+ Shel Silverstein About the life of poet, Shel Silverstein. By Laura Kliewer

+ The Books of Shel Silverstein Every Thing on it Runny Babbit Falling Up The Missing Piece Meets the Big O The Missing Piece Where the Sidewalk Ends Who wants a cheap Rhinoceros The Giving Tree A Giraffe and a Half A Light in the Attic Don’t Bum the Glump Lafcadio, the Lion who shot Back

+ Falling Up “Why can’t you see I’m a kid’, said the kid. Why try to make me like you? Why are you hurt when I don’t cuddle? Why do you sigh when I splash through a puddle? Why do you scream when I do what I did? I’m a kid.”

+ The Life of Shel Drew cartoons before becoming a poet. He also wrote music, such as the song, “A Boy Named Sue”, which Johnny Cash made famous. Wrote comics for numerous magazines Continued producing Children’s books into the late 1990’s Passed away May 10, 1999

+ The Giving Tree Considered by many to be one of Silversten’s greatest works. “Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy very, very much—even more than she loved herself”

+ Writing Career Shel began his writing career with his book, “Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back,” in He followed that book up with his next, “The Giving Tree,” which may be his well known work of literature. It took four years for the book to be published, as many people thought it was too sad to publish.

+ Related Websites Shel’s webpage Wikipedia Author page Shel Silverstein on Goodreads