MEET SHEL

Born on September 25, 1930 in

Chicago, Il.
Sheldon Allan Silverstein is his
full name.
He was a man of many talents:
cartoonist, author, poet,
songwriter and playwright.
He was compared to Dr. Seuss,
as he was best known for his
childrens stories and poems.
Passed away on May 10, 1999
in Key West, Fl.
THE ARTISTIC LIFE OF SHEL

Most of Shels childhood is a mystery.

Shel began drawing unusual pictures at an early age
and wrote poems to accompany them.
Shels artistic talent was not encouraged by his father, as he
expected him to join the family bakery business.
Shel was drafted into the Army while he was in college where
he was assigned to the Stars and Stripes Newspaper.
Not only was Shel a writer/illustrator, but he was also a
musician, songwriter and playwright.
Shel wrote songs performed by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan,
Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kris
Kristofferson and several others.
Shel did not start off as a childrens author, but rather as an
adult writer.
Tomi Ungerer, and author and Shels friend convinced Shel
to meet with a childrens editor.

EDUCATION

Shel attended and graduated
from Roosevelt High School.
He went to study art at the
University of Illinois at Navy
Pier, but was dismissed
because of poor academic
grades.
Chicago Academy of Fine
Arts was the next place he
studied for a year.
Finally, he attended
Roosevelt University where
he majored in English and
completed 3 years of work
before he was drafted by the
military.
Roosevelt University in Chicago, Il.
FAMOUS CHILDRENS BOOKS
Every Thing On It
Falling Up
A Giraffe and a Half
The Giving Tree
Lafcadio, the Lin Who Shot Back
A Light in the Attic
The Missing Piece
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O
Runny Babbit
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?
Dont Bump the Glump!

BOOK AWARDS


Where the Sidewalk Ends: New York Times Notable Book in 1974.
Michigan Young Readers Award in 1981.
A Light in the Attic: School Library Journal Best Book in 1981.
William Allen Book Award in 1984.
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O:
International Reading Associations Childrens Choice Award in
1982.
Runny Babbit: Quill Award for Childrens Illustrated Book in 2005.
WORKS CITED

Baughan, Michael Gray. (2008) Shel silverstein. New York, NY: Chelsea
House Publisers.
Bio.True Story. (1994 2011) Shel Silverstein.biography. Retrieved on
March 12, 2012 from http://www.biography.com/people/shel-silverstein-
9483912.
Juggle.com. (2012) Exploring: runny babbit. Retrieved on April 1, 2012
from http://www.juggle.com/runny-babbit.
Meister, Cari. (2001) Shel silverstein. Edina, MN: ABDO Publishing
Company.
Rogak, Lisa. (2007) A boy named shel. New York, NY: St. Martins
Press.