A Light in the Attic Special Edition with 12 Extra Poems

Who didn't grow up on Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic?

If you missed out, I am so sorry for you. My teacher read this to us in 5th and 6th grades and I loved hearing the whacky poems. If I hadn't already been in love with reading, this would have done it.

Shel Silverstein's poetry is a must-have for anyone's home library - whether they are children or adults!

Shel Silverstein's poetry is magical. With his black and white illustrations and creative spirit makes you laugh at yourself and any situation he presents. He makes you look at life with a sense of humor and delight.

This book (and Where the Sidewalk Ends) are some of my favorite childhood memories! I've been checking these books out at the library for years. I thought it was about time I made them a permanent item on my bookshelf. So glad I did!

Bought this for a friend's daughter who just turned 12. She loves poetry especially by this author. My sister and brother also loved his books when they were young - and still do. They are timeless, fun classics.

Book arrived in a timely manner and looked great, except that it wasn't so much "like new" as in excellent condition. There were pencil marks on some of the pages; they erased easily, but I wouldn't expect that in a "new" book.

My daughter received a Shel Silverstein book at 5 yrs old for a Christmas gift from a friend. She loves the silly stories and poems. I know she would give it 5 stars, I give it 4 stars because there are a few poems that use words I don't care for. Probably words little boys say every day but not ones I read to daughter!

I bought this book for my granddaughter. It is a classic book to own and a good introduction to poetry. I read this book to my own boys and they loved it. It is a great book that stays with you . My granddaughter loves this book.

Eccentric and lovely kids poetry! Perfect for quoting to the grandkids. Multi-layered depth that starts light and delightful, but often ends in enormous life lessons taught in the simplest words and images. Great for kids AND adults.

I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED - BOUGHT THIS BOOK AND CD SET TO USE WITH MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE I LOVED MY TAPE OF IT AS A KID AND WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SKIP PAST THE ONES SHE MIGHT BE SQUEAMISH ABOUT. NOWHERE ON THE DESCRIPTION DOES IT SAY THE CD ONLY HAS 11 OUT OF THE 39 ORIGINALLY RECORDED POEMS. I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE CD AND BOOK SEPARATELY TO GET THE FULL VERSION WITH ALL MY FAVORITES ON IT. SHEL SILVERSTEINS' READING IS GREAT, BUT THE BEST ONES AREN'T EVEN ON THIS VERY LIMITED CD :(

The book was in moderately poor shape when I received it; there was no cover and the book was out of the spine. But all the poems are there, there are no missing pages.
It came in good time, so shipping was fine, it came in a bubble package and there was no damage.
I just wish the seller had put in the description of the book so I could have made a better choice.

#mustreadforanychild #enchanting #funny #thoughtful #youmightlearnsomething

NOTE: This is part of the #hashtag review program: delivering insights on the overall product experience, without the self-entitlement.

We bought this as a follow-up to "Where the Sidewalk Ends". Our 5 & 7 year old loved us to read poems to them. This book has poems about kidnapping, decapitation and other scary things. One poem is titled "The Skin Stealer". Not a good book for young kids.

I received the book in a timely fashion, but was disappointed to find that there were scribbles in the book and though the clear plastic was on it still and the pages weren't torn they were dirty and I wouldn't exactly say it is in "very good" condition. Overall, I'm satisfied -- can you really be upset with a $0.01 book?

I love this book! I had a copy when I was little and wanted to have one for my kids now. I bought this book used and was expecting it to show some use. It was labeled as good condition but at best its fair. The binding is broken and its missing its jacket. I wish the sell had put these details in the description. I am going to keep it though $4 is an alright deal.

In my opinion, this book was so so good. First of all, it is very good because it is a very sad story of JK Rowling’s life. Next, this was a good book because shows that women can do anything. Finally, it is very good because it shows what life in the past was.
I would recommend this book to young girls and Harry Potter fans. I would recommend this book to young girls because it shows that women can do anything. I would recommend this book to Harry Potter fans because if they read it they get a better view of their favorite author.
-N.

A Light in the Attic is a great book. Some poems are sad and touching. Don’t worry! It isn’t a sad book! Most of the poems are funny! A lot of them don’t even make sense! But once you read the poem again, you’ll understand it! This poem book by Shel Silverstein, is one of my favorites!
-#4

"A Light in the Attic" has been on my bookshelves for nearly 30 years. It was a gift to one of my daughters, and of all the hundreds of childhood books that passed through our home over the years, only a few earned a permanent spot on the shelf. Others were re-gifted or donated to the school or the library. It is simply a wonderful collection of timeless poems and drawings. In spite of 30 years of technological changes in entertainment options for children, this simple volume of poems is still very amusing (and educational by the way) to children of a wide range of ages.

I recently dusted off the book and shared it with a 12-year old that I'm tutoring. He had a school assignment to read and write some poetry, so I tape-flagged a few pages of particularly funny poems to pique his interest. Each poem is accompanied by a simple pencil sketch. A big grin lit his face after we read just a few pages together, then he took the book from me and started reading it from cover to cover. He laughed out loud and even took pictures of a few of the poems and sketches with his iPhone camera so that he could show his brother later. He particularly enjoyed the homework machine, a Rube Goldberg style device:

From page 56-57:
The Homework Machine, oh the Homework Machine
Most perfect contraption that's ever been seen.
Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime,
Snap on the switch, and in ten second's time,
Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be.
Here it is - "nine plus four?" and the answer is "three".
Three?
Oh Me . . .
I guess it's not as perfect
As I thought it would be.

from page 12:
HOW NOT TO HAVE TO DRY THE DISHES
If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful, boring chore)
If you have to dry the dishes
('Stead of going to the store)
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor -
Maybe they won't let you
Dry the dishes anymore.

The author, Shel Silverstein, died in 1999, but his books are still available and sure to entertain and encourage reading among young learners.

Ostensibly a book of verse and rhymes for children, I enjoyed this book as much as my children did. A little fat book filled with delicious rhymes that make us all laugh. Shel Silversteins other books have led to this one, we know what to hope for but not what to expect, actually. I purchased this book for my youngest granddaughter, and she thinks we are both pretty silly.

Shel Silverstein knows what kids line, he speaks on our level. This collection includes some amusing and downright silly rhymes. My favorite is the babysitter who thinks it is her job to sit in the babies. That one got big laughs from everyone. Children are very direct, and this silliness spoke to them. There are twists and turns that we might expect from a mystery, and Silverstein gives them to us in spades. Rocks ye Baby should not be rock g on at treetop, who ever thought that was smart. There are 170 pages of fun and silliness in this book. More than enough to keep your little ones occupied.

