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A Light in the Attic

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Last night while I lay thinking here
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:

Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?...
This 20th anniversary of Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic includes a CD of highlights from his Grammy Award-winning album.

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 Broiled Face, and find out what happens when Somebody steals your knees, you get caught by the Quick-Digesting Gink, a Mountain snores, and They Put a Brassiere on the Camel.

From the creator of the beloved poetry collections Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up, here is another wondrous book of poems and drawings.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 1981

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188k people want to read

About the author

Shel Silverstein

133books10.3kfollowers
Shel Silverstein was the author-artist of many beloved books of prose and poetry. He was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter.

Shel Silverstein will perhaps always be best loved for his extraordinary books. Shel鈥檚 books are now published in more than 47 different languages. The last book that was published before his death in 1999 was Falling Up

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Profile Image for Ahmad Sharabiani.
9,563 reviews714 followers
February 13, 2022
A Light in the Attic, Shel Silverstein

A Light in the Attic is a collection of poems by the American poet, writer, and children's author Shel Silverstein. It was first published by Harper & Row in 1981.

Bored
I can't afford
A skateboard.
I can't afford
An outboard.
I can't afford
A surfboard.
All I can afford
Is a board.


毓賳賵丕賳賴丕蹖 趩丕倬 卮丿賴 丿乇 丕蹖乇丕賳: 芦賮丕賳賵爻 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖禄貨 芦賳賵乇蹖 丿乇 丕鬲丕賯 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖禄貨 芦趩乇丕睾蹖 丿乇 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖禄貨 芦趩乇丕睾蹖 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖禄貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 卮賱 爻蹖賱賵乇爻鬲丕蹖賳貨 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮 賲丕賴 賳賵丕賲蹖乇 爻丕賱 2001賲蹖賱丕丿蹖

毓賳賵丕賳: 賮丕賳賵爻 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 卮賱 爻蹖賱賵乇爻鬲丕蹖賳貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 賮丕胤賲賴 噩毓賮乇夭丕丿賴貙 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 讴蹖丕貙 爻丕賱1378 貨 丿乇48氐貙 卮丕亘讴9649219390貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 卮毓乇 亘乇丕蹖 讴賵丿讴丕賳 賵 賳賵噩賵丕賳丕賳 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴20賲

毓賳賵丕賳: 賳賵乇蹖 丿乇 丕鬲丕賯 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 卮賱 爻蹖賱賵乇爻鬲丕蹖賳貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 丨賲蹖丿 禺丕丿賲蹖貨 賲卮禺氐丕鬲 賳卮乇 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 讴鬲丕亘 倬賳噩乇賴貙 趩丕倬 丿賵賲 爻丕賱1380貙 丿乇197氐貙 賲氐賵乇貙 卮丕亘讴9649225757貨 丿賵 夭亘丕賳賴 賮丕乇爻蹖 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖貨

毓賳賵丕賳: 趩乇丕睾蹖 丿乇 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賵 鬲氐賵蹖乇诏乇 卮賱 爻蹖賱賵乇爻鬲丕蹖賳貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 胤賵亘蹖 蹖讴鬲丕蹖蹖貨 賲卮禺氐丕鬲 賳卮乇 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 鬲賳丿蹖爻貙 爻丕賱1379貙 丿乇127氐貙 賲氐賵乇貙 卮丕亘讴9649198431貨

毓賳賵丕賳: 趩乇丕睾蹖 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 卮賱 爻蹖賱賵乇 丕爻鬲丕蹖賳貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 乇囟蹖 禺丿丕丿丕丿蹖 (賴蹖乇賲賳丿蹖)貨 賲卮禺氐丕鬲 賳卮乇 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賴賵丕蹖 鬲丕夭賴貙 爻丕賱1383貙 丿乇200氐貙 賲氐賵乇貙 卮丕亘讴9647222874貨

