One Man's Sidewalk is Another Man's Footpath (Where the Sidewalk Ends: 30th Anniversary Edition - Shel Silverstein)

Member Name: allybally

Product:	Where the Sidewalk Ends: 30th Anniversary Edition - Shel Silverstein
Date:	24/10/07 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clever, funny and even insightful poems

Disadvantages: The annoying Americanisms

My three-year old was given this book as an early Christmas present while on holiday in Canada. The author is fairly well known over there although I am not sure his fame has followed him over the pond to the same extent.

Author: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Children’s poetry
Date of Publication: Originally in 1974. Republished with 12 new poems
Number of Pages: 192
Ages Suitability: 6+ (although, my son loves it so I would suggest it is fine for children aged 2+.
Availability: Amazon, WHSmith, Waterstones, Borders
RRP: £18.99 Amazon price: from £6.50

What is Where the Sidewalk Ends?
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Where the Sidewalk Ends (30th Anniversary special edition) is a collection of children’s poems ranging from short and silly to long and thought-provoking.

Who is Shel Silverstein?
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Shel Silverstein was not only one of America’s best known and well-respected children’s author. He has also received a serious fan base as a radio DJ, an Oscar award for music used in Postcards from the Edge critical acclaim for his cartoons and the praise from the likes of Johnny Cash, Loretta, Marianne Faithful Lynn for whom he wrote songs.

Silverstein began working as a cartoonist for the Military paper Stars and Stripes while stationed in Korea in the fifties and upon his return home gravitated (somewhat reluctantly) into Children’s writing. He has also written a “mock children’s book for adults called Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book.

Silverstein had two children. Matthew, now 23 and Shoshanna from a previous marriage. Sadly, Shoshanna’s mother Susan died when she was just five years old and in 1982, following a cerebral aneurysm, Silverstein’s dughter also died, aged 11. His book A Light in the Attic was dedicated to his daughter.

On the weekend of May 8 1999, Shel Silverstein died unexpectedly of a heart attach while in Florida.

What we liked about it
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I am a big fan of children’s poems for a number of reasons. Primarily, I write children’s poetry myself (keep your eyes open for my name in print soon…any day now…they’ll soon call) but also because they tend to grab a child’s imagination well whilst retaining the focus of short attention spans.

Having said that, there is a difference between quality, thoughtful poetry and some of the tacky and relatively pointless poetry that fills our shelves these days. I don’t mind reading my son poems about benal subjects like Superman’s underwear (no I am not kidding) now and again but I prefer a bit of substance on a regular basis. Where the Sidewalk ends offers plenty of substance.

Don’t get me wrong – there are plenty of ridiculous, silly, just for the sake of it poems included – don’t expect a life lesson from “The Naked Hippo” for example, but the collection is also peppered with pieces that challenge some pre-conceptions kids can grow up with and stand up to some serious issues facing kids these days. Topics like bullying and respecting each other, making friends, being lonely and appreciating each other’s differences and individuality are raised in a kid-friendly, un-preachy way. There are even poems that nudge children into doing there chores – Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out, and remind them of the perils of not having baths – The Dirtiest Man in the World.

Shel manages to create an alliance of sorts with his readers. Reading the book to my son at bed time, I am painfully aware that Kyle and Silverstein are very much involved in a harmless conspiracy against me as a parent. Poems like “Listen to the Mustn’ts” and “My rules” poke fun at parents which of course, all kids love. He talks to kids on their level, involving them more in his writing.

The book also has it’s fill of the plain ludicrous with contributions like “The Yipiyuk” and “Dancing Pants”. These strike me as a sort of hybrid cross between Dr Seuss and Lewis Carroll. Silverstein doesn’t attempt anything fancy with his poetry. He doesn’t slip in the odd Haiku or anything like that. His poems lean more towards a fun, upbeat rhyming verse which helps hold a child’s attention and gives parents a chance to play with the words a bit more. He makes up words on occasion and uses repetition making his poems more interactive.

Illustrations
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For the most part, the words seem to be their own illustrations although Siverstein, also an accomplished artist/cartoonist has included some basic yet appropriate black and while drawings throughout the book. Most poems are accompanied by an illustration of some sort although they are far from the focus. They are of a stylized, exaggerated cartoon nature, some almost appeared scribbled as an afterthought but this approach works well for the material.

If at 3 years old, my son is still interested enough for us to finish the 192 page book in 4 days, it is fairly safe to say the book doesn’t suffer without more extravagant images. I am of the opinion that more pictures would only limit kids in using their imagination to set the scene to Silverstein’s poems.

Our Final Thought on the matter
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There is only one thing that bothered me about this book and that is the annoyingly american spelling. Are they really too lazy to add a u in colour??? There are a few references to american language which may through some off, like garbage instead of rubbish and I don't expect the British Public to identify with "PEanut Butter Sandwich".

No farting, no burping, and only one poem about picking your nose.

I was totally impressed by this book. Originally daunted by it’s imposing size, I was concerned it would be too much for my 3 year old but he thoroughly enjoyed it. There is nothing that makes me smile more than the sound of him looking so snug peeking out from behind the covers and giggling away and this book made sure he was smiling when I kissed him goodnight each time. There is no higher critical acclaim in my opinion.

Summary: A fantastic compilation of peoms to entertain any kid