Recommended. prisrob 08-16-15

I encountered Silverstein’s most popular works not long after their publication. In rereading them for this review, what stood out most to me is how Silverstein relied on the unexpected. In the poem Shaking, Geraldine is told that shaking a cow is “the dumbest way I’ve seen to make a milk shake”. The narrator of the poem Messy Room scolds the owner for underwear hanging on the lamp, books jammed into a closet, lizard left sleeping on the bed…. and then realizes the room is HIS. :-) One of my favorites is Fancy Dive, which tells about Melissa of Coconut Grove who bounced, flew, twisted, twirled, flipped, spun, and more only to look down and see the pool had no water. Ouch! Something Missing is another poem that makes kids giggle. The narrator states that he remembered to put on his socks, his shoes, and his tie, but knows that something’s missing and, when one looks at the accompanying drawing, one sees that the narrator hasn’t put on his pants. Yikes!

Even teachers should appreciate Silverstein, due to the educational nature of such poems as Importnt in which the letter A points out all the words which need his presence, Ations in which the narrator plays with words ending in “ation,” and Fly in which prepositions are taught. Math isn’t forgotten either, with all the basic shapes being covered in a poem simply titled Shapes. As with Ciardi’s collection, there are delightfully daring poems within Silverstein’s collection such as Bear in There, where a boy keeps a polar bear in his fridge. There are also sensibly smart ones such as What If, which covers all those questions that keep ones awake at night. There are too many other wise ones to name, as this is a collection of over one hundred poems, but I can’t neglect the sweetest of them. The Little Boy and The Old Man tells of the ways that a little boy feels out-of-place, which match up with the ways that old men often feel out-of-place too.

Sadly, my copies of Silverstein’s books went to my siblings. Sometimes I miss those copies, especially given the huge popularity of Silverstein among elementary students. I enjoyed the opportunity to reread one of Silverstein’s collections

In the pantheon of literature shaping my nascent creative flicker, Shel Silverstein remains a master of lunacy and language. Long after losing my appetite for R.L. Stine's "Fear Street" or the frightful suspense of Alvin Schwartz' "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark", Silverstein's whimsical passages continue to invoke nostalgic and thoughtful reflection. Of "The Giving Tree", my mother echoes the undeviating refrain that it is a woeful fable of an ungrateful child and a loving, long suffering parent. I respond with a nod of agreement and apology having learned better than to quarrel with her interpretation of that particular work.

"I've discovered a way to stay friends forever--
There's really nothing to it.
I simply tell you what to do
And you do it!" ~ Friendship

His deeply imaginative ideas combined with a rich awareness of words to craft a collection of clever cerebral exchanges. Silverstein chose not to endeavour making sense of the utter nonsense which exists in the dreams of children. In his poems and illustrations, there resides an inquisitive surreality of characters and circumstances which are at times morbid, silly, unusual, somber, capricious, self indulgent or inappropriate. That array of attributes represented a wider spectrum than most children's literature of his era had considered yet all were qualities of which any child might be possessed.

"I shot an arrow toward the sky,
It hit a white cloud floating by.
The cloud fell dying to the shore,
I don't shoot arrows anymore." ~ Arrows

In spite of resolute parental naivete on our part, children are not yet whole beings. They are evolving and developing with each new insight which should arise. Why should they not be given the full palette of human emotion in which to dabble their paintbrush while there remains a steady hand to guide their intentions? Silverstein recognized children were smarter than adults acknowledged and wrote images filled with riddles, trap doors and passageways into the unknown.

If confusion arose as to the meaning of any given story, there was no discernible moral interpretation at the end. He trusted that children could ask questions and sort out those quandaries on their own. What if they could send away in the mail for a new set of parents as does the young man in "Clarence"? Is it such a terrifying thought that every child might at some moment dislike their parents? Or desire to join the UCR (Union for Children's Rights) and dispense with performing chores until their demands are met?

"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my toys to break,
So none of the other kids can use them...
Amen." ~ Prayer of the Selfish Child

Silverstein wrote in the tradition of the grand triumvirate alongside Seuss and Sendak. Authors of juvenile literature who were unafraid to stretch and layer their passages into the space of fascination and fantasy. Could those arcane worlds engaged in Harry Potter or "The Hunger Games" exist without the precedent laid by the dragon of Grindly Grun, the Gooloo bird or the quick digesting Gink?

Silverstein can be an especially difficult read when one has spent a lifetime having their language skills battered into shape by each gruesome guardian of the English oral tradition. His random meter and loose leaning prose lead one to imagine they are reading another language entirely. I surely realize now that he inspires the same wonder and bewilderment as deciphering Pablo Neruda in Spanish. Perhaps this is the greatest gift Silverstein leaves behind in these writings. A self contained language filled with a meaning and clarity all its own which will be accessed only when you rediscover the precocious, curiosity you brought to the book as a child exploring literature for the first time.

A Light in the Attic

A Light in the Attic is one of the funniest books I have read it's not the greatest, but it's pretty funny when you read it, I found it great and I think you would to. For example the poem Prayer of the Selfish Child is a very funny poem, that poem was the one that really surprised how the author expresses the child's thoughts. If you really read this you would understand me how I said this poem expresses itself the poem goes like this," Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep, and if I die before I awake, I pray the lord my toys to break, so no one of the other kids can use'em, amen." That there I found was very: hilarious, weird, selfish kid, good poem in such little words and very obtain how it tells the story. I liked how if you really read it with thought and feelings you can hear the reader's voice, for example it says, "I pray the lord my toys to break so no one of the other kids can use'em. I recommend kids to read this book many of the poems are filled with entertaining stories they're sense of humor is very touching to me, like some poems are so good that you can really hear the characters voice, and it comes out with loud and clear expirations like the poem "prayer of the selfish child." What I thought the book needed is that they should add where the funny parts are for the kids, and were the poems like with ought sense of humor for some adults with out sense of humor. Many of those poems inspire great ideas and get your hopes up after a tuff day, or a very disappointing day of work or school, I inspire kids and adults of any age to read these poems and see for themselves that it is great. This book is very: interesting, funny, cool, and fun to read. But there are some problems in this book I would give this book a 4, well that's my opinion some other persons might be different from mine. The reason I say that is because not all the poems are so great they're just good, some of the poems need more to juice up the poem. For example the story "Snake problem," when I read it I really disliked it, this poem is so simple and boring. It goes like this " It's not that I don't care for snakes, but oh what do you do when a 24-foot python says ... that really wasn't good. After all I enjoyed this book and I hope some one else does too.

