The Giving Tree The Giving Tree was one of his most successful books. It was written in 1964. Publishers rejected the book at first because they thought that it was between child and adult literature. They believed it would not sell. The story begins simply: "Once there was a tree … " and tells the story of a tree who gives everything to the boy she loves. As a child the boy plays in the tree, gathers its leaves, swings on its branches, and eats its apples. Later he carves his and a girl's initials in its trunk, and as a young man he takes the tree's branches to build a house. As an old man, he needs a boat to take him away from it all, so the tree tells him to cut it down and make a boat, which the old man does. The tree, now just a stump, tells the man when he returns, now very old, to "Sit down and rest," and the tree is happy. But, as is common in Silverstein's work, it is not a happy ending. The tree has given up everything to the boy, who is now a bitter old man.
Where the Sidewalk Ends Where the Sidewalk Ends was written in 1974. It starts out with a description of the wonderful world where the sidewalk ends. This seems to be a magical, mystical world, where nothing is quite normal, but everything is awesome. Once we have an idea of the world beyond sidewalks, we hear a little about the world where the sidewalk reigns, which is not quite as awesome. Next, we read a little bit about the journey from one place to the other. A big part of the excitement of going to the world where the sidewalk ends is journey of getting there. Getting there is nice and slow and marked out by arrows drawn by children. In the end, it is children that have the closest connection to the place where the sidewalk ends.
A Light in the Attic A Light in the Attic is a collection of poems written in 1981. A light shines bright in the attic of an abandoned house, and the narrator reflects on the person "looking out" as he looks inside. Here in the attic of Shel Silverstein you will find Backward Bill, Sour Face Ann, the Meehoo With an Exactlywatt, and the Polar Bear in the Frigidaire. You will talk with the Broiled Face, and find out what happens when someone steals your knees, you get caught by the Quick-Digesting Gink, a mountain snores, and they’ve put a brassiere on the camel.
Falling Up Falling Up is a 1996 poetry collection for children. It features illustrations, drawn by the author, for most of the 144 poems. Silverstein dedicated the book to his son, Matthew. It is also the third and final poetry collection by Silverstein in his lifetime, as he died 3 years after Falling Up was released. It was the recipient of the Booklist Editors' Award in 1996
A Giraffe and a Half A Giraffe and a Half was written in 1964. This is a very humorous book that looks at what happens when a boy stretches his giraffe and a half. The situation is resolved in the most riotous way possible.