Guide Note

Shel Silverstein was a poet, cartoonist, musician, songwriter and children's author. He never allowed his books to be printed in paperback, as he felt it diminished the quality of the book. He knowingly went against the grain of traditional poets and writers, writing in his own laid-back and conversational style, occasionally employing profanity and slang.

The actual date of his death is unknown. He was found May 10, 1999 by his housekeeper after suffering a lethal heart attack over the previous weekend.

Fast Facts

Born: September 25, 1930
Died: May 8 or 9, 1999
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Literary Genre: Childrens Books
Often called himself Uncle Shelby
He wrote "On Cover of the Rolling Stone" for Dr. Hook
Inducted into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame 2002
Cartoonist for Playboy Magazine

Career

Silverstein began writing at the age of 12 when he found that he wasn't athletic, but could write. He joined the U.S. Army, writing for the Stars and Stripes newsletter. He was later urged by a family friend to write children's poetry and took up songwriting. He wrote "A Boy Named Sue" for Johnny Cash, "On Cover of the Rolling Stone" for Dr. Hook and "One's on the Way" for Loretta Lynn. Silverstein was featured on the Dr. Demento radio show.

Notable Books

Grab Your Socks! (1956)
Now Here's My Plan (1960)
Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book (1961)
A Playboy's Teevee Jeebies oh la la (1961)
A Giraffe and a Half (1964)
The Giving Tree (1964)
Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? (1964)
Uncle Shelby's Zoo (1964)
More Playboy's Teevee Jeebies (1965)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)
The Missing Piece (1976)
Different Dances (1979)
A Light in the Attic (1981)
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O (1984)
Falling Up (1996)
Draw a Skinny Elephant (1998)
Runny Babbit (2005) (published posthumously)

Notable Albums

Hairy Jazz (1959)
Inside Folk Songs (1962)
I'm So Good That I Don't Have To Brag (1965)
Drain My Brain (1967)
A Boy Named Sue And Other Country Songs (1969)
Freakin' At The Freakers Ball (1972)
Crouchin' On The Outside (1973)
Songs & Stories (1978)
The Great Conch Train Robbery (1980)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1984)
A Light In The Attic (1985)
Underwater Land (2002) (released posthumously)
The Best of Shel Silverstein: His Words His Songs His Friends (2005) (released posthumously)

Categories

Writing | English | Authors and Writers | Poets | Fiction Writers | Artists

View Note History

Shel Silverstein

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Site: ShelSilverstein.com
Wikipedia: Shel Silverstein
Weber University: Shel Silverstein
Poets.org: Shel Silverstein Profile
Fan Site: Shel Silverstein
Amazon.com: Shel Silverstein Merchandise
YouTube Video: "Smart" by Shel Silverstein (Time: 03:12)

Shel Silverstein News and Articles

Google News: Shel Silverstein
The New York Times: "Shel Silverstein, 68, Enchanting Poet for Children, Dies" (1999)
The My Hero Project: Poet Hero: Shel Silverstein (2004)
NPR: "Shel Silverstein Remembered" (1999)
Centerstage: "An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein" (2007)

Shel Silverstein Background and Profiles

NNDB: Shel Silverstein
Weber University: Shel Silverstein Biography
CMT: Artists Biography: Shel Silverstein
Fan Site: Shel Silverstein Biography
Famous Poets and Poems.com: Shel Silverstein Biography

Shel Silverstein Study Guides and Literary Criticism

James Madison University: Shel Siverlstein Teaching Resource File
ETNI: Shel Silverstein Classroom activity
eNotes: Shel Silverstein Criticism
Elite Skills Classic: "Messy Room" Anyalysis
Web English Teacher: Shel Silverstein Lesson Plans

Shel Silverstein Books and Merchandise

Amazon.com: Shel Silverstein Books and Merchandise
Powell's Books: Shel Silverstein Books
Barnes & Noble: Shel Silverstein Books
eBay: Shel Silverstein Books and Collectibles
CafePress.com: Shel Silverstein T-Shirts and Gifts

Shel Silverstein Pictures and Videos

Google Image Search: Shel Silverstein
YouTube: "The Great Smoke Off" Shel Silverstein (Time: 06:34)
YouTube: "What If" By Shel Silverstein (Time: 02:01)
YouTube: "Smart" by Shel Silverstein (Time: 03:12)
YouTube: "Front Row Seat to Hear Old Johnny Sing" by Shel Silverstein (Time: 03:57)

Shel Silverstein Fan Sites, Blogs and Message Boards

Fan Site: Shel Silverstein
Fan Site: Shel Silverstein
More Things: The Songs of Shel Silverstein
Google Blog Search: Shel Silverstein
IMDb: Shel Silverstein Message Board

Shel Silverstein Music Career

Legacy Recordings: Shel Silverstein
Indiana University: Shel Silverstein Discography
Yahoo! Shopping: "Best of Shel Silverstein"
Midomi: Shel Silverstein
AOL Music: Shel Silverstein
Wikipedia: Free to be You and Me

Shel Silverstein Personal Timeline

September 25, 1930: Born Chicago, Illinois
1953: Drafted into the Army, serves in Korea and Japan, military cartoonist
1956: Becomes cartoonist for Playboy
1970: Wins Grammy for "A Boy Named Sue" | daughter Shoshanna born
1975: Companion Susan Hastings dies
1982: Shoshanna dies of a cerebral aneurysm, Shel is never the same
1984: Son Matthew born
May 8, 1999: Dies
2002: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts him posthumously

Shel Silverstein Publication Timeline

1963: Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back
1964: Who Wants a Cheap Rhinocerous | The Giving Tree | A Giraffe and a Half
1974: Where the Sidewalk Ends
1976: The Missing Piece
1981: The Missing Piece Meets the big O | A Light in the Attic
1996: Falling Up
1998: Draw a Skinny Elephant
2005: Runny Babbit

Related Searches

The Giving Tree | Falling Up | A Giraffe and a Half | A Light in the Attic | Where the Sidewalk Ends | Free to Be You and Me | Johnny Cash | Dr. Demento | Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame | A Boy Named Sue | Loretta Lynn | Dr Hook and the Medicine Show | Playboy

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