This is a book of poems that are both funny, and creative. A Light in the Attic is full of poems that will make you roll on the floor laughing while reading it! It's perfect for passing time effectively and also for summer reading when you can enjoy the humor and joy of a good book. I never really liked poems but Silverstein's are definitely an exception! My favorite poem was "Rock'n Roll Band" because it's one of the funniest poems that I've read in my entire life. I really enjoyed reading this book and I think that you should definitely try it. :)

Why I love it: Really? This is a banned book? Somewhere, Mr. Silverstein is shaking his head sadly. It’s a hilarious book of illustrations and poems. Silly poems. Its message is clear: use your imagination, laugh often and your life will be good. It promotes kindness, goodness and understanding. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Disclaimer: I have a very well-worn and beloved first edition hardcover.

My Rating: 5+ stars

This book is a charmer. It's a gem. It's stellar. And as a side bonus, it's a wonderful book to encourage kids to read!

It's as good now as it was 20 years ago when I first shared it with my nephew and my students. The jokes, the humor, the pictures!

Shel Silverstein draws any child in, and they love it. There may be words they don't understand. That's GOOD! Shel doesn't talk down to kids. Next thing you know, they're *talking* to you about his words. They want to know. They want to learn!

I use this with my online students who can't read, or are failing in school because they're stalled at a certain reading level, and one and all, 100% united, they LOVE Shel Silverstein. I read his poems on the backend of my site, and the kids listen again and again and again. What happens? The words begin to make SENSE.

I can't say enough about this wonderful poet and author, and as soon as I find an extra minute, I'll review his other books.

Oh, and why not borrow it from the library? Because your child will ask for it so often that it needs to be on his or her very own shelf. I even buy extra copies for siblings, so it's always there for each one. They'll take it from neighbor to friend, reading all the while. I've seen a few copies "walk away" in a classroom where I'm visiting, yet I barely regret it. If *this* book will turn a reading hater into a real reader...then it was worth it!

This point may anger you, though: You know "The Giving Tree," also by Silverstein? HATE IT. There! Now I *know* I've shocked you! ;D

Miss Paula and The Kids

“A Light in the Attic” is a compilation of poems by Shel Silverstein, with a directed audience of children six to nine years old. Shel ensures that every poem in this book is far from predictable, and not just for kids! I read this book as a child, and I will still laugh at “They Put A Brassiere on the Camel”, people started dressing animals such as camels in bras and pigs in pants because they weren’t “proper”. I would laugh myself red when my grandmother read “One Two”, which reminded me of my younger brothers because someone is trying to say the old rhyme, “one two, buckle my shoe...” and they keep getting interrupted. Most of the poems in this book contain vivid imagery, and when they don’t, they have unique pointillism drawings done by Shel himself! Almost all his poems rhyme flawlessly with great rhythm, but in some of the crazier ones with imaginary words and metaphors, he uses slant rhymes. Shel’s works are like they come straight from a child’s imaginative mind, but he includes adult twists here and there.
He incorporates poems that younger individuals are less likely to understand, with a more solemn tone like “The Little Boy and the Old Man”. It’s read:
Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.”
Said the little old man, “I do that too.”
The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.”
“I do that too,” laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, “I often cry.”
The old man nodded, “So do I.”
“But worst of all,” said the boy, “it seems
Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me.”
And he felt the warmth of a old wrinkled hand.
“I know what you mean,” said the little old man.
To a child, this poem would still be funny, but more somber to adults. Shel’s works are famously known, and for good reason. There are some strange abstract excerpts, that kids would say, “Ewwww!” to, but still giggle away. The best thing about the special edition is that there are twelve never before published poems at the back of the book! So even if you had this read to you as a child, you can relieve the laughter over and over again, and read more that you’ve never even seen! My grandmother has read all his works to me, and my favorite was this book and “The Giving Tree”. I love this book, and will keep it handy for any day that I want a good laugh.
They say reading makes you travel to time and space, and it surely does, for a child, the poems and pictures could stick them right beside a Grindly Grun, a Meehoo will come knocking with an Exactlywatt, or maybe a Razor-tooth Sline will come to their house to dine! But for me as an adult, it takes me to a place much more fun and euphoric, when I was knee tall to a grasshopper, with grandma tucking me in, reading Shel Silverstein, kissing me goodnight, and cutting out the lights.

Your child just might be more capable of appreciating this marvelous book of poetry than you anticipate.

Here's our story. We had brought our child of 20 months to Disney World, at the invitation of her grandparents (my parents.) Like the doting grandparents they are, they not only generously hosted her (and us) on vacation, but they sprang for some books to surprise her with, to keep her entertained in the hotel room.

My mother had ordered A Light in the Attic based on the recommendation of the History Book Club. She phoned me after it had arrived, saying, "I think I made a mistake. I can't see any way that a child of twenty months will be interested in these Silverstein books. They're volumes of poetry collections, with only crude sketches for illustrations, and at that, not even every poem is illustrated."

When I saw the books my mother had bought, I agreed with her assessment. I myself came of age before they were published, and wasn't familiar with them. And surely our very young daughter would get nothing out of these books. Even the packaging seemed aimed at an older audience - the author's photograph is on the back cover, for goodness sake. What child is interested in that? So we showed Juliana the other books first, opening up A Light in the Attic only on the last day of the vacation.

And, indeed, a light it was. What a revelation.

The first time I read these poems to my little girl, she would not allow me to stop until I had read 50 full pages. The second time - she wouldn't let me stop until I had covered 75! About two weeks later, she actually drove me to read the ENTIRE book, cover to cover - a process that was ended only twelve pages from the end, when we were called grudgingly to dinner.

There were certain poems that I just could never get past. "Read it again!" she would exclaim after these. Even five, six consecutive readings of certain poems was not enough to satisfy.

These poems, we have found, are like uncovering a secret language that only children fully and instinctively understand. The adult who reads these books aloud may also rediscover a few forgotten preoccupations, anxieties, questions, joys and sources of humor, of long, long ago.

The appeal of these poems for our daughter has been so intense that we have spent some time wondering aloud to each other about the components of Silverstein's genius. Here are a few, admittedly untutored, thoughts:

First, there is his flair for the amusing nonsense word: our daughter particularly loves the poems that contain such gems as: "loony-goony," "sploosh," "whoosh," and "fly-hi-dee, try-hi-dee, my-hi-dee-ho."

But it's not just silly words. Indeed, unlike the Seuss books, many of the Silverstein poems have much less disciplined meter. The subject matter, in addition to the sound, is a great part of the resonant quality.

Our child especially likes the subversive, satirical poems- revealing to us that she's aware of much more than we'd realized. There's a "Knock-Knock" poem in which a "Mehoo" with an "Exactlywatt" on a chain delivers a routine that sounds like something out of Abbott and Costello. Another poem is a take-off on "One Two Buckle My Shoe." ("Buckle your own shoe!" is the first interruption.) Who would have thought that our twenty-month-old would get the jokes? But she does. These satirical poems were among those that she requested be repeatedly read, giggling every time.

