Shel Silverstein (1930–1999)

Author of The Giving Tree

111+ Works 73,302 Members 2,581 Reviews 153 Favorited

About the Author

The most popular current writer of humorous verse for children, Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois, has been married and divorced, has one daughter, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. His career includes composing popular songs, drawing cartoons, writing many adult articles show more (several for Playboy), and acting. However, he is best known for his self-illustrated children's poetry. His first such book was Uncle Shelby's Story of Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back (1963), the humorous tale of a lion who turns the tables on hunters. It was followed by The Giving Tree (1964), a story of a parentlike tree that gives endlessly and is endlessly used by its son. Several other such picture books followed, including The Missing Piece (1976), about a circle that goes in search of a missing piece, and its sequel, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O (1981). However, two collections of poetry are probably his best-loved work: Where the Sidewalk Ends: The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein (1974), and A Light in the Attic (1981). All of Silverstein's poetry for children employs the language play common to Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Silverstein is probably the best of the contemporary nonsense poets for children. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: Shl Slvrstn, Shel Silvertein, Shel Silversein, Shel Silvertein, Shel Silvestein, Shel Siverstein, Shel Silerstein, Shel Silverstin, Silverstein Shel, Shel Silverstain, Shel Silverstien, Shel Silverstien, Shel Silverstein, shel silversteen, shel silverstine, Shel Sliverstein, Shell Silverstien, SIilverstein Shel, Shell Silverstein, Shell Silverstein, 谢尔·希尔弗斯坦, של סילברסטין, של סילברסטיין, Illustrator-Shel Silverstein, By (author) Shel Silverstein, Шел Силверстайн, シェル・シルヴァスタイン, Shel; Illus Silverstein Silverstein, Shel, Shel(Author) ; Silverstein Silverstein, Shel(Illustrator)

Series

The Missing Piece

Runny Babbit

Works by Shel Silverstein

Popular Recent

The Giving Tree (1964) 18,861 copies

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings (1974) 15,889 copies

A Light in the Attic: Poems and Drawings (1981) 10,712 copies

Falling Up: Poems and Drawings (1996) 7,906 copies

Where the Sidewalk Ends Special Edition with 12 Extra Poems (2004) 4,696 copies

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook (2005) 2,516 copies

The Missing Piece (1976) 2,223 copies

A Giraffe and a Half (1657) — Cover artist, some editions; Illustrator — 1,792 copies

Every Thing On It (2011) 1,562 copies

A Light in the Attic Special Edition with 12 New Poems (2009) 1,327 copies

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O (1981) 1,232 copies

Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back (1963) 1,008 copies

Don't Bump the Glump!: And Other Fantasies (1964) 732 copies

Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Adults Only (1961) 724 copies

Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? (1964) 715 copies

Arbor Alma/the Giving Tree (2002) 241 copies

Runny Babbit Returns: Another Billy Sook (2017) 223 copies

Different Dances 25th Anniversary Edition (1979) 193 copies

Falling Up Special Edition: With 12 New Poems (2015) 129 copies

Where the Sidewalk Ends / Every Thing On It (2016) 111 copies

An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein - Acting Edition (2003) 78 copies

Playboy's Silverstein Around the World (2007) 68 copies

Shel Silverstein: Poems and Drawings: Slipcase 3-Book Box Set (1974) — Author — 67 copies

Draw a Skinny Elephant (1999) 44 copies

Shel's Shorts (2003) 29 copies

Where the sidewalk ends 15 copies

The Giving Tree [1973 animated short film] (1973) 14 copies

Playboy's Teevee Jeebies (1963) 11 copies

Now Heres My Pln P (1690) 10 copies

Hamlet as Told on the Street 10 copies

Shel Silverstein Stories and Drawings: The Giving Tree / A Giraffe and a Half (1992) 9 copies

Take Ten (1955) 9 copies

Grab Your Socks! (1956) 8 copies

Where the sidewalkd ends & Falling up (2021) 8 copies

More Playboy's Teevee Jeebies (1965) 6 copies

Shel Silverstein 4 Book Set- Where the Sidewalk Ends, a Light in the Atic, Falling Up, and Runny Babbit (1974) 6 copies

Falling up (Audio) 5 copies

Best of Shel Silverstein (2005) 4 copies

Dirty Feet: A Collection Of Songs By Shel Silverstein [Songbook] (1969) 4 copies

Shel Silverstein - Freakin At The Freakers Ball by Shel Silverstein (2013-04-02) (1972) 4 copies