賳賯賱 丕夭 賲鬲賳: 禺丕賳賴 鬲丕乇蹖讴 丕爻鬲 賵 倬乇丿賴 賴丕 讴卮蹖丿賴 丕賳丿 / 丕賲丕 趩乇丕睾蹖 夭蹖乇 卮蹖乇賵丕賳蹖 乇賵卮賳 丕爻鬲 / 賲賳 賲蹖丿丕賳賲 丌賳 趩蹖爻鬲 / 卮賵賯蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘蹖鬲丕亘 爻賵爻賵 賲蹖夭賳丿 / 丨鬲蹖 賲蹖鬲賵丕賳賲 丌賳乇丕 丕夭 亘蹖乇賵賳 亘亘蹖賳賲 賵 賲蹖丿丕賳賲 / 讴賴 鬲賵 丌賳 亘丕賱丕蹖蹖 賵 亘蹖乇賵賳 乇丕 賳诏丕賴 賲蹖讴賳蹖.貨
亘趩賴 禺賮丕卮 噩蹖睾 讴卮蹖丿: 芦讴賱蹖丿 禺丕賲賵卮蹖 乇賵 亘夭賳蹖丿貙 賲賳 丕夭 乇賵卮賳丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鬲乇爻賲!禄貨
卮鬲乇賴 乇賵 賱亘丕爻 夭蹖乇 倬賵卮賵賳丿賴 丕賳丿 / 丌禺賴 賲蹖丿賵賳蹖丿貙 賱亘丕爻卮 丿乇爻鬲 賵 丨爻丕亘蹖 賳亘賵丿貙 蹖丕 丌亘乇賵賲賳丿 / 卮鬲乇賴 乇賵 賱亘丕爻 夭蹖乇 倬賵卮賵賳丿賴 丕賳丿 / 丨丕賱丕 丿蹖诏賴 讴賵賴丕賳 賴丕卮 亘蹖乇賵賳 賳賲賵賳丿賴 丕賳丿 / 丕賵賳丕 胤乇丨賴丕蹖 丌亘乇賵賲賳丿丕賳賴 蹖 丿蹖诏賴 丕蹖 賴賲 丿丕乇賳丿 / 丨鬲蹖 丕氐乇丕乇 丿丕乇賳丿 讴賴 賴賲賴 蹖 禺賵讴賴丕 卮賱賵丕乇 倬丕卮賵賳 讴賳賳丿 / 丕诏賴 亘賴卮賵賳 丕噩丕夭賴 賵 丕賲讴丕賳丕鬲 亘丿蹖賲 / 鬲賳 丕乇丿讴賴丕 賴賲 賱亘丕爻 賲蹖倬賵卮賵賳賳丿 / 丕夭 賵賯鬲蹖 讴賴 卮鬲乇賴 乇賵 賱亘丕爻 夭蹖乇 倬賵卮賵賳丿賴 丕賳丿.貨

鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 20/12/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 23/11/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
Profile Image for Austin.
56 reviews22 followers
March 7, 2008
Every child eventually discovers the perverted old man who wrote songs for Johnny Cash, did illustrations for Playboy, appeared on the Dr. Demento show numerous times, and managed to get a few books published along the way.

For some reason, parents never seem to think this creepy old guy who was so fond of children was in any way "disturbing," something I'm continually impressed with in the "ban now, ask questions later" climate of modern culture. If there are people who don't like Shel Silverstein, I don't want to meet them. Or, more to the point, you shouldn't meet them if that is an option.

Children need to experience this kind of creepy / weird / funny / sad stuff, not just for their own sake, but for the sake of having a conduit through which they can make sense of most of the rest of the world. Knowing that Shel sees things this way, too, makes it all easier to take, and makes your own oddness that much more tolerable. We, as humans, need to come to terms with inexplicable and unfathomable in the world, and it wasn't until Shel that we began to realize that the only way to gently help our children do just that, is to let a perverted old weirdo with a large stack of Playboys in his basement lead the way.
Profile Image for Emily May.
2,149 reviews317k followers
August 3, 2016
鈥淒o a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.鈥�
Profile Image for Linda.
Author听2 books241 followers
April 20, 2024
I read this with my son when he was little many times and have many happy memories!
Profile Image for Aria Carstairs (Hiatus).
21 reviews198 followers
February 18, 2023
I'm in love with the following poem (page 59) 馃槏馃槏...

"ATIONS
If we meet and I say, 'Hi,'
That's a salutation. 馃憢
If you ask me how I feel,
That's consideration. 馃
If we stop and talk awhile,
That's a conversation. 馃棧锔�
If we understand each other,
That's communication. 馃挰
If we argue, scream and fight,
That's an altercation. 馃が
If later we apologize,
That's reconciliation. 馃
If we help each other home,
That's cooperation. 馃毝
And all these ations added up
Make civilization. 馃珎
(And if I say this is a wonderful poem,
Is that exaggeration鉂�)"

Not at all, mister. I commend your ability to string together seemingly random words to form such a glorious and lyrical piece of poetry.

Needless to say, I will definitely be continuing to read more of yours works, despite the fact that they are intended for younger audiences. It's a shame, really, that you have succumbed to the inevitable end that we all face as human beings. The world needs more people like you.

Ciao 馃憢
Profile Image for 闯煤濒颈补.
257 reviews7,731 followers
October 19, 2022
Did I read a children鈥檚 book last night for comfort? Yes, yes I did.

This is definitely not as amazing as where the sidewalk ends, but these poems hit just as hard. They鈥檙e fun for kids (totally recommend you to read them to your children: 5 and up) and you鈥檒l be shocked every time these give you some adult life lessons as well 馃馃徎

also they鈥檙e so hilarious and intelligently written, every kid who grows up with this will 100% be smarter than everyone else.

