Book Report: Shel Silverstein

Enter This Desserted House
But please walk softly as you do.
Frogs dwell here and crickets too.
Ain't no ceiling, only blue
Jays dwell here and sunbeams too.
Floors are flowers- take a few.
Ferns grow here and daisies too.
Whoosh, swoosh-- too-whit, too-woo,
Bats dwell here and hoot owls too.
Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee, hoo-hoooo,
Gnomes dwell here and goblins too.
And my child, I thought you knew
I dwell here... and so do you.
---Shel Silverstein from "Where the Sidewalk Ends"

I'm going to deviate a little from my original plan and report on an author today. I don't know how often I'll do this, but there are some authors who are worth it. Shel Silverstein is one of them.

Growing up, we often checked "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "A Light in the Attic" out of the library. At one point, my mom discovered them on tape and she would get them so we could listen to Mr. Silverstein read, sing and chant his poems. We learned many of his poems by heart and I'm fairly certain that most of us can still quote a few... Especially one poem in particular about spitting off a building. We learned how to get out of drying dishes, how to stay friends forever, what happens if you watch TV too long and what could happen if your parents refuse to buy you a pony. We learned what would happen if you ate too much peanut butter, excuses for being late to school, proper babysitting techniques and so much more.

In all the humor- and there is a lot- there are also a few real life lessons. I try to remember some of his more inspirational poems when I'm having a hard time with life. One of my favorites:

Listen to the Mustn'ts

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.
---Shel Silverstein from "Where the Sidewalk Ends"

I only own a couple of his books but believe me, they are worth owning! At the very least, check them out of the library and read them to yourself, to your children, to your spouse, sibling, random people on the street... Share the wealth of smiles and giggles that are the poems of Shel Silverstein.

Oh, and if you do read them to your children, don't blame me if they learn a thing or two about Backwards Bill, Blackbeard's Beard and Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too. On the other hand, you may be lucky and they may learn about giving from a tree and about the similarities between little boys and old men. I think it's worth the risk.