Silverstein has an impressive talent for remembering and conveying the wonder and anxiety that children find in domestic settings. Again, one wouldn't think a small child yet possesses these anxieties and fascinations, but these poems have enabled us to discover that she does. In one poem, there is a polar bear lurking in the refrigerator; in another, there's an eyeball in the gumball machine (one of several ghoulish poems in the collection, which we try to skip over - she won't let us flip past that one, though); in another, the child falling asleep is tormented by the "What ifs" ("What if I don't grow taller?"); another conveys the boredom of flipping through uninteresting television channels on a weekend afternoon. Both daughter and parent connect with these.

Our daughter's other favorites include: Picture Puzzle Piece, Messy Room, Squishy Touch ("Every single thing I touch turns to raspberry Jell-O."), Eight Balloons (each of which finds a different cause to go, "POP!"), -Ations (all about conversation, communication, cooperation, reconciliation, etc.) Overdues ("What do I do? What do I do? This library book is forty two years overdue. . . ") and Hippo's Hope.

In being asked to read these poems over and over, we have grown to love them too. How could one not love the chance to read such couplets to one's child as:

"How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live `em.
How much love inside a friend?
Depends how much you give `em."

Our daughter has three Silverstein volumes: This one, plus Falling Up, plus the first in the series, Where the Sidewalk Ends. Where the Sidewalk Ends is the most renowned, but A Light in the Attic is our family favorite. Perhaps our daughter loves these most because she got to know this volume first; maybe, but so far it's our favorite as well.

Silverstein's poetry has plucked responsive chords in our daughter and in the process helped us to grow closer to her. For that, we are very grateful for his inscrutable genius.

Concluding note to parents: It's not always the lavishly illustrated, sensory overload books that will most appeal to a child, even a very young child. There are other ways to more directly touch their feelings, and this book is a rare, fine example.

Shel Silverstein has the unique ability to see life from a young person's perspective. His poems are fun, witting and totally on the mark. These books were a favorite for our youngest son, especially when he had to memorize a poem for school. Kids can relate to the silliness and the sublte lessons of life that these poems quietly give the reader both young and old.

These poems make a kid feel like he/she's not the only one to feel alone, or out of touch, and just about every alienating emotion a young person might have. That to me is the strength of Silverstein's writings. He clues on in what's going on inside a kid's head and lets him/her know that they are not alone in their thoughts, even the selfish ones as in Prayer of a Selfish Child;

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my toys to break.
So none of the other kids can use 'em . . .
Amen

Even adults can appreciate Silverstein. I can't help but think of a couple going through a divorce when I read Prayer of a Selfish Child. And I laughed. Silverstein layers his poems so that all who read them can enjoy them.
When I Dream

Another wonderful collection of poems by Shel Silverstein. A Light in the Attic doesn't have quite as many laugh-out-loud memorable poems as his signature collection, Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings, but it's fun nonetheless. My niece and nephew both lost themselves to the giggles the first few times we read "Squishy Touch" aloud at bed time:

Everything King Midas touched
Turned to gold, the lucky fellow
Every single thing I touch
Turns to raspberry Jell-O...

My personal favorite is the short and simple Snake Problem:

It's not that I don't care for snakes
But oh what do you do
When a 24-foot python says...
I love you ...

Buy this for your kids and enjoy! You'll be giggling right along with them.

For kids, this book is excellent. It is filled with funny, irreverent poetry that really seems to locate the core essence of childhood and speaks to children at their level without talking down to them. Kids will find this book funny and refreshing because it treats them like people instead of little kids.

But that's really only half the story. Underneath the "children's book" veneer is what appears to be a love letter from the author to some unnamed other person. It really didn't strike me that this was the case until about halfway through I came across the poem about misunderstandings, apologies, and forgiveness. Then, the huge random listing of poems suddenly made a whole lot more sense. Each poem is a small extract of Siverstein's relationship with this person. He even feels safe to talk with this person about philosophical topics as in "The Big G and the Little A" which is a rebuke of atheism.

His poems discuss all sorts of things ranging from aspirations and limitations (Rock and Roll Band) to the everyday occurences of meeting funny people (The Babysitter). The poems make sense when read within the context of a love letter. It is as if Silverstein gives us a little peek into a few years of his life with this loved one. Funny observations, hopes and dreams, love, forgiveness.

The first poem, A Light in the Attic, gives the first clue that this book isn't just about children's poems. In the poem, he spies a light coming from his lover's attic and knows that it isn't only himself who is looking, but also that his lover is looking out at him. Maybe they have only been together a short time and are unsure how to proceed, but he tells that person, "If I can read your thoughts, I see a fire in your eyes that is afraid to come out. I love you, and I think that you love me too."

By all means, get this book for your kids. They will love it. But take the time to enjoy it for yourself. Silverstein has cleverly disguised his love letter as a bunch of silly children's poems.

Shel Silverstein continues to entertain, educate and expand kids minds through delightful and lyrical prose and illustrations that jump off the pages. Get this book. Read it often and treat your kids to one of life's golden gifts, A Light In The Attic.

Loved this book since I was in grade school. Even now I can still recite some of the poems out of this book and Where the Sidewalk Ends. Shel Silverstein changed my view as a reader and my style as a writer and my perspective as a person. He was so influential. I remember being in 3rd grade in a private school, and once a week our class would walk 1/2 a mile to the public library where we were allowed to check out books, and I spent many weeks re-checking out his books, and passing up valuable time that could have been spent on other books, then sometime by the end of 6th grade I had finally been given the two books as gifts from my grandmother. I still have them on my shelf today and read them to my son. He used them this past year for one of his writing assignments. His favorite from this author is The Giving Tree.

If you don't remember these rhymes from your childhood, then it's about time you visited the attic, "A Light in the Attic," that is. Silverstein combines humorous sketches, whimsical poetry and fanciful word play in another amusing collection. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" will always be my favorite, but poems like "Spelling Bee," "Deaf Donald," "Nobody" and "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony" definately make "A Light in the Attic" a close runner-up.
If you know Silverstein's work, then you are familiar with his simple rhyming style. His flair for combining drawings and words make for a book that's much more than just a collection of poetry. His poems are an experience that would be diminished without the visual aspect.
Silverstein's collections are great for all ages. I read them as a kid, but I enjoy them just as much now. Silverstein has the soul of a child, but the wit of a sage.
"The saddest thing I ever did see
Was a woodpecker peckin' at a plastic tree.
He looks at me, and 'Friend,' says he,
'Things ain't as sweet as they used to be.'"
-Shel Silverstein page 83

This book has many poems.Its a great way to get you into peoms.Shel Sliverstein has a way to make peoms entertaining in stead of one of shake spear peoms which is of love n everthing else being sad.I wasnt into peoms til i read his peoms which i love and i am collecting all his books.So this book which im reading now "A light in the attic" is one of my favorite.The peoms had me laughing so much.I was really into one of the peoms called "little abigail and the beautiful pony"this peom is on page 121.This peom reminds me of myself as a spoil girl wheni was little and i use to say so many things just for i could get what i want.I read that peom more then once its about a girl who dies just because her parents didnt give her the pony she wanted.But anyways this book also has few drawings that just want to leave you laughing when you see it.This book just wants you to write peoms.

