SHEL SILVERSTEIN POEMS
Artwork by Justin Ridge
Shel Silverstein Poems
have been a staple on children's reading lists for nearly five decades.
Silverstein himself began
to write and draw as a child in his native Chicago. After a brief
sojourn at the Art Institute of Chicago, he enlisted in the US armed
forces during the Korean War, where he landed a job at 'Stars and
Stripes', the official newspaper of the US Military.
Working on the paper a cartoonist, he created the 'Take Ten' comic series which later became the title of his first book.
After completion of his military service, Shel returned to Chicago where he began to submit illustrations to national publications. His work soon appeared in magazines such as Sports Illustrated.
In 1957 he was hired as a cartoonist by Playboy Magazine, where he produced a series called "Shel Silverstein Visits', documenting his travels around the world on behalf of the publication.
Working on the paper a cartoonist, he created the 'Take Ten' comic series which later became the title of his first book.
After completion of his military service, Shel returned to Chicago where he began to submit illustrations to national publications. His work soon appeared in magazines such as Sports Illustrated.
In 1957 he was hired as a cartoonist by Playboy Magazine, where he produced a series called "Shel Silverstein Visits', documenting his travels around the world on behalf of the publication.
Silverstein was
encouraged to write children's poems by his
editor at
Harper Collins, Ursula Nordstrom. In 1964, he published his first book
of Shel Silverstein poems for children called “The Giving Tree," and
went on to win
the New
York Times Outstanding Book Award in 1974 for his work "Where
the
Sidewalk Ends."
"The Missing Piece Meets the Big O," a sequel to "The Missing Piece," won the International Reading Association's Children's Choice Award in 1982. A more recent work of Shel Silverstein poems is called, "Falling Up: Poems and Drawings," which appeared in bookstores in 1996, and was roundly acclaimed by critics.
In addition to writing poetry he was an accomplished playwright and songwriter. Silverstein went on to pen 12 books of poetry and illustrations for children, introducing youth to such beloved characters as Headphone Harold, and Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear. HIs characters are whimsical and endearing, and feature prominently throughout Shel Silverstein poems.
Shel Silverstein died in 1999.
We are pleased to announce that a new work of previously unpublished Shel Silverstein poems has just been released. It is called "Everything On It," and may be purchased by clicking here.
Below you will find a sampling of Shel Silverstein poems for children.
"The Missing Piece Meets the Big O," a sequel to "The Missing Piece," won the International Reading Association's Children's Choice Award in 1982. A more recent work of Shel Silverstein poems is called, "Falling Up: Poems and Drawings," which appeared in bookstores in 1996, and was roundly acclaimed by critics.
In addition to writing poetry he was an accomplished playwright and songwriter. Silverstein went on to pen 12 books of poetry and illustrations for children, introducing youth to such beloved characters as Headphone Harold, and Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear. HIs characters are whimsical and endearing, and feature prominently throughout Shel Silverstein poems.
Shel Silverstein died in 1999.
We are pleased to announce that a new work of previously unpublished Shel Silverstein poems has just been released. It is called "Everything On It," and may be purchased by clicking here.
Below you will find a sampling of Shel Silverstein poems for children.