Uncle Shelby's Scout Handbook 3 copies

Shel Silverstein Pack 2 Book Set: Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic (2014) 3 copies

A Light in the Attic 1981 publication. 3 copies

新装　ぼくを探しに (1979) 3 copies

Playboy Magazine | August 1965 | Jo Collins (1965) 3 copies

Girafa e Tanto, Uma 3 copies

I'm Checkin' Out 3 copies

Open your eyes and tickle your mind with shel silverstein 2 copies

Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe 2 copies

The Smoke-Off 2 copies

My Enemy 2 copies

The Guilty Party 2 copies

For What She Had Done 2 copies

Fuja do Garabuja - e outros seres fantasticos (Em Portugues do Brasil) (2019) 2 copies

Two Books by Shel Silverstein: Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up 2 copies

Never Bite a Married Woman on the Thigh 2 copies

Uncle Shelby's Kiddie Corner 2 copies

The Unicorn (1968) 2 copies

Ned Kelly: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] 2 copies

The Giving Tree / A Light in the Attic / Where the Sidewalk Ends 2 copies

The giving tree & other Shel Silverstein songs (1992) 2 copies

A Light In The Attic, Falling Up, The Missing Piece and Lafcadio (4 Book Set) 2 copies

It's the World's Gone Crazy 2 copies

The giving tree c.3 1 copy

Rare Shel Silverstein UNCLE SHELBY'S ABZ BOOK Simon & Schuster 1985 8th Printing [Hardcover] Shel Silverstein 1 copy

[By Shel Silverstein] A Light in the Attic Special Edition with 12 Extra Poems Special Edition-[Hardcover] Best selling… 1 copy

Giving Tree - Korean edition (1994) 1 copy

Two Books by Shel Silverstein: Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up 1 copy

Shel Silverstein: Poems and Drawings (where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic & Falling Up) 3 Volume Set with… 1 copy

The giving tree c.1 1 copy

The giving tree c.2 1 copy

Inside Folk Songs (2008) 1 copy

The Giving tree 1 copy

The Enemy 1 copy

“Sick” 1 copy

Der Glomp, der Glomp und anderer Pomp 1 copy

Wer will ein billiges Nashorn? 1 copy

Der Bankräuber und andere liebenswerte Zeitgenossen 1 copy

[‎‎0060572345] [978-0060572341] A book Where the Sidewalk Ends: Special Edition (12 Extra Poems) Silverstein… 1 copy

Pat Dailey Sings Shel Silverstein's Underwater Land 1 copy

The New Frankie and Johnie Song 1 copy

Songs and Stories (2003) 1 copy

Pancake? 1 copy

גותון אל זיתון 1 copy

The Best of Shel Silverstein : His Words His Songs His Friends 1 copy

The Devil and Billy Markham 1 copy

Eight Balloons 1 copy

Jimmy Jet and His TV Set 1 copy

The Serendipity Singers sing of love, lies, and flying festoons 1 copy

Uncle Shelby's A Giraffe and a Half 1 copy

I'm So Good That I Don't Have To Brag!: Shel Silverstein Sings His Songs 1 copy

A Boy Named Sue (And His Other Country Songs) 1 copy

Unknown Book 10306599 1 copy

Me and My Giant 1 copy

The Farmer and the Queen 1 copy

A New Book of Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein : author of A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends 1 copy

Stag Party: The Wildest Bash on Record 1 copy

Distortion {comic strip} 1 copy

Listen to the Mustn'ts 1 copy

باغ وحش رویایی: هجده سال به بالا ممنوع 1 copy

For Rachel 1 copy

Different Dances by Shel Silverstein (1979-08-03) (1859) 1 copy

Snowball 1 copy

Shel Silverstein's 8 Book Set: Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Lafcadio, The Missing… (1990) 1 copy

The Crocodile's Toothache 1 copy

Top Cat 1 copy

Hippo Sandwich 1 copy

New St. Nick 1 copy

The End 1 copy

Poems and Drawings 1 copy

続ぼくを探しにビッグ・オーとの出会い (1982) 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

My Dog Does My Homework! (2004) — Contributor — 874 copies

Free to Be... You and Me (1974) — Contributor — 485 copies

Beware! (2002) — Contributor — 231 copies

The Best American Mystery Stories 2000 (2000) — Contributor — 141 copies

6th Annual Edition: The Year's Best S-F (1961) — Illustrator — 124 copies

Murder for Love (1996) — Contributor — 92 copies

Murder for Revenge (1998) — Contributor — 71 copies

Good Morning To You, Valentine: Poems For Valentine's Day (1976) — Contributor — 70 copies

