HomeGroupsTalkZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.
MembersReviewsPopularityRatingFavorited   Events   
68,059 (70,178)2,551184 (4.29)153
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 (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) — biography from The Giving Tree… (more)
The Giving Tree 17,544 copies, 999 reviews
A Light in the Attic: Poems and Drawings 10,115 copies, 201 reviews
Falling Up: Poems and Drawings 7,421 copies, 200 reviews
Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook 2,307 copies, 68 reviews
The Missing Piece 2,065 copies, 52 reviews
A Giraffe and a Half 1,645 copies, 55 reviews
Every Thing On It 1,384 copies, 78 reviews
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O 1,145 copies, 24 reviews
Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back 941 copies, 10 reviews
Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? 677 copies, 29 reviews
Arbor Alma/the Giving Tree 236 copies, 2 reviews
Draw a Skinny Elephant 43 copies, 1 review
Shel's Shorts 26 copies, 1 review
Take Ten 8 copies
Falling up (Audio) 5 copies, 2 reviews
The Unicorn 2 copies
My Enemy 2 copies
The Smoke-Off 2 copies
The End 1 copy
Pancake? 1 copy
Top Cat 1 copy
Snowball 1 copy
The Enemy 1 copy
For Rachel 1 copy
My Dog Does My Homework! (Contributor) 795 copies, 5 reviews
Free to Be... You and Me (Contributor) 461 copies, 8 reviews
Beware!: R.L. Stine Picks His Favorite Scary Stories (Contributor) 212 copies, 5 reviews
The Best American Mystery Stories 2000 (Contributor) 141 copies, 3 reviews
Murder for Love (Contributor) 85 copies
Laugh Lines: Short Comic Plays (Contributor) 54 copies
The Signet Book of Short Plays (Contributor) 27 copies
Report from Practically Nowhere (Illustrator) 18 copies, 3 reviews

Top members (books)

Member favorites

Members: Yolken, TamasKiss, Jazz1987, saskia17, JennyLovesToRead, gangleri, private member, gregshortdotcom, SNO24601, Dasha.Casciero, MehlhornT, hillaryrose7, BabyRowen, Deadpool37, Beammey, CreativeEllie, private member, gnatdbug, Karrie_Leigh, loveofreading (show 133 more), punkypower, bexter1, espadrile, jennifer_roo_22, NancyLuckey, michael.santolini, theresearcher, private member, private member, JessicaHeron, Pazas, private member, CrysArri, adam_really, WildHamster, Meaggy, BTHoskins, zenobia158, Phoncible.Bone, DayehSensei, private member, riktod, brendanmoody, rkchernay, iamrobertmarsh, superspytaiko, StefanY, ibufficus, karmabodhi, Sairah, jblackowicz, lbush005, tap_aparecium, LLAR4329, HollysMusings, citizen11, kellythekid, MFZ, naysway, superblue, MiniQS, ocho60, marialoon, libbathomas01, AngeleDawn, CindyBytes, cafn8me, crystallineb, bentley06, fugitive, LucidLove, jenyfare, ellington, TurtleKnitta, sevedra, illustrationfan, gardenoftrust, BeakerMini, autumngallows, Slambo, lloannna, bonniebooks2, evilchrissy, sebastianhamilton, KatieC24, mjX, ladydzura, lycaenidae, gabeblaze, catalina7, ApresMoiLeDeluge, illbethesky, skullduggery, angelrose, ochre24, sawalbeck, freemyron, chenoakacheta, ejeans, leocat, dklaus, pdxwoman, indigo21, blondierocket, biscuit, tiamatq, jackle73, JennaBme, porch_reader, Shellyah, SeriousGrace, kite_eating_tree, eba1999, dleachks, Evynrude, Childlike_Empress, DeanieG, Xiguli, randomarbitrary, aeroathena, kgriffith, jhbooks, squirrel14, Katie_H, jumatos, theothermeat, Suso711, KhrystiBooks, private member, VJESCI, lostinmommydom, lizrstillwell, werhane, flyinglow00, ranaverde, RedRose114, bella_trina, YorickBrown, nerdyandlovinit, ariatari, inblackink, mrstreme, dberryfan, vetters, segnbora, mcornyn, lilypadma, guyalice, MIRV, wolfe, bluehwys, infiniteletters, sheherazahde

childhood (190) children (1,354) children's (2,271) children's book (309) children's books (484) children's literature (967) children's poetry (437) classic (349) classics (243) fantasy (273) fiction (2,071) friendship (736) funny (318) generosity (367) giving (646) goodreads (199) growing up (346) hardcover (457) humor (1,846) illustrated (407) juvenile (245) kids (398) literature (187) love (586) nature (226) non-fiction (187) own (289) picture book (1,200) poems (772) poetry (9,095) read (652) rhyme (232) rhyming (280) sharing (266) Shel Silverstein (611) silly (222) Silverstein (205) to-read (763) tree (318) trees (347)

Member ratings

Average: (4.29)
0.5 13
1 160
1.5 35
2 357
2.5 102
3 1786
3.5 182
4 4190
4.5 316
5 7405

Improve this author

Combine/separate works

Author division

Shel Silverstein is currently considered a "single author." If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.

Includes

Shel Silverstein is composed of 29 names. You can examine and separate out names.

Combine with…

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 188,744,820 books! | Top bar: Always visible