Shel Silverstein

Biographical Information Sheldon Allan Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) Silverstein is best known as the author of iconic books of prose and poetry for young readers, grew up in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. He attended Roosevelt High School and, later, the University of Illinois, until he was expelled. After he was expelled from the University of Illinois he enrolled into the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts which he was attending when he was drafted into the United States Army. He served in both Japan and Korea. Silverstein began by draw at the age of 7. He would trace the works of Al Capp. He was first published in the Roosevelt Torch, a student run newspaper at Roosevelt University. While he was in the military he still continued to draw cartoons. His cartoons were published in Pacific Stars and Stripes. His first book, Take Ten, a compilation of his military Take Ten cartoon series, was published by Pacific Stars and Stripes in 1955. When he returned to Chicago, Silverstein began submitting his cartoons to  various magazines while also selling hot dogs at Chicago ballparks. His cartoons soon began appearing in Look, Sports Illustrated and This Week. In 1957, Silverstein became one of the leading cartoonists in Playboy. He traveled around the world to create an illustrated journal with reports from locals. During the 1950s and 1960s, he produced 23 installments called "Shel Silverstein Visits.." In 1963, Silverstein met Ursula Nordstrom, a book editor, and she convinced him to begin writing material for children. This led to the shift in his writing. The following year, Silverstein wrote two children's books: A Giraffe and a Half and ''The Giving Tree. The Giving Tree'' would go on to become Silverstein's most popular book. A few years later Silverstein produced two of his most memorable books in the 1970s: Where the Sidewalk Ends (his first collection of poetry; 1974) and The Missing Piece (1976).

 Themes/Style 

In addition to author Silverstein was once a singer songwriter. This had some influence on the style of his writing. Because songs and poetry are so closely linked and he has worked in both fields, his poems to have an apparent rhyme scheme. In addition because Shel used to write his own songs he is very creative which allows his poetry to be one of a kind. His poetry is known for often being silly, humorous, and a little strange. In analysis of his book Where The Sidewalk ends, you can see some of his poetic techniques. Many of his poems have the same types of figurative language used throughout, a heavy use of simile and metaphor. He utilizes this heavily in order to help form a picture in the reader's mind. In addition he utilizes rhyme scheme, rhythm, and alliteration such in his poems that makes them flow very well. For example as in the line “Ickle me pickle me tickle me too, when for a ride in a flying shoe" (Silverstein, pg.16). The rhythmic feel of his poems again ties back to his work in music. Due to his wide background in his writing career, he has written to many audience. This allows for him to understand how to appeal to different audiences. The themes in his poetry are about everyday life and aspects people face. He writes his poetry in a way that adults enjoy them but children can as well. He prides himself that the themes of his stories/poetry can be applied to anyone’s life.  As mentioned in Something About the Author, he said " [I} hope that people, no matter what age, would find something to identify with in my books, pick one up and experience a personal sense of discovery."

 Criticism 

While there is a lot of praise for his work there is also criticism. There have been calls to ban some of Silverstein's work. One poem, “Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony,” was banned from a second grade classes in Huffman, Texas because parents protested that it “exposes children to the horrors of suicide.”

And Abigail began to cry and said,

“If I don’t get that pony I’ll die.”

And her parents said, “You won’t die.

No child ever died yet from not getting a pony.”

And Abigail felt so bad

That when she got home she went to bed,

And she couldn’t eat,

And she couldn’t sleep,

And her heart was broken,

And she DID die—

All because of a pony

That her parents wouldn’t buy.

Another Elementary School library in Mukwonago, Wisconsin banned his poetry book because it contained poems that “glorified Satan, suicide, and cannibalism.”

Pamela Purse Screamed, “Ladies first,”

When we went off on our jungle trip.

Pamela Purse said her thirst was worse

And guzzled our water, every sip.

And when we got grabbed by that wild savage band,

Who tied us together and made us all stand

In a long line in front of the King of the land—

A cannibal known as Fry-‘Em-Up Dan,

Who sat on this throne in bib so grand

With a lick on his lips and a fork in his hand,

As he tried to decide who’d be first in the pan—

From the back of the line, in that shrill voice of hers,

Pamela Purse yelled, “Ladies first.

Another criticism to Silverstein's work is that it "defies the norm of children's literature." It was said, "They brought a shock of subversion to the genre — defying the notion that children’s books shouldn’t be scary, silly or sophisticated. Rather than reprimand the wayward listener, their books encouraged bad (or perhaps just human) behavior." Many criticism to his work believe that it is not child friendly and describe it as "weird."

 Bibliography 

Paul, Pamela. “The Children's Authors Who Broke the Rules.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Sept. 2011, www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/books/review/the-childrens-authors-who-broke-the-rules.html.

“Shel Silverstein .” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, poets.org/poet/shel-silverstein.

“Shel Silverstein.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/shel-silverstein.