Laugh Lines: Short Comic Plays (2007) — Contributor — 62 copies

Poems Dead and Undead (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets) (2014) 42 copies

The Signet Book of Short Plays (2004) — Contributor — 28 copies

Monster Poems (1976) — Contributor — 24 copies

The Village voice reader; a mixed bag from the Greenwich Village newspaper (1963) — Illustrator — 21 copies

Report from Practically Nowhere (1959) — Illustrator — 18 copies

Don Quixote [1972 album] (1972) — Composer — 11 copies

Tider skal komme : 15 langtidsvarsler : en science fiction-antologi — Contributor — 4 copies

Playboy Magazine | May 1963 (1963) — Contributor — 3 copies

Cricket Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 2, October 1976 (1976) — Contributor — 3 copies

Playboy Magazine | October 1963 | Teddi Smith (1963) — Contributor — 3 copies

Playboy Magazine | January 1979 | 25th Anniversary Issue (1979) — Illustrator — 3 copies

De krokodil met kiespijn en andere sprookjes (1996) — Author — 1 copy

Paradox, Dec. 1999 (1999) — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

childhood (195) children (1,386) children's (2,346) children's book (317) children's books (496) children's literature (984) children's poetry (454) classic (359) classics (273) fantasy (280) fiction (2,153) friendship (757) funny (319) generosity (377) giving (658) goodreads (210) growing up (356) hardcover (463) humor (1,883) illustrated (414) juvenile (254) kids (413) literature (192) love (598) nature (232) non-fiction (203) own (317) picture book (1,250) poems (789) poetry (9,330) read (684) rhyme (235) rhyming (286) sharing (272) Shel Silverstein (622) silly (231) Silverstein (216) to-read (831) tree (324) trees (359)

Common Knowledge

Canonical name: Silverstein, Shel
Legal name: Silverstein, Sheldon Allan
Other names: Uncle Shelby
Birthdate: 1930-09-25
Date of death: 1999-05-10
Burial location: Westlawn Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Gender: male
Nationality: USA
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Place of death: Key West, Florida, USA
Cause of death: heart attack
Places of residence: Logan Square, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Sausalito, California, USA (houseboat)
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA
Greenwich Village, New York, USA
Key West, Florida, USA
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Education: Chicago Academy of Fine Arts
University of Illinois
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
Occupations: writer
poet
composer
cartoonist
hot dog seller (Comiskey Park, Chicago, IL, USA)
children's author (show all 8)
song writer
playwright
Relationships: Nordstrom, Ursula (editor)
Organizations: United States Army
Awards and honors: Chicago Literary Hall of Fame (2014)
Grammy (1970)
Grammy (1984)
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2002)

Members

Reviews

Where the sidewalk ends : the poems & drawings of… by Shel Silverstein

This book is my American childhood. This is every afternoon at school, from kindergarten in 1977 to third grade in 1980, sitting on the floor in a semi-circle around various teachers (respected Mrs Case, beloved Mrs Sobel, unlovely and feared Mrs Baumgartner, glorious, worshipped Mizz Grundy) and hearing all about Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout. I can hear my esteemed 6-year-old colleague Patrick reading "What a Day" in high-pitched, giggling mid-western drawl. I remember feeling so sorry for the Australian kids I met when we returned to Melbourne in 1980. I went into Grade 4 and they'd never heard of [a:Shel Silverstein|435477|Shel Silverstein|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1201029128p2/435477.jpg]! Poor deprived mites. They'd got [a:May Gibbs|126595|May Gibbs|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-e0ba3b90c110cd67123d6a850d85373e.png]. Urgh. Give me the subversive Mr Silverstein any day.… (more)

Flagged

punkinmuffin | 481 other reviews | Apr 30, 2024 |

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Independent Reading Level: Grades: 1-3
Awards: The American Library Association Notable Children's Book awards, the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's book Award, and the Booklist editors choice award.

Flagged

abbeyhutcheson | 1,012 other reviews | Apr 29, 2024 |

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein

ages 5+
Golden Archer Award (Wisconsin)
Amazon.com Customers’ Favorite
New York Times Notable
New York Times Outstanding Book
ALA Notable Children’s Book
George C. Stone Center for Children's Books Recognition of Merit Award

Flagged

shelbygibson | 481 other reviews | Apr 29, 2024 |

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein

Independent Reading Level: 2nd-5th grade.

Flagged

bryannamiddleton99 | 481 other reviews | Apr 28, 2024 |

See More Reviews