The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 64 pages

The Giving Tree goes through the life of a boy and a tree. It begins with the boy loving the tree and spending a lot of time with her. They both love and appreciate each other but as the boy grows up, he begins to use the tree for more wordly things such as money, a house, a boat. Although the boy doesn't seem to love the tree much as he uses her, the tree still loves the boy so she gives all she has willingly. In the end, the tree has nothing left to give and the boy is too old to take anymore, so he just sits on the stump that is left and they are both happy.

This book has a very powerful, also very sad message that I am happy is in a children's book because it opens up room for discussion (when the child is a little older) about our bond with nature and to not lose sight of it like the boy in the story did.

Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein

Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein, 194 pages

I did not know this book existed until I ran across it.  This is yet another collection of Shel's previously unpublished works published after Shel passed.  I think his poems are fun for all ages to read and his drawings are great!

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, 166 pages

I think most people have heard of Shel Silverstein and when they think of him, they probably think of Where the Sidewalk Ends.  This book was published in 1974 and sill today remains a classic collection of Shel's poems and drawings.

Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein

Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein, 96 pages

This was one of the silliest and funniest books.  This is the creative genius of Shel Silverstein.  With characters, such as Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat and Dungry Hog, kids will love this fun book.  It is interesting to note that this book was published in 2005 after his death in 1999 and was said to be a work in progress for twenty years.

The Missing Piece Meets The Big O by Shel Silverstein

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein, 104 pages

I read this book before I realized it was the second book written as a companion book to The Missing Piece.  This book and the previous book were so simply written and illustrated that I had to google it to see how the underlying message is so truly inspirational.

The Missiing Piece by Shel Silverstein

The Missing Piece by Shel Siverstein, 112 pages

I am always looking for a Shel Silverstein book to read.  This one is especially meaningful to read.  The book is about a piece on its search of its missing piece.  The piece happily sings while searching for his missing piece.  But,when he finds his missing piece, he stops singing.  The piece decides he is happier without his missing piece.  This book has profound meaning.  This is a great book for children as well as adults.

April 2015 Reads

April 2015

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein 169 pages
Falling Up by Shel Silverstien 171
Runny Babbit Shel Silverstien 87
Every Thing On It Shel Silverstien 194

 "A Light in the Attic" and "Falling Up" were a throwback to elementary school for me. I came across some old favorites and had a really good time reading them out loud to my little girl. "Runny Babbit" and "Every Thing On It" were new to me and provided us with hours of entertainment with tongue twisters and backwards words.

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein - 89 pages

Runny Babbit lives in a forest where they switch all the beginning consonants of their words when speaking.
I picked this up to listen to as it fits the challenge of the month - poetry.  I was really disappointed in it.  It does NOT work as an audio.  It is difficult to make out what is happening.   Also, several times I was caught unawares as some of the words did not sound right.  I kept thinking there were swear words.  This would probably work better as a book where you could sit and figure it out but I would not recommend it to listen to.

Everything on It, by Shel Silverstein

Everything on It, by Shel Silverstein, 194 pages

As a child, I cannot remember for the life of me going to the library and not checking out a book by Shel Silverstein.  So when I discovered that he had written a newish one, I could hardly pass it up, even if that newish one came out in 2011.  Everything on It is just how I remember Silverstein's writing to be and more.  When I was a child, I enjoyed the poems and the drawings, but only at face value.  As a technical adult, I still enjoy the poetry and drawing for the face value, but I can see kinda into the deeper meaning of them, which may mean that my high school English teachers were right about deeper meaning in poetry, but I'll never let them know it.