Exploring Children’s Poetry

The Poems of Shel Silverstein

Shel’s Biography

Born in Chicago in 1932 as Shelby Silverstein

Was a famous cartoonist, before he became known for his poetry

His other talents include musician, actor, and author

However, he is most famous for his children’s books

Shel’s Best Selling Works

The Giving Tree (1964)

Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)

A Light in the Attic (1981)

Falling Up (1996)

The Giving TreeA moral tale about the gift of giving.It has been translated into 30 languages

since it was published.The story is about a boy’s relationship with

a tree and how this tree affected his life from when he was a child until adulthood.

Shel’s Poetry Books

• Shel’s poetry books are said to be both “witty” and “humorous”.

• He writes about topics that everyone can relate to, which makes him popular among children and adults.

• His “laid back writing” style and funny illustrations are what most appeal to children.

““Sick” by Shel SilversteinSick” by Shel Silverstein

"I cannot go to school today," "I cannot go to school today," Said little Peggy Ann McKay. Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the "I have the measles and the mumps, mumps, A gash, a rash and purple A gash, a rash and purple bumps. bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, dry, I'm going blind in my right eye. I'm going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, My tonsils are as big as rocks, I've counted sixteen chicken pox I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more--that's And there's one more--that's seventeen, seventeen, And don't you think my face And don't you think my face looks green? looks green? My leg is cut--my eyes are blue-- My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--

It might be instamatic flu. It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, and choke, I'm sure that my left leg is I'm sure that my left leg is broke-- broke--

My hip hurts when I move my chin, My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in, My belly button's caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle's My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained, sprained, My 'pendix pains each time it My 'pendix pains each time it rains. rains. My nose is cold, my toes are My nose is cold, my toes are numb. numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. I think my hair is falling out. My elbow's bent, my spine ain't My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight, straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what? is--what? What's that? What's that you say? What's that? What's that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? You say today is. . .Saturday? G'bye, I'm going out to play!"G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

LessonLesson

Learning Center Objective: The Learning Center Objective: The students will create an alternate students will create an alternate ending to Shel Silverstein’s poem ending to Shel Silverstein’s poem “Sick” following Shel’s rhythm and “Sick” following Shel’s rhythm and rhyme patterns.rhyme patterns.

Example of rhythm and thyme pattern:Example of rhythm and thyme pattern:

I have the measles and the mumps, (A)I have the measles and the mumps, (A)da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUMda DUM da DUM da DUM da DUMA gash, a rash and purple bumps. (A)A gash, a rash and purple bumps. (A)

da DUM, da DUM da DUM da DUMda DUM, da DUM da DUM da DUM

Games

Create your own poem using words from Shel’s books:

http://shelsilverstein.com/html/game_poetry.html Choice the correct ending to Mr. Silverstein’s

poems: http://shelsilverstein.com/html/game_quiz.html

Shel Silverstein’s Website

Explore more about Shel Silverstein on his interactive website:

http://shelsilverstein.com/html/home.html

The End