Shel Silverstein does it again. This time with "A Light in the Attic". A great compelation of poems that will have you laughing throughout the day. When I first picked this book up, I couldn't put it down for its gripping the reader techniques with such humorous poems. With characters in his poems ranging from any animal to any human, this book definitely has variety. I love the way Shel is able to rhyme things together and come up with such great stories in his poems......this is very evident in this book.
Most of th peoms run about half a page, some long, some short. All of course, though, have humor and really show the work put in to them. This poem book is one of Silverstein's finest and deserves some sort of award.
I want to thank Shel Silverstein for creating such a wonderful poem book and such great ideas that make you want to read the whole book in one sitting. That would definitely take time though it would be worth it.
As you can see, I really recommend anyone of any age buying this book so they can enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for reading my review and have a nice day!!

Policeman, policeman, help me please! This book is tickling both my knees! And the rest of my skeletal system, as well! Read all about the baby-sitter, and the Lord's Prayer (in view of the kid with all the cool toys), and what to do if you don't wanna do the dishes, and why is it that there's nothing on interesting on TV???? This book is a must-read for all those who have a wild sense of humor. Speaking of which, I read this to a little girl about four years old. She loved the book so much she memorized passages, such as that Lord's Prayer one. Unfortunately, her father was a VERY strict Catholic and now every time I visit them with a book to read to her, I have to run it by them so that it would pass the "Light In the Attic" test! Apparently, that little Lord's Prayer poem and the Baby-Sitter poem didn't "sit" too well with them (sorry, inside joke). Policeman, policeman, help me please

Hi, my name is Dusty McGruder and I read the book A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. This book is a book of poetry so there is not really a main plot, setting, conflict, or resolution. However, there are sometimes plots, settings, conflicts, and resolutions for each individual poem.

For example, in the poem Rock 'N' Roll Band, the plot is that seven kids are dreaming about bing a rock & roll band. It takes place on an imaginary stage and at the beach. The conflict is not an ordinary one. It is between the kids imagination and reality. It is solved by the kids realizing that the are not a rock & roll band.

An example of there not really being a plot, setting, conflict, or resolution is in the poem Prayer of the Selfish Child. It only has a setting which is in a little kids room at night before bedtime.

Although most of the poems do not really have a plot, setting, conflict, or resolution, the majority of the poems teach a moral. They are also very up-beat and a good read if you are down.

I would recommend this book to kids and younger teenagers because it primarily directed toward them as an audience. This book also has a lot of humor about weird things so therefore, anyone who likes humorous poetry would also like this book.

Wit seems to be rare these days. I can only seem to find it occasionally in the infrequent fight people have with each other. But you never seem to find many people anymore that just have wit, and use it often as such. But I believe Shel Silverstein is one of those people. Most people have probably read his books- he writes many poems for young children but I've discovered that now as I read them when I'm older I see so much more in them and appreciate them even more than I did. His poems are highly respected and show kids that poems can make sense and be fun- not so confusing and deep all the time.

I for one am not an expert poet but I have written a few poems and I do realize that it is difficult to write a true, quality poem. Shel Silverstein writes amazing poems that are silly, but deep at the same time and are truly of quality. His poems are like the other side of the moon. They show a completely different way of thinking of things and looking at life. You read a poem and you sit back and think to yourself, "huh... that is truly brilliant," and so it is. On the surface, they are silly and funny, but underneath they are brimming with meaning and thought. How rare and ingenious that is.

I want to read many more of his books, they are truly inspiring to me. They are all a reminder not to look through life in the same lens you always do, which I think is a good reminder for all of us.
[...]

I read lots of Shel Silverstein as a child and wanted to share the quirky silly poems with my children and they absolutely loved the book! The poems are funnier now that I'm older. Definitely worth buying

A Light in the Attic is a great book for families,children,and people that have a good sense of humor. A Light in the Attic is a joyful book that can teach some adults lessons on how to treat their children. Whenever or wherever you are, this book will make your funny bone shake. Before I bought this book I wondered what poems would be in it, would they be funny,unusual,scary,offensive,queer,lame,or just plain boring. But ... I was wrong. The poems were enchanting. It will give a bright smile on children's faces from everywhere. I recommend this book to those who have enough junk in the trunk to laugh out loud!

Silverstein's A Light in the Attic is a collection of poems that has been near and dear to my heart since I was a child. Shel's ideas are incredibly imaginative, and his poetry ranges from the simple and silly ("Crowded") to the surprisingly heartfelt ("The Little Boy and the Old Man"). His words are bolstered by his very recognizable illustrations, which somehow manage to do the impossible task of bringing his wacky ideas to life.

It is unfortunate that some school districts and parents consider this to be a "controversial" text because of the subject matter of some of the poems. Many of the complaints I've heard focus on "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony," in which a little girl dies because her parents to refuse to buy her a pony, and the inclusion of ghosts, demons, and other supernatural forces in several poems. Although these poems might present slight concerns to some parents, they certainly do not warrant banning the book outright. Instead, use these poems as teaching points to explain to children how authors weave fiction and non-fiction elements together to create original ideas. Proper teacher and parent support can help children understand the intent of unique texts (which, in this instance, is largely to evoke laughter) and can ultimately help children develop into more independent readers.

As a future literacy specialist, I would recommend reading this book with children of all ages. Shel's poems are an excellent means of introducing children to poetry. The poems' complexities range in difficulty from the very simple to full page spreads, and often employ basic rhyme schemes that are easy to follow. There are dozens of examples of onomatopoeia, similes, and metaphors that are great to refer to when teaching these figures of speech to children. The poems are short enough for teachers or parents to read them aloud in only a few minutes, but the ideas they generate can be discussed for far longer.

Lastly, it is worth noting that much of Shel's poetry, beneath all of the silliness, carries a message of optimism that rears its head ever so gently to offer encouragement to readers. In "Put Something In" Shel extols children to add something new and exciting to the world, regardless of what it is. His last poem in this work, "This Bridge," encourages readers to have the courage to take the last few steps on their own into new beginnings. Ultimately, with poems about anything and everything, there is certainly something in this book for everyone.

