shel silverstein

Shel Silverstein

A great, American author and poet

By Ms. Hill

The Man Himself:

His Children’s Books: Lafcadio The Lion Who Shot Back

The Giving Tree

Where the Sidewalk Ends

A Giraffe and a Half

The Missing Piece

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O

A Light in the Attic

Falling Up

Runny Babbit

Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?

Don’t Bump the Glump!

Click on a book cover to learn more about the book

Lafcadio the Lion Who Shot Back

“The hunted learns about being a hunter in this thought-provoking fable by Shel Silverstein. Follow the story of

the strange lion, who becomes an excellent marksman, leaving the jungle behind to become

famous and wealthy. The only problem is, when he gets to be the best shot in the world, he's not sure where he belongs anymore. Is he human or still an

animal?”

http://www.kidsreads.com/features/0204-silverstein-titles.asp

Click on the band aids to go back to the book list



The Giving Tree

“This beautifully written book is a heartwarming, yet sometimes sad, story about the gift of love that will move readers of all ages. It follows a young boy's life as he plays in the tree, sits in her shade and eats her apples --- all gifts the tree is happy to bestow. Eventually the boy becomes a man and wants even more from the generous tree. As both continue to grow older, the inspiring verses of THE GIVING TREE offer words of wisdom about unselfish love and the true meaning of giving.”




Where the Sidewalk Ends

“The poetry featured in Shel Silverstein's WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS opens the door to an imaginative land where upside down looks right side up and a boy turns into a TV set! Have you met Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout --- who refuses to take the garbage out? What about Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too? And can you draw an invisible picture like the one found in this book? Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of Shel Silverstein where anything is possible and the unlikely is likely to happen! WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS is an outstanding collection of poetry and illustrations to make you think and giggle. So come on --- come inside the poetry of Shel Silverstein and see what you find!”





A Giraffe and a Half

"If you had a giraffe . . .and he stretched another half . . .you would have a giraffe and a half . . .”

“What a strange sight that would be! And just the kind of merriment you'd expect in this charming tale that will tickle your funny bone. This silly giraffe spends his day gathering up some unusual things like a rat in his hat, a chair in his hair and glue on his shoe. The rhyming pattern makes this a great way for younger children to learn about the most common form of poetry. And it's fun to follow along and try to guess what's coming next!”





The Missing Piece

“Silverstein uses simple lines and shapes on stark white pages to show a circle looking for its "missing piece." As it travels across land and sea, it sings a song of the places it's been. Although the search is long and sometimes tough, reflecting the fact that getting what you want in life isn't always easy, there's plenty of fun things to see along the way.”





The Missing Piece Meets the Big O

“In this companion book to THE MISSING PIECE, the wedge-shaped piece has trouble getting along on its own. In fact, the missing piece wants someone to help it along. Then the big O, a circle, shows the wedge how it can create its own momentum. Kids and adults alike love this fable.”





A Light in the Attic

“"Whatif" echoes what Shel Silverstein wanted all his poetry to achieve: Make children think, dream, and have the courage to imagine the fantastic. How can you resist with poems like "The Meehoo With An Exactlywatt?" This collection contains a whole world of new characters to spark your imagination like Backward Bill, Sour Face Ann, or Mr. Smeds and Mr. Spats. You can climb mountains, ride a bucking bronco, or paint the spots on a leopard --- if you dare! Inside A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC you'll find Silverstein's delightful illustrations, too, like a walrus wearing braces and a hippo trying to fly. And if you've ever dreamed of having something to do your homework for you, try the "Homework Machine." But be careful. You may get more --- or less --- than you bargained for!”




Falling Up

“Shel Silverstein's "New World" is a perfect example of his dare-to-dream poetry for children. On these pages filled with fun-to-say poems and playful wording you'll meet Headphone Harry, the Terrible Toy-Eating Tookle, Screamin' Millie and many more wild, unforgettable characters. You'll learn how to grow a garden of noses, dance in the rain, and play jacks with a cat. You'll find out what to do about those annoying folks like Complaining Jack and what happens to the child known as the Spoiled Brat. Most of all, you'll just enjoy the humor and wisdom of Shel Silverstein as you thumb through the magical poems and imaginative drawings that fill the pages of FALLING UP.”





Runny Babbit

”This self-proclaimed "billy sook" is a fun-filled new (published after death) offering from children's poet Shel Silverstein, creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and other favorites. Completed prior to the poet's death in 1999, Runny Babbit was a work in progress for more than 20 years, and is populated by the likes of Runny Babbit, Toe Jurtle, Ploppy Sig, Polly Dorkupine, and Pilly Belican, where letter-flipping runs rampant. Capture the Flag is Fapture the Clag. Each poem incorporates the same kind of switcheroo wordplay.”

http://www.amazon.com/Runny-Babbit-Billy-Shel-Silverstein/dp/0060284048




Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?

