Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings Hardcover – Illustrated, 18 Feb. 2014

A book we regularly give as a present, it appeals to kids and adults. Silverstein in American so some of the words had to be explained to my youngest child, but the poems are so sweet and funny and sometimes so poignant, the language difference doesn't really matter. The poems are more accessible to children than Spike Milligan's on the whole, but they're no so 'babyish' as to be not appreciated by adults too. And Shel Silverstein wrote 'Sylvia's Mother'! The guy's a genius!

A smashing and fun read. A must for all ages. I have enjoyed Shel's work with Dr Hook hence the purchase. I immediately ordered another one for my great nephew and niece.

As a writer of non-serious poetry, I owe a debt to Shel Silverstein. In Where the Sidewalk Ends, you'll find Shel in top form. Fortunately, it was written back in the days before people began to get too careful for their own good. It's free thinking, free-style, outside the box rhyming humour for kids (both young and old). The poems would have been just fine on their own, and I've quoted a few of them on many an occasion, but the brilliant drawings add a new dimension. Your child's education will be more complete, and your retirement years, less boring.

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 knowThe place where the sidewalk ends."

As an American living in England, trying to find admirers of Shel Silverstein is quite hard. Despite not knowing much about him, everyone should give Shel's first book a go. It is a wonderful collection of poems that are imaginative, full of humor and adorable pictures (drawn by Shel himself!). The poems you read (whether you are an adult or child) will become well-loved, maybe even memorized and (hopefully!) shared with many you know...get the word out--Shel Silverstein is a gifted poet who should be read by young and old alike!

A delightful introduction to the witty, zany world of Shel Silverstein. The twists of child logic are best appreciated by an adult :)

Sorry I can't help being sceptical, but I was looking for "humourous verse", which I subsequently sorted by customer rating and I found that the first seven most highly rated books were ALL by Shel Silverstein. Have Shel and his/her family been busy reviewing these books ? or are they really that good ?

Shel Silverstein had the ability to think like a kid. Only a few adult authors truly possess this skill. I remember when this book was first published, and my parents got a copy. They were reading it together and laughing, and I thought it wasn't fair, because he wrote it for me, an eleven year old, and why should old people like my parents find it funny?Now, as a teacher, I use this book to introduce students to the joy of writing poetry, when usually they run in fear from the very idea. The topics are as wide as his imagination was wild, and while the humor is at a youthful level, it never crosses the line of unacceptable crudeness.A handful of the epic poems in this book become a little tedious, but most of his best works, which appear in many English textbooks, are found in this volume. Not all the poems are silly. Throughout the book are poems that surprise the reader in their clarity, honesty, and thoughtfulness.Throughout the book there is a sense of wonder at the world we live in, and a sly investigation into the silly behaviors we all exhibit, no matter what the age. And his hilarious line drawings, often integrated into the text, are the icing on the cake.Of all the poetry collections Shel wrote, this is the first and the best, still fresh after all these years.