Silverstein is our favorite author of children's books. He is just perfect! In fact his works are as good for the parents as for their children. Whichever Silverstein's book I bought for any of my five children (each one of them has his own Silverstein), we have ALL read them. That includes my children, myself, and even sometimes my husband. "Light in the Attic" is no exception to that rule. I think that all of Shel's books are equally good. Check also Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook,A Giraffe and a Half,Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings. If you are a loving mother that wants to see smile on your child's face, give him Silverstein - it's children's literature classic and a safe bet. A recent discovery for me is Boszenna Nowiki and her series Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 1,Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 2,Why Some Cats are Rascals ( Book 3) with some very touching stories of speaking cats...

After being married 6 years, I asked my husband which poem he remembered from "A light in the Attic", and when he had never read a Shel Silverstein book, I felt truly sorry for him. I honestly felt like he missed out on a piece of childhood. Kind of like if you never got to see a movie until you were 25. It's just not the same, your mind can't run with the words and the images like it used to, at least not for most of us! ( I guess Shel himself would not have fallen into this category!) Anyway, do your children a favor, buy the Shel books and let their imaginations come to life! I hadn't looked at the book in about 18 years, until I was cleaning out our basement and ran into it, and oh the memories it brought back!

A Light in the Attic is a great book. I don't know why people would want to ban this book. Just because it has an illustration of a man with no pants on is no reason to ban this book. There are lots of other good poems and funny illustrations in that book than just the one with the guy without pants. Some poems in that book touch little kids' hearts and parents and adults have no right to ban this book because of that. Some people may think that the picture with the guy with no pants is very funny. I do. So if you don't like a poem than just don't read that certain poem because there are lots more good poems in that book and that's the goodness of a good book.

I hadn't read Shel Silverstein for years until I recently picked up this ancient book of my youth. Looking at it now, I truly appreciate Silverstein's unique writing (maybe for the first time). It's difficult not to fall in love instantly with a man who makes cannibalism, monsters, and other ephemera kid friendly. Not to mention the fantastic illustrations and original verses of each poem. Interestingly, I saw real similarities with, of all people, Gary Larson ("The Far Side") down to the grotesque but can't-look-away illustrations. I would recommend this book to any child I know. These poems do not date and feel as fresh as when I read them as a young-un.

My second grade teacher, Sue Luthe, read this to us in class during the Reagan years. Now at 32 years of age, I still remember how zany and wild the poems and illustrations were. Only just now did I learn that this is or was a controversial book. To me, as a Christian, there's nothing controversial about it. It's a great book full of memorable poems. How much better proof can one give than that they still remember the title of a book their teacher read to them in the *second grade* after all these years?

To the book-burning haters: you're despicable. How dare you try to unjustly suggest censoring something so wholesome and lighthearted and so dear to me and my childhood? How dare you try to keep other young minds from enjoying the same opportunity? Just deplorable.

Instead of censorship, a good parent or teacher will use the opportunity to discuss social, family and moral values and educate children rather than fearfully make an utterly futile attempt to keep them ignorant. As a future English teacher, I know I will.

This book makes me laugh every minute I read. It makes me confused sometimes. Like the poem the Meehoo with an Exactlywatt. It was somehow confusing but still as funny as any poem in that book. This book could be for any age because no matter what age you are, it will still make you laugh. A Light In The Attic is for anyone who loves funny poems like me. Shel Silverstein's books have wonderful illustrations especially the one on the front cover that has a boy with a roof shaped head with someone smaller looking out. I only had one question about Shel Silverstein's books. It is that I have no idea how he got all these ideas for all his poems .

I bought this so I could read it to my 6 month old son, I have a book shelf going for him and have been going through adding classics and my childhood favorites to share with him. I'm hopping to instill a love of language and reading by sewing the seeds early. I loved this when I was younger and HAD to get this for his collection.

What makes me sad though is that I can't get it for Kindle. It would be great to have it on Kindle for when we travel. For a decent price-at least 1/2 if not better. As a matter of fact I think that if you already have the hardcover books one should be able to get an even better deal on a kindle version.

I LOVE Shel Silverstein's wonderfully witty humor. A master at his craft, that's for sure! This was WELL worth the price. I don't remember receiving the CD though ..., but I don't think it came with it. I'm completely satisfied with my purchase. I guess an almost fifty year old woman shouldn't admit to loving a children's book, but why should they have all the fun ;) A Light in the Attic (20th Anniversary Edition Book & CD) [Hardcover]

Shel Silverstein has a unique way of looking at things that are commonplace in an ordinary life and his poetry captures these clever observations in humorous ways. His poems are really about the human condition and can be appreciated by people of all ages. I can relate to his poem Push Button 'cause when my youngest was just a tot, he never met a dial, knob, or button he didn't like.

This was the second book I ever read, back when I was in the fourth grade, of Shel Silverstein's. Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings was the first one of his that I read, and I enjoyed A Light in the Attic, but not quite as much as Where the Sidewalk Ends. Both are good books and are excellent additions to any bookshelf, whether for adults or children. I can't believe as a child I missed some of what I can only say is innuendo. I still laugh, today, to read this book. The poems are quirky, and some are just downright silly, but if you don't take yourself or life too seriously, they are really funny--because they are true!

This isn't a boring, stuffy poetry book though. This is storytelling of the human condition in a humorous form that often rhymes, sometimes poorly...LOL

I bought this book together with more books of the same author because the drawings were really appealing but most of all because I thought it would be good for my children's literacy to read short and simple english poems. Although the poems are well written, I am very disappointed by the content of them, taking about suicide, death, depression, exchanging parents, not fitting into society, etc. All negative thoughts that I would never want my children to read about at this age, worst recite!

This was a funny book. It was one of the best I have read if not the best. I love Here Comes, Never, Ations, and Fancy Dive. Those are some of my favorites. I really like all the poems though. Shel Silverstein is a great poet and writer. I love all of his books very much. I don't know if this is true, but people say he doesn't like children. I find this hard to believe because he writes all these books for them. Oh well, he is a great writer and excellent poet. As I said before, I love all of his poems in this book but my favorite is Ations

This remarkable collection of poems reminds you of Silverstein's classic "Where the Sidewalk Ends". The nonsensical whimsy is something kids (and adults) of all ages will enjoy. I never noticed that Silverstein did his own drawings, which makes it all the more enjoyable, especially the ones where one drawing segues into the next poem, or where the illustration adds to the poem (the 'i love you' snake, etc). Wonderful!

Rating: 5/5

A Light in the Attic is a great book. I don't know why people would want to ban this book. Just because they have an illustration of a guy without any pants is no reason to ban this book. There are lots of other good poems and funny illustrations in that book than just the one with the guy without pants. So if you don't like it than just don't read that certain poem because there are lots more good poems in that book and that's the goodness of a good book.

Hula eels, magic carpets and tickilish tom are all things in A Light in the Attic. This hilarios book has fun filled poems all over! such as Little Abigail and the beautiful pony. What happens to Abigail when she doesn't get what she wants?
The author Shel Siverstein uses rymes through out the whole book to make it super funny. I would recomend this book if you like fantasy and magic. You will love these poems and be rolling on the floor laughing.

