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A Star is Born
Shel Silverstein was born on September 25, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. He began writing and drawing at a young age. -
Early Career
1950s: Shel enlisted in the army in 1950 and served in Korea and Japan. During this time, he became a cartoonist for the Stars and Stripes Magazine (the US Army's newspaper). After leaving the Army, Shel continued to contribute little drawings to numerous magazines and published his own books of cartoons. -
Music
Shel recorded his first album, 'Hairy Jazz' which contained many original songs. Shel would go on to produce more than a dozen albums, including songs "A boy named Sue." "One's on the way," "Sylvia's Mother," and many more. Creating music spanned throughout his "career", from 1959 to the 1990s. -
Change of Pace- Children's Literature
In 1963, Shel met a book editor who convinced him to give writing for children a try. He took off and created books very quickly.
1963-Uncle Shelby's Story of Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back
1964-A Giraffe and a Half -
Best Seller- The Giving Tree
This book was not only his most popular book, but also the most discussed children's book. It's about a boy and a tree- the tree continues to give everything to the boy as he grows. At the end of the book, she is nothing left but a stump and the boy is an elderly man. She says she has nothing left to give to him except a place to sit. He rests on the stump and she is happy again.
The book is both sad and happy, and some people say it is a stark viewpoint of parent/child relationships. -
Later Career
Although he was known in the musical circle, it was Shel's work as an author of children's books that he is most remembered for. He produced multiple collections of poetry through the 1970s and into the 1980s. His output in th 1980s was minimal and then he picked it back up in the 1990s.
1974- Where the Sidewalk Ends
1976- The Missing Piece
1981- A Light in the Attic AND The Missing Piece Meets the Big O
1996- Falling Up
1998- Draw a Skinny Elephant -
The passing of a legend
Shel Silverstein passed away of a heart attack on May 10, 1999 in Key West, Florida. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages and continues to be known as some of the best children's books of all time.