BLOGS > FEBRUARY 24, 2023
Shel Silverstein was a notable poet who made significant contributions to literature. He published his first book, The Lion Who Shot Back, in 1963. Silverstein continued to release beloved poetry through several decades that still resonates with readers of all ages even to this day.
Silverstein once again displays the talent for wordplay and idea-play that keeps his poetry evergreen.
– Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Filled with unforgettable characters like Screamin’ Millie; Allison Beals and her 25 eels; Danny O’Dare, the dancin’ bear; the Human Balloon; and Headphone Harold, this collection by the celebrated Shel Silverstein will charm young readers and make them want to trip on their shoelaces and fall up too!
ALA Notable Children’s Book & School Library Journal Best Book
Come on up to the attic of Shel Silverstein and let the light bring you home. With remarkable characters and hilariously profound poems, this is a collection readers will return to again and again.
Adults who grew up with Uncle Shelby will find themselves wiping their eyes by the time they get to the end of this collection; children new to the master will find themselves hooked. – Kirkus Reviews
Have you ever read a book with everything on it? Well, here it is! You will say Hi-ho for the toilet troll, get tongue-tied with Stick-a-Tongue-Out-Sid, play a highly unusual horn, and experience the joys of growing down.
ALA Notable Children’s Book
You’ll meet a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. Shel Silverstein’s masterful collection of poems and drawings stretches the bounds of imagination and will be cherished by readers of all ages.
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. This moving parable for all ages offers a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.
You can also download this printable activity themed around Silverstein’s poem, The Poet Tree
Share your trees with the hashtag #ShelPoetTree and be sure to tag @FollettContent.
Download Poet Tree Leaves Activity
Check out this episode of Remember Reading Podcast to learn more about Shel Silverstein and how to use his poetry in the classroom.
Publisher/Producer Advertisement: For more information, visit titlewave.com
Get Ahead of the 2026 ALA YMAs with These 5 Must-Read Contender Titles
October 23, 2025
This month, we’re diving into the most buzzworthy books of the year – handpicked by our Curation Team from our ALA Youth Media Award Contenders book list. These standout titles are generating serious award chatter, and we’re reading them now to...
Read more
Celebrate holidays with 12 seasonal titles!
October 13, 2025
Motivate students to read with these seasonally themed books from Capstone Publishing! Spark their interest with books focusing on holidays they know and love and give them the chance to discover new ones they’ve never heard of.Three lucky educators will receive these...
Read more
Pippa Park Books Come to Life in Video Series!
September 19, 2025
Middle graders aren’t reading for pleasure like they used to, and educators, booksellers, and families want a solution to get them excited about reading and sharing stories with their peers again. One part of such a solution is to meet...
Read more
Preview exciting fall 2025 eGalleys from Capstone!
September 15, 2025
We’ve partnered with Capstone and NetGalley* to provide digital access to 15 upcoming nonfiction and fiction titles releasing January 1, 2026. You’ll want to take advantage of this early access so you can then preorder the titles you love on...
Read more
Why the Food Group Series Continues to Take the Cake
September 15, 2025
From The Bad Seed to The Smart Cookie, Jory John and Pete Oswald’s Food Group series has become a staple in classrooms and libraries across the country. With its clever characters, laugh-out-loud humor, heartfelt lessons, and captivating illustrations, the series has helped educators...
Read more
Fall Into Reading with Orca Book Publishers
September 15, 2025
Keep students reading all year long by sprucing up your classroom’s library with these top titles from Orca!All the Things We FoundBy Joanne LevyAudience: Upper ElementaryIn this story about loss, protagonist Ruthie finds herself in a park where she meets an...
Read more