I love this book. I own it and have read portions to all my grandkids and they love it. My eldest grand was turning 11 and I thought it was time he owned it. He called me and said, "Gma! This is your book you read me. I can't take your book!" Sweety, he thought only one book existed. When I explained it was all his and I still have mine. He was over the moon. He still wants me to read bits when he's here, he said.

Great family book.

I picked "A Light in the Attic" off the poetry table, so I could read an impromptu poem at a poetry reading evening. We were at Barnes and Nobel, in Georgetown. Shel Silverstein is a favorite of my daughter. It was June 17. Others read their own poems and one by Gelbran. I chose "Summer" because it was short and topical. I read it with expression, especially the "Burrr" part. I got more applause than anyone else and had fun

I love this book. In my opinion, this book is funny even when some poems can be a little sad. It is great. I love how the poems flow together. I would most likely recommend the poem “Deaf Donald” because it is sad and funny at the same time. You don’t find that a lot in children’s books. Be careful, some poems can be a little inappropriate. For example, the illustration for the poem “Spelling Bee” is inappropriate. A nude butt, can you believe it? Overall I highly recommend this book.

A light in the Attic is a great book for people to read. It teaches all different types of poetry and could inspire kids to write poetry of their own. People may think that some of the poems are inappropriate but they are supposed to be funny. When I was little I would sit down every once in a while and read the poems from "A Light in the Attic". I thought they were funny so I dont know why anyone would want to ban the book.

I have loved this book since I was a child and because it brought me such joy and sparked my imagination, I try to buy it for my friends when they have babies! I only hope they enjoy it as much as I have.

I love this book as I read and read it as a child. It is a great family fun book as you can read each one until every person in your family has them all memorized and still never get bored. My eight-year-old daughter has now recently found a love for poems, and reads a selection each night. She has really enjoyed this book and I watch the expression on her face and the enjoyment through her eyes. Nobody should grow up without this book!

A Light in the Attic is a great book of poems for kids. There are some GREAT poems, some pretty good poems, and some that made you think why you bought the book. Then you remember that most of the poems are great, just like Shel Silverstein. He has two great books , this and Where the Sidewalk Ends. It is a great book for kids and so are all the rest of them that he writes. I would recomend this book to anyone, even adults

I have to say that Shel Silverstein deserves a lot of credit...his poetry opens the door of rhyme and verse for so many children who are blessed to find this book in their hands. I have the best memories of first reading this book as a youngster back in the early 1980's...my brother and I would take turns reading our favorites to each other for hours. We'll never forget you Shel! Your poetic genius will continue to inspire the multitudes!

Hope,
The book A Light In The Attic is very good because I like all of the little poems and most of the poems are really funny!The authorof the book is Shel Silverstein and I think that his style is to be really funny and to make people lauph and well he made me lauph.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to lauph or likes fairytales.
Personaly I can't wait to get my hands on another one of Shel Silverstein's books!!!

Brilliant, charming, sweet, silly, ridiculous, lyrical, profound, imaginative, and childlike poetry from the master, Silverstein. Chock full of word play and the illogical logic, full of depth and feeling, comedy and beauty. Loved them as a child, appreciate them even more deeply now. Grade: A+

I grew up with many shel silverstien books, but my favorite always being a light in the attic. Through my life, many have been misplaced, (with the exception of a few), and now I have a daughter of my own. She's only 3 months old, but i knew as soon as i found out i was pregnant that she had to have her own copy of a light in the attic. no matter how old i get, i still get a kick out of the poems, and i read them to my little baby, and i just know she'll love them when she can understand. this is truly a book that can stand the test of time.

I ordered this book as a Christmas gift for my 4-year-old daughter, but when I ordered this I also ordered Where the Sidewalk Ends and Everything On It. I remember reading this and Where the Sidewalk Ends when I was a child, and I'm really looking forward to spending some time reading these with my little girl.

I love this book!! I remember doing a play in elementary school, where we acted out his poems. My skit was to "Hot Dog"-pg.69. I looked as silly as the picture, dragging a hot dog out onto the stage, on a leash. It's been over 20 years since I was first introduced to Shel's poems & I still get a kick out of reading them!

"Where the Sidewalk Ends" & "A Light In The Attic" by: Shel Silverstein make Great gifts for a child of any age!!!

Its a favorite in my household. My oldest son grew up with this book, and my youngest loves it just as much. Shel Silverstein is a favorite in our household. Bought the book used, but it was still in great condition.

Light in the Attic is a collection of poems that are as much fun as a barrel of monkeys. Shel Silverstein writes poems that are silly, wacky and make you laugh right out loud. If you are having a bad day, read some of the poems in this book and your day will get better right away. I would recommend this book to any people from 2 years old to 100 years old.

My name is Jazmin. I'm a third grader in Salton City, California. I think The Light in the Attic is a great book. My favorite poems are Deaf Donald and the Lost Cat. It's a great book because of the pictures and the words in the poems and I hope all of you people buy this book and read it because it's a beautiful book.

A Light in the Attic didn't appeal to me as much as Where the Sidewalk Ends. Sure, there were some cute poems, such as "God's Wheel" and "Zebra Question." But most of the other poems looked like ol' Shel was trying too hard. My advice to you Shel fans: borrow this book from a friend or check it out at your local library if you want to buy it. To me, it wasn't worth what I paid for.

I distinctly remember both my parents and grandparents reading to me as a child. Later, when I grew up a little, I was able to read for myself. Shel Silverstein's "A light in the Attic" and "Where the Sidewalk ends" were among my favorites on the bookshelf. Many of Silverstein's poems have just the right essence of "weird" to appeal to the mind of a child and the sketches that accompany some of the poems seem to add a little punch. Many of his poems like "The little Boy and the Old Man" will remain a part of you long after you outgrow everything else.

Buy "A Light in the Attic". Buy "Where the Sidewalk Ends". Read them to your children. Encourage your children to read themselves and keep both books on your shelf for your grandchildren. You won't be disappointed.

I grew up reading a lot of Shel Silverstein's poems. I'm partial to "Where the Sidewalk Ends" simply because the poems from that book were read to me more often and I became more familiar with the poems from that book vs. this one. However, that being said, this book certainly deserves all 5 stars. Shel is a classic poet and is so much fun to read! I would also recommend "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Enjoy!!

Shel Silverstein is hands down, one of my favorite poets. I love this addition of "Attic" because it comes with a CD of poems read by Silverstein. Since I was a kid, my favorite Silverstein poem has been "Ladies First." After re-reading his work, and listening to the CD, I have to say that "Clarence" is new a favorite.

