The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein Box Set

by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein's three best-selling, beloved poetry collections -- "Where the Sidewalk Ends," "A Light in the Attic," and "Falling Up" -- are now available together for the first time in exclusive smaller editions in a beautifully designed slipcased box set.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Classics

507 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Shel Silverstein was the author-artist of many beloved books of prose and poetry. He was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter.

Shel Silverstein will perhaps always be best loved for his extraordinary books. Shel’s books are now published in more than 47 different languages. The last book that was published before his death in 1999 was Falling Up

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems are just so enjoyable for kids and grown-ups. I read Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic repeatedly in elementary school. I'm not as familiar with Falling Up, but I'm sure it's terrific too. :)

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In elementary school, I remember seeing Where the Sidewalk Ends in the library and being a little nervous with how the drawings looked. I was really drawn to The Giving Tree, but the art in his poems have a more striking zaniness and even some kinda disturbing bodies/faces. But once the initial discomfort subsided, I remember finding the poems really fun. I think I had a phase in 5th or 6th grade where I tried to write similarly and I would read the poems all in the same cadence in my head. Also, later on when I started drawing more in pen, I felt like I could see his influence and I keep that in mind now.
I got this box set recently to experience it again and I really enjoyed it. Some poems are just casual and silly, some have punchlines and plot twists and some are honest and sad. It feels like reading a journal somehow, with random entries but sharing an overall sentiment of finding truths to the world through the lense of imagination and a satirical child's perspective rendering "grown up stuff" ridiculous. Like, things are described in a sort of innocently confused way, but the childish analysis of the situation calls it into question and makes it seem rather silly. But then there's moments of introspection in between the wackiness, sort of like the imagination wanting to lead into a better place past all the contradictions and conflict. And then it hops right back in with funny little jokes that seem just there to make kids smile and get creatively goofy. I think my favorite of the three books was Where the Sidewalk Ends, since the other two were more on casual sillies whereas I like the more sad or thoughtful ones. I think my favorite poem was Monsters I've Met since I really like slice of life amongst magical settings and it's a neat thought that we meet all kinds of people at random moments in their lives that may not have anything to do with who they really are...he has a lot of poems that make one kind of think about life stuff like that. And his art is full of personality and unbridled weirdness; as a pen art fan I really admire the casually-freehanded-but-envigorated feel his lines give. Sometimes I wondered if the drawing came first and he made the poem around it because of how much of a vibe it was.
I was also surprised with how many of his poems seem to encourage children to question authority/parents and sorta dare them to act out. I can see why some of it got banned in some places. Although I see the value of encouraging kids to think for themselves and have a laugh at or with adults, I also wonder how much of this was him thinking kids would get that some of it is meant as a joke, or him thinking that the poems about that were appropriately worded so that kids would think critically about rules and norms in safe ways, or if he just wanted to cause some chaos. Or maybe he just found the poems funny to himself and that's it. Maybe all the above. I guess I have to read more about him and the whole banning situations these poems went through to be able to comment more on that.
I'd like learn more of Silverstein in general and read more of his work; it has been around in my life since vague, early memory and has contributed to the "light in the attic" of my head for art and humor.

[Louis Dore-Savard · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for Where the Sidewalk Ends, 5 stars for A Light in the Attic, 3 stars for Falling Up which is clearly, in my opinion, a little weaker than the others. Overall a true treasure of literature for all ages.

[Azade Sadeghi · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to share these childhood favourite poems and rhymes with my little Jackson. Fun, light and silly. Great for a pick me up any day any time!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

delightful silliness