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Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and songwriter. He is best known for his beloved and iconic books of prose and poetry for young readers, including the award-winning books The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Light in the Attic.
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GARBAGE SOUP RECIPE
From A Light in the Attic Special Edition by Shel Silverstein
How do we make a garbage soup?
A little glop, a little goop,
A cup of slop, a quart of bunk,
Then half a tablespoon of gunk,
A pinch of grit, a dash of grime,
A half a skuzz, a squeeze of slime.
Aha — it shall be ready soon…
Did you bring your bowl?
Did you bring your spoon?
Poem and art © 2009 Evil Eye, LLC. All rights reserved.
Biography
Shel Silverstein was born on September 25, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois and began writing and drawing at a young age. He became a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter.
Silverstein is best known as the author of iconic books of prose and poetry for young readers. His works include such modern classics as Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back, The Giving Tree, A Giraffe and a Half, The Missing Piece, and The Missing Piece Meets the Big O. His immensely popular poetry collections are Where the Sidewalk Ends, a 1974 Michigan Young Readers Award winner; A Light in the Attic, recipient of the School Library Journal Best Books Award in 1982; Falling Up; and Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies, which was originally published in 1963 and reissued in 2008. Runny Babbit, a posthumous poetry collection of spoonerisms, was conceived and completed before he died in 1999.
Silverstein's books, which he also illustrated, are characterized by a deft mixing of the sly and the serious, the macabre, and the just plain silly. His unique imagination and bold brand of humor is beloved by countless adults and children throughout the world.
Books by Shel Silverstein
Say the name "Shel Silverstein" aloud and adults and children alike think of clever poems with comic line drawings and lots of laughs. You know that when you pick up a book by this writer and poet you're in good hands. Find familiar and less familiar books on this list — and celebrate language, poetry, and an astute creator of books for children of all ages.
Laugh out loud things happen when one has a giraffe who has stretched to become a giraffe and a half. Absurdity and humor build as a boy adds more silly (but rhyming) things to the long-necked animal. Line illustrations build to bring the satisfying tale full circle.
Sly humor and tricky truths emerge from each rhyme in this genuinely humorous collection as each poem reminds children and adults of their behaviors and foibles. Black line drawings accompany each imaginative verse which begs to be shared aloud.
Meet the Pointy-Peaked Pavarius, a Quick-Disguising Ginnit, and other amazing imaginary critters in this poetic bestiary. Delight in the pages of Silverstein's only collection illustrated in full color. Wordplay and humor are the hallmarks of this engaging collection.
As he did in his earlier collections, Silverstein presents the world with shrewd humor, a bit of rebellion, loads of lively language, and endless reader appeal. His signature line drawings add to the comic appeal of the classic poems presented in this collection.
When lions are roused by the sound of guns, only one young lion (who readers come to know as Lafcadio) stays to dissuade the hunter. Rather than deterring the hunter, Lafcadio winds up eating him, becoming a crack shot, and entering the human world. Humor in wordplay and in line drawings creates contagious fun in this poignant tale of having ties to very different worlds.
"Way down in the green woods/Where the animals all play/They do things and they say/ things in a different sort of way…" They transpose initial consonants of words so they "bead a rook" instead of "read a book" and more. Line drawings and humorous wordplay make this collection one sure to cause lots of laughter!
This poignant parable begins, "Once there was a tree and she loved a little boy." And because she loves him, she gives her all as both boy and tree grow older. When the boy grows into an old man, he sits on the stump of the tree; once again the tree is happy. Simple line drawings complement this timeless tale.
Its gentle journey begins with melancholy: "It was missing a piece and it was not happy" but concludes with greater self-awareness. The main character is depicted as a Pac-Man-like creature who strives to find what it thinks it's missing. Simple text and line drawings ideally complement each other in this many-leveled tale.
The creature with the missing piece (in the book of the same title) is back. Here it searches for a friend and meets the Big O, learning what it means to have a buddy that suits you well. Simple black line drawings and unadorned language make this a powerful tale that works on many levels.
Young readers (or listeners) are invited to share whimsical, imaginative, sometimes head-turning, always laugh-inducing poems in this classic collection.
If anyone is looking for a new pet, they may want to consider a rhinoceros. In this amusing book, there's one for sale "cheap." Black line drawings with an occasional splash of color and a straightforward text reveal the unique strengths of an unlikely friendship with characteristic Silverstein flair.
Shel Silverstein (and poetry) in the classroom
- Elkonin boxes (Runny Babbit)
Elkonin boxes help students build phonological awareness by segmenting words into sounds or syllables.
- Blending and segmenting games (Runny Babbit)
Children who can segment and blend sounds easily are able to use this knowledge when reading and spelling.
- Using Poetry to Teach Reading
Part of teaching reading is motivating the children to practice, practice, practice. Using children's poetry is one way to do this. Who can resist the joy of poets like Shel Silverstein?
- Reading Poetry with English Language Learners
Find out how to introduce poetry to ELLs and integrate it with reading instruction, as well as ideas for reading poetry aloud in a way that will encourage oral language development.
- Lesson plans for The Giving Tree and other works
Activities to explore the concepts of fable, sequel, symbolism, writing poetry, environmental issues, and more.
- How Smart Are You with Money? (Franklin Institute)
Shel Silverstein's poem, Smart, will entertain and teach lessons about the value of money. Includes downloadable PDF for classroom use.
- Word Summaries (ReadWriteThink)
After reading Shel Silverstein's poem "Sick" aloud, students summarize the poem and count the words in their summary. They then summarize the poem again, using only one word.
- The World of Shel Silverstein: A Guide for Teachers and Librarians (Shel Silverstein website)
Additional resources
- Shel Silverstein official website
Visit this playful interactive website full of games, puzzles, printables, e-cards, and ideas for parents and teachers.
- Reading Rockets and National Poetry Month
Learn more about the National Poetry Month, watch video interviews with well-known children's poets, and browse the many online resources included on this web page.
Art © 1981 Evil Eye Music, Inc. © 2009 Evil Eye, LLC. All rights reserved.
Photo of Shel Silverstein by Larry Moyer.
