told side by side for one family in Australia and one family in North Africa. Throughout the story each culture is compared showing the different perspectives offered.

3.
-Remembering
Name two differences between the families.

-Understanding
How would you characterize the two different lifestyles of the different families?

-Applying
Think of a situation/event from the story. Has something like that occurred in your life? What did you do or could have done?

-Analyzing
What is the biggest difference between the Australia family and the North African family?

-Evaluating
Would the book have been better if it used different families instead the the two? Possibly families from other countries? What would you suggest?

-Creating
What changes would you make to the story? Compare families/cultures that speak the same language or possibly compare more than 2 different families/cultures?

[Carolynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeannie Baker has done it again! Like _Window_, a beautifully crafted wordless picture book that packs a wallop! In this book two families, one in Australia and one in the Moroccan desert, go about their everyday business, eating breakfast, traveling, parking, going to the market, buying something special which is poignantly used in the final frames. Pictures that cleverly fold out from each side eloquently reveal the external differences and inner parallels that constitute their lives. And in the end each family unknowingly gets a glimpse into the lives of the other family.
This time the author gives us an explanatory note at the end (in English and in Arabic). Here's an excerpt from the note (in English!): "Like each other, we live to be loved by family and friends, and be part of a larger family, a community. Inwardly we are so alike, it could be each other we see when we look in a mirror."
The collage illustrations use a variety of materials: sand, earth, clay, paints, vegetation, paper, fabric, wool, tin, and plastic on a wooden base.
Don't miss this one!

[Lauren Neely]

This picture book compares a life in the day of two boys from two very different cultures: one from Sydney, Australia, and the other from a small village in Morocco. The book sets these characters up side by side so the reader can see how their lives contrast one another. I would first have students work in groups to create words for each picture. Through this activity, students would be making inferences based on the pictures as well as practicing seeing from multiple perspectives. Afterwards, I would have students share their stories and do a write-up about what the writing process was like: was it easier to write for one character over the other? Why? Was the activity overall difficult or fairly easy? From here, we would share our thoughts as as a whole-class, and I would emphasize the importance of seeing from multiple perspectives rather than just our own. Even though many of the students could probably relate better to the young boy from Australia, it was important that the students at least attempted to see through the eyes of someone from a different culture than our own.