Shel Silverstein

                                          

By, Courtney Ronk

Shel Silverstein’s childhood

He was born in Chicago on September 25, 1930

His full name is Sheldon Allan SilversteinHe began to write and draw because he

couldn’t play ball and didn’t know how to dance.

Later on he learned how to play guitar and to write songs.

“Sick” by, Shel Silverstein"I cannot go to school today,"Said little Peggy Ann McKay,"I have the measles and the mumps,A gash, a rash, and purple bumps.My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,I'm going blind in my right eye.My tonsils are as big as rocks,I've counted sixteen chicken poxAnd there's one more--that's seventeen,And don't you think my face looks green?My leg is cut, my eyes are blue--It might be instamatic flu

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,I'm sure that my left leg is broke--My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button's caving in,

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

Response to “Sick”

• I think that this poem is a great way to show how some kids lie to try and get out of school. Shel also adds some comedy into this piece because most of the things are over reacting bout the sickness ex. When he says

“My hip hurts when I move my chin,My belly button's caving in,My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,My 'pendix pains each time it rain…”

• All of Silberstein's books and poems are not just for children. I believe this because some of the poems little kids wont understand the poems might have like words they wouldn’t understand or maybe just the way that the words are set up. The way that the message that is being applied and they kids most likely wont understand what it is.

One Inch TallIf you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school.The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool.A crumb of cake would be a feastAnd last you seven days at least,A flea would be a frightening beastIf you were one inch tall.

If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door,And it would take about a month to get down to the store.A bit of fluff would be your bed,You'd swing upon a spider's thread,And wear a thimble on your headIf you were one inch tall.

You'd surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum.You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to hug her thumb.You'd run from people's feet in fright,To move a pen would take all night,(This poem took fourteen years to write—'Cause I'm just one inch tall).

Danny O’Dare

  Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear,Ran away from the County Fair,Ran right up to my back stairAnd thought he'd do some dancin' there.He started jumpin' and skippin' and kickin',He did a dance called the Funky Chicken,He did the Polka, he did the Twist,He bent himself into a pretzel like this.He did the Dog and the Jitterbug,He did the Jerk and the Bunny Hug.He did the Waltz and the Boogaloo,He did the Hokey-Pokey too.He did the Bop and the Mashed Potata,He did the Split and the See Ya Later.And now he's down upon one knee,Bowin' oh so charmingly,And winkin' and smilin'--it's easy to seeDanny O'Dare wants to dance with me.

His famous books of poetry and just books

• Where the Sidewalk Ends• A Giraffe and a Half• The Missing Piece Meets the Big O• Underwater Land• Runny Rabbit• A Light in the Attic• Falling Up• The Missing Piece• The Giving Tree• Poems and Drawings• Uncle Shelby’s ABZ’s• Don’t Bump the Glump• Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?