Silverstein, << SIHL vuhr styn or SIHL vuhr steen, >> Shel (1932-1999), was a popular American author and illustrator of poetry for children. Silverstein was also a successful cartoonist and songwriter who wrote novelty and country songs and also wrote several plays.
Silverstein wrote and illustrated three collections of poetry that rank among the most popular in the history of children’s literature. They are Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974), A Light in the Attic (1981), and Falling Up (1996). His poems range from serious to wacky, and many reflect clever word play and slightly off-color or bizarre humor.
Silverstein’s most successful book, The Giving Tree (1964), is a children’s classic. It is a parable about loving that tells about a tree who gives her fruit, branches, and finally her trunk to make a man happy. Some readers, however, object to what they see as the book’s glorification of female self-sacrifice. The Missing Piece (1976) and The Missing Piece Meets the Big O (1981), illustrated with simple geometric shapes, are tales about the search for freedom and independence. Silverstein’s other works for children include Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back (1963); Don’t Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies (his first poetry collection, 1964); and three collections published after his death, Runny Babbit (2005), Every Thing on It (2011), and Runny Babbit Returns (2017).
Shelby Silverstein was born on Sept. 25, 1932, in Chicago. In 1956, he began a long career as a cartoonist for Playboy magazine. He composed a number of songs, including “A Boy Named Sue” (1969), which became a hit for country singer Johnny Cash. Silverstein died on May 10, 1999.
