Alexandra+Socher

Shel Silverstein


 * 1) Shel Silverstein wrote classic story telling children's books.
 * 2) Silversteins poetry is often silly, funny, and strange.
 * 3) Some believe that silversteins work is just fun and silly, others believe there is deeper symbolism in his writing.
 * 4) Silversteins greatest contribution was convincing millions of children that poetry is neither difficult nor life threatening.
 * 5) All of shel silverstein's books carries a hidden message to children. For example his book 'the missing piece' is about a little triangle meets a big O and these two shapes find out they can fit together to make on big shape, this refers to divorced parents.
 * 6) He was introduced to the distinguished book editor at Harper and Brothers, Ursula Nordstrom, who convinced him he could write for children
 * 7) Shel Silversteins first book to children was 'Uncle Shelbys ABZ book: A primer for tender minds'
 * 8) All of his stories have been interpreted in different ways.
 * 9) Shel silverstein opended the minds of many children, becuase of the way that he wrote, it made children want to read and write poetry.
 * 10) **Thesis Statement- While some of shel silversteins books have hidden messages that are too advanced for children to understand, he opened many childrens minds to reading and writing poetry .**
 * 11) He styled himself as **Uncle Shelby** on his children's books.
 * 12) his books were translated into 20 languages, and his books have sold over 20 million copies.
 * 13) He was born in chicago
 * 14) Shel wasnt very good with the ladies, so he wrote.
 * 15) His favortie childrens book he wrote was- ' //the Lion Who Shot Back'//
 * 16) //Shel was in theater and he was a songwriter but eventually wrote childrens books and he loved doing that.//
 * 17) Silverstein began submitting cartoons to magazines while also selling hot dogs at Chicago ballparks.
 * 18) In 1957, he became one of the leading cartoonists in playboy.
 * 19) Shel hoped that no matter how old someone was that they would always find some message in his books.
 * 20) Shel had an ego, he had ideas, he wanted to communicate, but in his own way.
 * 21) no other artist's vision is as delightfully, sophisticatingly cockeyed like shel's
 * 22) he never studied the poetry of others and therefore developed his own quirky style, laid back and conversational, occasionally employing profanity and slang.
 * 23) "He imagined things the way kids do when they're little," said cartoonist Jules Feiffer.
 * 24) In 2005, **Silverstein**'s final book was published. It's called //Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook//.
 * 25) In Shels book "A light in the Attic" children loved the silly poems about a messy room, and a boy who had a hotdog for a pet.
 * 26) His poetry touched "kids" of all ages.
 * 27) He was very private about his life.
 * 28) He wouldnt give interviews and he told his publisher not to let anyone know about his personal life.
 * 29) facts about his birthdays, parents, siblings and friends are a mystery.
 * 30) He drew cartoons for an army publication called Stars And Stripes.
 * 31) After the army shel began to write storys and draw cartoons-- this was the beginning of his writing carreer
 * 32) It was shels funny poems and creative characters that made kids love him the most.
 * 33) Shels friend practically dragged him into an editors office kicking and screaming.
 * 34) Shel is widely known for his creative drawings
 * 35) most of his drawings in his books would be nearly impossible to re-create like the man with 25 heads.
 * 36) Shel died when he had a massive heart attack.
 * 37) Shel had one daughter.
 * 38) Shel gave lasting impressions on peoples minds.
 * 39) Shels most famous work is the Giving Tree.
 * 40) The giving tree sold over 2 million copies in 1964
 * 41) The last song album he created was 'the great conch train robbery' before he died.
 * 42) His more serious poems show an understanding of childhood anxieties and wishes.
 * 43) His more humorouse poems included fun-to-say words, and silly scenarios.
 * 44) He wrote several plays for adults including 'Gorilla'
 * 45) Many literacy critics have praised Silverstiens 'Where the Sidewalk ends: the poems and drawings of shel silverstein'
 * 46) in '96 he released another collection of poetry 'Falling Up' This book also included silly black and white drawings.
 * 47) Everyone interprets Silverstein's books differently.
 * 48) Silversteins flair of fun and twinge of naughtiness made his poems an instant hit.
 * 49) The poetry featured in 'Where the Sidewalk Ends' opens the door to an imaginative land where upside down looks right side up and a boy turns into a TV
 * 50) 'What if...' echoes what Shel Silverstein wanted all his poetry to achieve to make children think dream, and have courage to imagine the fantastic.
 * 51) the relationship between Shel and his editor Ursula was mutually rewarding.
 * 52) Shel silverstein was a truley unique writer
 * 53) Shel silverstein has delighted tens delighted tens of thouughasands of people.
 * 54) he wrote songs for johnny cash
 * 55) he inspired young children
 * 56) he will forever be remeber for his crazy cartoons, silly words, and his ability to write like a young child.
 * 57) shel had 2 children (girls) his first daughter died 5 years after birth.
 * 58) silverstein had a big passion for music
 * 59) when shel was a kid he would have rather been a baseball player or hit on girls
 * 60) Shel wrote for many country singers
 * 61) Shel was born in chicago
 * 62) Silverstein's poetry books are widly used in younger childrens grades as an introduction to poetry
 * 63) Shel produced a hit for "the rolling stones"
 * 64) Shel died in his Fl. house of a heartattack
 * 65) 2 maids found him dead in the month of may
 * 66) He had a massive heartattack which killed him
 * 67) He will always be remebered for all that he has done with writing poetry
 * 68) some critics call silversteins cartoon drawings 'morbid'
 * 69) Shels book 'the giving tree' is read by many guidance counslers, teachers, and children all across the world
 * 70) silverstein never studied poetry or writing.
 * 71) 'listen to the must'nts child, listen to the donts, listen to the the shouldnts the impossibes the wonts, listen to the never haves, then listne to me, anything can happen child. Anything can be'- Shel Silverstein
 * 72) He wrote lyrics for most of Dr. Hook's songs.
 * 73) shel was an author, a cartoonist, and a songwriter.
 * 74) he attended the art instute of chicago but left after one year.
 * 75) Shel 'communicates in his own way.'
 * 76) Shel doesnt listen to his negative critics because 'if you listen to your good critics, you will listen to your bad ones as well'
 * 77) shels stance on art and creativity was revealed in a 1963 Aardvark magazine interview
 * 78) shels first cartoons began appearing in Look, Sport illustrated, and This Week
 * 79) Shel Silverstein didnt like getting television interviews, he never knew who he was talking to.
 * 80) up until his death in 1999 he continued to create plays, sing songs, play music, write poems, and most of all 'have a good time'.

Shel Silverstein influenced children with his funny, silly poems, he showed children that it was okay to write and read poetry silly poetry, Shel captivated childrens minds by writing like a 4th grader.

Skucher <3 ekboise :)

ahhahahsa i remember... lol. you like started taking off your sweatshirt then freaaaaked out :P i growled? WHAAAT!? <3 kay.