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Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings | 
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| Creator: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Book
List Price: $18.99
Buy Used: $0.45
You Save: $18.54 (98%)
New (60) Used (235) Collectible (39) from $0.45
Avg. Customer Rating:  141 reviews
Sales Rank: 13017
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 176
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 7 x 1.3
ISBN: 0060256672
Dewey Decimal Number: 811.54
UPC: 038332175035
EAN: 9780060256678
ASIN: 0060256672
Publication Date: November 20, 1974
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: no dj, inscription in front, pages clean and tight
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Shel Silverstein shook the staid world of children's poetry in 1974 with the publication of this collection, and things haven't been the same since. More than four and a half million copies of Where the Sidewalk Ends have been sold, making it the bestselling children's poetry book ever. With this and his other poetry collections (A Light in the Attic and Falling Up), Silverstein reveals his genius for reaching kids with silly words and simple pen-and-ink drawings. What child can resist a poem called "Dancing Pants" or "The Dirtiest Man in the World"? Each of the 130 poems is funny in a different way, or touching ... or both. Some approach naughtiness or are a bit disgusting to squeamish grown-ups, but that's exactly what kids like best about Silverstein's work. Jim Trelease, author of The New Read-Aloud Handbook, calls this book "without question, the best-loved collection of poetry for children." (Ages 4 to 10)
Product Description
If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer,
A wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er,
A magic bean buyer … Come in … for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins. 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. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist. Shel Silverstein's masterful collection of poems and drawings is at once outrageously funny and profound.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 136 more reviews...
 For Ages 9 to 120 May 29, 2008
Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me
Anything can happen, child
ANYTHING can be.
~ pg. 27
I first heard about Shel Silverstein in a strange way. One of his poems is about Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout and LUSH beauty products has a shampoo with the same name. When I looked the name up online I found the amusing poem about a girl who never takes out the garbage.
These poems are at times laugh-out-loud funny and at times delightfully silly. There are quirky drawings throughout that make the poems even more enjoyable. One minute you are laughing and the next you are having memories of Alice in Wonderland or other books you read as a child like The Little Engine that Could. The only poem I question is "Dreadful" but I suppose some people think it is funny.
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And There the grass grows soft and while,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
~ pg. 64
A few of the poems struck me as especially profound while the poem about the Giraffe was very creative. After reading this collection I'll definitely look for more books by Shel Silverstein. While these poems may have been written for children they can be enjoyed by anyone from 9 to 120.
~The Rebecca Review
One of the best childrens books ever.. also great for adults! April 26, 2008
Nothing I could write here would explain how great of a book you are about to purchase. All I can say is... I loved it as a child and my son loves it. Stop wasting time and buy it now!!
quirky yet sentimental April 18, 2008
let me just say first off (and some of you may boo at me for this) that i am not a big fan of poetry, especially those that don't rhyme, layered with so much metaphor wrapped in some sort of old english language. those of you who can appreciate those, know i'm more than eager to submit in the "im not worthy! im not worthy!" throes. call it barbaric or just plain shallow, but i'd rather stick to the sing-songy rhymes of my elementary days.
now, saying that i absolutely loved Where the Sidewalk Ends should not be construed as a statement that Silverstein's work is shallow. piddling my knowledge might be about bodies of poetry, in whatever form, this one thing i am sure of: that though this book can be read to kids (and [gasp!] can actually be understood and enjoyed by them), it somehow still manages to deliver punchlines that could draw forth a surprised smile or chuckle from an adult--at least those not totally drowning in cynicism or morbid depression. but who knows...
a lot of the poetry here are funny (not outright hilarious, more like plain goofy), and yet come to think of it, still some of those are actually quite sad, with undertones about life and life experiences we take for granted. like the "Snowman", "Invention", "What's in the Sack?", "I Won't Hatch!", "The Garden", "The Little Blue Engine", and even the subtly poignant "Love".
whether you actively seek a moral in any of the poems or just want to go for some light reading, this book (in my opinion) is sure to leave you with a wistful feeling. exactly about what...well, i can't say. but i loved it. and for me that's more than okay.
Every child should have this. December 15, 2007
I loved this book as a child. My kids like it. It is hilarious. The poems are absolutely hysterical and easy to remember. They are gross, silly and use fun words- is there anything better to a kid?
Buy this. Read it. Love it.
Of course, if you're uptight, think children should never laugh too loudly, then this would NOT be the book for you.
The Best December 11, 2007
this is one of the best childrens books out there! i got this book from my dad back in the 70's. my brother and i spent hours reading the poems and laughing. i also totally enjoyed the drawings. everytime i see the book it brings back memories of the hours spent reading and looking at the pictures...for a long time! your imagination is really peaked while reading the poems. he did a great job of visualization...the drawings helped too. my favorites are, "sarah slyvia cynthia stout would not take the garbage out"
i think every child should have this book in there collection!
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