Essay On Shel Silverstein

On September 25, 1930 the Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning author Shel Silverstein was born. He began writing and drawing at a young age. Throughout his career, he took roles as a cartoonist, poet, performer, recording artist, and an award-winning author and musician. Shel Silverstein will always be known particularly for his book, “The Giving Tree” and his humorous poetry that attracts children and adults (Grimms1). Shel Silverstein was a humorous children's poet, cartoonist, and illustrator, creating The Giving Tree, considered one of the most popular and liked children's books of all time.

Growing up as a child, Shel Silverstein developed his talents for drawing and writing, although he always wanted to become a baseball player, despite his lack of athleticism. He never expected to become such a good writer or artist, but he felt encouraged to find something he was talented at. Then in 1975, Silverstein began to create pictures and stories (Ward 6). In the 1950's, Silverstein served in the United States Military in Korea and Japan. He drew cartoons for the military magazine Pacific Stars and Stripes. When his military service ended, he returned back to his hometown of Chicago. Once he returned, he obtained another job as a magazine cartoonist (Webster 562).

Silverstein was a very private, humble man. Many children and adults loved and enjoyed Silverstein’s work and wanted to get to know him, but he did not like to talk about his profession. In 1975, Silverstein finally agreed to talk to Jean F. Mercier regarding his career and talents. Mercier wrote an article about Silverstein for Publishers Weekly magazine. In the interview, Silverstein said, “Lots of things I won’t do. I won’t go on television because who I am talking to...

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...your imagination run wild and explore everything good in life, as an adult and a child. Silverstein almost tells the audience of the poem to leave the gray, bleak buildings and pollution and return to their imagination and Mother Nature.

Silverstein did many amazing and influential things during his life. He wrote poems, stories, plays, and songs. Silverstein also drew many humorous pictures and cartoons, and he even wrote a movie. He went through life living it in his own unique way. Silverstein passed away on May 10, 1999, in Key West, Florida. His life and books influenced many children and adults, showing them that you can do many things that you love and still be successful. Shel Silverstein once said a profound quote, “I want to go everywhere, look at and listen to everything. You can go crazy with some of the wonderful stuff there is in life” (Ward 22).