“Looking for a new pet? Bored with cats, dogs, goldfish, gerbils, and hamsters? How about a cheap rhinoceros? Shel Silverstein's loving look at the joys of rhino ownership may convince you to be the one lucky kid to take home this very, very unusual pet.”

http://www.amazon.com/Wants-Cheap-Rhinoceros-Shel-Silverstein/dp/1416996133/ref=pd_sim_b_2/181-2442607-0148818





Don’t Bump the Glump!

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/play.asp


http://www.shelsilverstein.com/play.asp

The Life of Shel Silverstein: Shel was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 25,

1932.

He was divorced and had one daughter.

Silverstein started writing when he was twelve years old.

He really wanted to play sports with other kids, but had no athletic ability.

He would rather spend time with the girls, but they didn’t find interest in him, so he started to write.

“When I was a kid - 12, 14, around there - I would much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls. But I couldn't play ball, I couldn't dance... So, I started to draw and to write.”

• http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Shel-Silverstein

http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Shel-Silverstein


The Korean War and Playboy:

During the 1950s, Shel Silverstein was a member of the U.S. army serving in Japan and Korea.

While in the army, Shel became a cartoonist for the “Pacific Stars and Stripes”, part of the Pacific military newspaper “Stars and Stripes”.

Once home, Silverstein began working as a cartoonist for Playboy magazine in 1956.

• Works included:

“The Winner”

“Rosalie’s Good Eats Café”

“The Smoke-Off”

“Playboy’s Teevee Jeebies”

“More Playboy’s Teevee Jeebies: Do-It-Yourself Dialogue for the Late Late Show”

While drawing cartoons for Playboy and other adult magazines, he also wrote plays and songs.

• “A Boy Named Sue” : Written for Johnny Cash

• “The Cover of the Rollin’ Stone” : Written for Dr. Hook

• Music for the film : Postcards from the Edge : nominated for Academy Award and Golden Globe Award in 1981

Writing for Children:

“I never planned to write or draw for kids. It was Tomi Ungerer, a friend of mine, who insisted... practically dragged me, kicking and screaming, into [editor] Ursula Nordstrom's office. And she convinced me that Tomi was right, I could do children's books.” --- Shel Silverstein

• http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Shel-Silverstein

In 1963, Tomi Ungerer introduced Silverstein to Ursula Nordstrom, who persuaded Shel to become a children’s writer.

Silverstein showed Nordstrom his manuscript for a book which became his first book, Lafcadio the Lion Who Shot Back, in 1963.



Becoming a Famous Children’s Poet:

In 1964, Silverstein became famous as a child writer, after the publication of The Giving Tree.

• Originally, the book was rejected by William Cole.

He thought the book was between children and adults’ literature and wouldn’t sell.

• However, it became a hit for both children and adults.

Composing:

The Late 1960s:

• “A Boy Named Sue” : Sung by Johnny Cash in 1969

• “One’s on the Way”

• “The Unicorn” : Sung by Irish Rovers

• “Boa Constrictor”

• “So Good to So Bad”

• Sylvia’s Mother” : Sung by Dr. Hook in 1972

• “The Great Conch Train Robbery”

• “Yes, Mr. Rogers”

Singing: Albums Recorded by OthersFreakin’ at the Freaker’s Ball (Columbia 1972)

Sloppy Seconds (Columbia 1972)

Dr. Hook (Columbia 1972)

Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends, and Lies (the Songs of Shel Silverstein) (RCA Victor 1973)

More Books: 1974: Where the Sidewalk Ends: a collection of poems for

children

• Won:

New York Times Outstanding Book Award in 1974

• Compared to the likes of Dr. Seuss and Edward Lear: humorous poems such as “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout / Would Not Take the Garbage Out", "Dreadful" and "Band-Aids“.

1976: The Missing Piece

1981: The Missing Piece Meets the Big O

1981: A Light in the Attic: a collection of poems for children

• Won:

Best Books, School Library Journal in 1981

1996: Falling Up

Plays:

In 1981, Silverstein began to focus more on writing adult plays.

One of his best known is “The Lady or the Tiger Show” from 1981.

• In a group of one-act plays called “Wild Life” (1983).

Silverstein also worked with David Mamet on the screenplay for the 1988 movie “Things Change”.

Death and Legacy of Shel Silverstein:Shel Silverstein passed away on May 10, 1999 from a heart

attack in Key West, Florida.

“Silverstein's flair for fun, tinged with a bit of naughtiness, makes his books enormously popular with kids.”

“More than 18 million copies of his books sold around the world”

“Books translated into 20 different languages”

http://www.kidsreads.com/features/0204-silverstein-author.asp



Fast Facts: 4 years to get The Giving Tree published:

• Sad ending

• Appeal to readers of all ages

Hard to categorize

Narration of his poetry collection Where the Sidewalk Ends:

• Grammy for Best Children's Album

Poetry won numerous awards and honors:

• ALA Notable Children's Book Award

• New York Times Outstanding Children's Book

• Association of Booksellers for Children Notable Titles

• Library of Congress Children's Book selectionhttp://www.kidsreads.com/features/0204-silverstein-facts.asp

http://www.kidsreads.com/features/0204-silverstein-facts.asp

http://www.kidsreads.com/features/0204-silverstein-facts.asp

shel silverstein

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