I absolutely adore these drawings and poems - I have been reading and giggling and remembering my own childhood when I giggled and laughed at them... My kids both laughed and laughed when I read them to them - and my 18 year old daughter had to show them all to her friends. This is a just an adorable book and well worth the money for the kid at heart or by age!

This book was like the bomb ! Well I'm not gonna exagerate about it that much! I liked the poem called "My dad gave me one dollar bill". I think this was probably a six year old kiddo that didn't really know that much about money. Well that's all I'm gonna write for know my hands are getting kind of sore!

A light in the attic is a great book just like Shel's other books. I have so much fun reading it to my children. This is a wonderful collection of poetry for children. This is the perfect example of what children's books should be... fun.
Another must have book for any fan of Shel Silverstein is Boetry by Beau Beaudoin. His books are often compared to Shel, Dr. Seuss and Tim Burton. What my kids love about his illustrations are they are in color.

Shel Silversteing seems to bring out the pure essence of us all. A Light in the Attic is just one of the many books that Shel Silverstein has written and in my opinion the most brilliant of all of his work. I am a 32 year old mother of 2 and have enjoyed sharing his writing with both of my children.

I'm Ruby, a third grader in Salton City, Callifornia. I think A Light in the Attic is a great book. My two favorite poems are "Deaf Donald" and "Homework Machine." It's a great book because it is not one poem. The pictures are great too. I think everybody should read it too.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO READ. I AM A REALLY BIG FAN OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN AFTER HE WROTE THIS BOOK OF POEMS. I LIKED IT SO MUCH I WENT ON TO READ SOME OTHER BOOKS BY HIM.

I RECOMMEND IT FOR EVERYONE. IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE A SILLY KID.

I wish Shel Silverstean would put alot more poem books out. I love them. Sometimes you can just read them to your self or eaven out loud and then every body can enjoy them. I finished the book in 2 days!

My favorite poem is in this book called Backward Bill. I liked this poem because it was fuinny and everything was backwards, such as he pays his boss on paydays. Most of the other poems rhyme and most of them were entertaining. (A.C.B. age 9)

My book finally came and I love it so much! Page by page reminds me of my childhood and how it was read in my classroom. As a child the book seemed so much bigger and my hands could hardly wrap around it. I have enjoyed also the 12 new poems within the special edition section of the book. This lovely book brings back so many treasured memories that I will continue to treasure for years to come.

This author is right up there beside Dr. Seuss. My grandkids can not get enough of all his poetry. We read them at bedtime to quiet them down. What an amazing mind! Even I am laughing! Don't miss these books!

I was very disappointed to receive this book which was sold as new, but which had a handwritten inscription in the back indicating that someone had previously owned this volume.
The book is excellent and the CD with it is wonderful. I just wish it didn't have the writing in it. Will the store send me another? I think they should and I shouldn't have go to the trouble and expense of returning this one. We'll see.

This book is a delight. My daughter loves reading it and having it read to her. My husband found it and I admit I was a little doubtful at first if she would like it. But I was wrong - she pulls it out regularly to read at night.

Too much Shel is NOT a good thing! I felt my IQ level drop as I read this book, I wasn’t amused by his style and I’m sorry I didn’t read up on him more before I purchased several of his books. BE SURE you do your research because how he expresses himself is simply a matter of opinion, you just might not like it!

My grandmother bought this book for me when I was six years old, and I spent countless hours laughing at the poetry and looking at the illustrations. A wonderful book, definitely; very humorous, a great gift for any child. :) I cannot pick my favorite poem from this book, they are all so hilarious; the time spent reading these stories with my mother, grandparents, or friends when I was a child, is priceless.

I grew up reading this book and even as I struggled to read, this book got me interested in words. It's full of playful short story/poems that challenge kids to think about possibilities beyond the simple words on the page. Much of the content is both insightful and funny.

I read some poems out of these books as a kid and loved them. Now that I am a speech language therapist in schools this book has become a great therapy activity. The poems are so rich in language as well as a great way to teach/improve reading fluency.

I have loved Shel Silverstein's books since I was little. I have read each of the Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends cover to cover more times than I can count. Now, I want to start reading them to my children. My son is still an infant, but I'll get so much enjoyment reading them to him anyway. The stories take me to different worlds and let my imagination run wild!

My siblings and I absolutely LOVED these books growing-up; as evident by the multiple copies of each my parents found when clearing out the house. I recommend this and His other books for every babyshower/kids birthday you need to attend.

Twenty years after I read this book, I still have "The Sitter", "Crowded Tub", and "Shaking" memorized. The CD with Shel Silverstein reading his work is priceless and his voice makes me laugh and cry with delight. (He's still at the top of my list of people who should've had the chance to grow old!)

This is a great book to give to anyone and everyone on your list...for ANY occasion.

This is a book of funny poems kids might like. The poems are about silly things like a babysitter sitting on babies! Some also tell stories. Some poems are so funny like Prayer of the Selfish Kid, Spelling Bee, Something Missing, and How Not to Dry the Dishes. I like this book because I love poems that make me laugh. If you like poems you will love this book.

I have been buying this book and Where the Sidewalk Ends as gifts for children for many years. As a reading teacher, I guarantee these books certainly will get kids into reading very funny poetry. Many of the now "grown up" kids tell me they still have this book from their childhood. That's a pretty good review in itself.

This is one of the cutest books I have ever read. It is a great book to pull out on a rainy day, I never get bored with it, no matter how many times I read it. The poems are all funny, and they can cheer anyone up. I will definatly treasure this book forever!

I ordered this book with the understanding in the review that it was supposed to be in excellent shape. The book took almost 4 weeks to come and when it did it was in fair condition at best. It just looked old and worn and the cover had a small rip in it. Luckily it was for a friends 10 year old daughter who was just going to use the book to play school with and make notes in it anyway. And why did it have to take so long to get.....I guess they had to look for it in the attic!

AND I DIDNT GAIN ANYTHING FROM THIS BOOK. MAYBE IT'S SUFFICIENT FOR SOME KIDS TO FULFILL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS, BUT NOW AS A YOUNG ADULT SEEING THIS BOOK IN OLD BOX, ITS CONTENTS FAIL TO REMEMBER...

MAYBE I THINK AS ADULT OTHER QUALITIES OUTWEIGH THE VERSE, FOR EXAMPLE:

VINE POUR EL CAMINO DEFICIL,

LA LINEA QUE NUNCA TERMINA,

LA LINEA QUE GOLPEA EN LA PIERDRA,

LA PALABRA QUE ROMPRE UNA ESQUINA,

MINIMA LINEA VACIA,

LA LINEA, TODA UNA VIDA,

PALABRA, PALABRA MIA

PAULO LEMINSKI THIS IS POETRY MY FRIENDS!!!