Customer Reviews

Where The Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings

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This Special Edition is a collection of 139 poems by Shel Silverstein, originally appeared in 1974 - some short, some long and most of them are accompanied by his own drawings, overflowing with humor and heart. When asked to pick a book from a list of 40 titles, both my kids (ages 6 & 8; girl & boy) requested to read WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS and their enthusiasm attests to the warm truth that since his passing in 1999, his words, both unique and universal, still speak deeply to our kids. Shel makes children laugh. Can you imagine a Hippopotamus sandwich? In this book not only will you read one, you will see one, too! Shel makes children think - just about everything in the most daring original way. Shel sees the world through the goofy imaginative eyes of children and his invitation to take a walk to the edge of this silly wolrd is greeated with excitement by both kids and their grown-ups.

"And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends."

Reason for Reading: I read poems to my son daily (M-F). I try to alternate between classic children's poetry books and silly poetry books. It was silly poetry time.

Comments: Not much introduction is needed for Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends. This is his first collection of poetry and contains some of his best (and most well-known poems) such as Boa Constrictor, Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out, Sick and The Unicorn (famously song by The Irish Rovers). This 30th Anniversary Special Addition includes 12 new poems added at the end of the book, which were all varying degrees of funny. The whole book of poems is varying degrees of funny. You'll find ones that will have you giggling uncontrollably or laughing out loud all the way down to the ones that just let a little smile creep onto your lips. When your child finds a favourite, they'll beg for it again and again and again! There is a small selection of poems that are starting to show their age, that one can tell were created in the "Make Love Not War" 1970s and they fell flat with us, but they represent a handful out of a bookful. Silverstein's illustrations are simple yet tell so much and are just as fun as the poems themselves. Of the three poetry collections, this first one is still THE one to get if you are only going to buy one.

I love this book!! I read it many years ago, and just recently bought it for my daughter. And she of course loved it too. It's because it still IS a masterpiece and will forever remain one. Silverstein's rhymes and poems, songs and riddles -- they all work for everybody with half a degree of imagination. Another great book that I bought for my second daughter as a birthday gift is "Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 3". I have ready it already and loved it, but I keep it hidden from my daughters so as not to spoil the birthday surprise. It's a safe bet since my both daughters liked the first two books and I think Book 3 is the best in the whole series.

This book is wonderful.. I had the original version as a child (I am now 32) and can still recite the words to many of the poems (I cannot go to school today, said little Peggy Ann McKay...)! Someone just gave this new edition to our 4 month old daughter, and I know she will enjoy the poems as much as I did. Right now, she may not understand the words, but the rhyming sounds make her smile. A must for kids of all ages.

I had this book when I was little and did a project on one of the poems in the 3rd grade (I'm 34 yrs old now). The poem was about a sharp toothed snail who lives in your nose. I can recite it still, line for line. I just bought a copy for my nephew (4yrs old) so that he can enjoy it also. Buy it and you won't regret it!