Profile Image for Whitney Atkinson.
1,049 reviews13.1k followers
November 25, 2019
I got some Shel Silverstein books from the library to feed my nostalgia, and it was an interesting reread. They're as funny and easy and light as I remember, but I'm shocked by how much I didn't remember. Maybe I just skimmed it for the pictures as a kid, but still, these were entertaining to read out loud to my cats.
Profile Image for Janine.
42 reviews9 followers
April 9, 2007
The feelings I have about Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic and Where The Sidewalk Ends contrast so sharply with the books themselves. I loved these funny, whimsical and sometimes downright sadistic poems with all of my young heart. Even now, I feel like I'm getting away with something when I think of Clarence Lee from Tennesee who loved the commercials he saw on TV. I am still afraid for Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too who never returned to the world they knew. In Shel Silverstein's books I found all of my childish wishes drawn out to their natural, absurd conclusions. But I was also given a glimpse of the way that language could create beauty and inspire wonder, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in! I never guessed how a bald, bearded, barefoot man with a guitar could read my mind. It is not too much to say that I revere both works. Which is not the point of these poems at all.
Profile Image for 倬蹖賲丕賳 毓賻賱購賵.
344 reviews226 followers
March 26, 2024
倬蹖丕賳賵:

丿禺鬲乇 亘趩賴 丿賱卮 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池� 倬蹖丕賳賵 亘夭賳丿
丿爻鬲 亘賴 讴賱蹖丿鈥屬囏� 賳賲蹖鈥屫必驰屫�
丿爻鬲 讴賴 亘賴 讴賱蹖丿賴丕 乇爻蹖丿
倬丕賴丕蹖卮 亘賴 夭賲蹖賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫必驰屫�
丿爻鬲 亘賴 讴賱蹖丿賴丕 乇爻蹖丿
倬丕賴丕蹖卮 亘賴 夭賲蹖賳 乇爻蹖丿
丕賲丕 丿蹖乇 亘賵丿貙
丿蹖诏乇 丿賱卮 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池� 倬蹖丕賳賵 亘夭賳丿鈥�


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讴賵趩賵賱賵 賵 倬蹖乇賲乇丿:

倬爻乇 讴賵趩賵賱賵 诏賮鬲:
亘毓囟蹖鈥屬堎傌€屬囏ж� 賯丕卮賯 丕夭 丿爻鬲賲 賲蹖鈥屫з佖�
倬蹖乇賲乇丿 诏賮鬲: 賲賳 賴賲 賴賲蹖賳胤賵乇
倬爻乇賽 讴賵趩賵賱賵 诏賮鬲:
亘毓囟蹖鈥屬堎傌€屬囏� 卮賱賵乇丕乇賲 乇丕 禺蹖爻 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�
倬蹖乇賲乇丿 亘丕 賱亘禺賳丿 诏賮鬲:
亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 賴賲 倬蹖卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫�
倬爻乇 讴賵趩賵賱賵 诏賮鬲:
夭蹖丕丿蹖 诏乇蹖賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�
倬蹖乇賲乇丿 亘賴 毓賱丕賲鬲 爻乇 鬲氐丿蹖賯 爻乇 噩賳亘丕賳丿.
丕蹖 賵丕蹖 賲孬賱 禺賵丿賲
倬爻乇 讴賵趩賵賱賵 诏賮鬲:
亘夭乇诏鬲乇賴丕 讴賴 亘賴 賲賳 鬲賵噩賴蹖 賳丿丕乇賳丿
诏乇賲丕蹖 丿爻鬲 倬蹖乇賲乇丿 乇丕 丨爻 讴乇丿
倬蹖乇賲乇丿 诏賮鬲:
丿乇讴鬲 賲蹖讴賳賲 倬爻乇 讴賵趩賵賱賵!

郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯
丿毓丕蹖 讴賵丿讴 禺賵丿禺賵丕賴:

丨丕賱丕 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐呪€屫ㄘ堌жㄙ�
丕夭 禺丿丕 毓賲乇 丿乇丕夭 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐�
丕賲丕 丕诏乇 蹖讴 丌賳 丿乇 禺賵丕亘 賲購乇丿賲
丕蹖 禺丿丕 噩丕賳
毓乇賵爻讴鈥屬囏й屬呪€� 乇丕 亘卮讴賳
賳讴賳丿 讴爻蹖 亘丕 丌賳鈥屬囏� 亘丕夭蹖 讴賳丿

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鬲乇爻:

賴蹖趩 賵賯鬲 卮賳丕 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必�
爻賵丕乇 賯丕蹖賯 賳賲蹖鈥屫簇�
賴蹖趩鈥屬堎傌� 丨賲丕賲 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必�
氐亘丨 鬲丕 卮亘
賲蹖鈥屬嗀簇池� 鬲賵蹖 丕鬲丕賯
倬賳噩乇賴 乇丕 賯賮賱 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�
丿乇 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ池�
賲蹖鈥屫必驰屫�
賲蹖鈥属勜必槽屫�
賳讴賳丿 丿乇 亘丕夭 卮賵丿
賳讴賳丿 賲賵噩蹖 丕夭 丌亘 爻乇丕夭蹖乇 卮賵丿
賴蹖 夭丕乇 夭丿 賵 賴蹖 诏乇蹖賴 讴乇丿貙
丿乇賵丕夭賴鈥屬囏� 乇丕 亘爻鬲
丕鬲丕賯 倬乇 卮丿 丕夭 丕卮讴鈥屬囏й屫�
賵 丿乇 丕卮讴鈥屬囏й� 禺賵丿 睾乇賯 卮丿.

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賲賱丕賯丕鬲:

蹖讴鈥屫辟堌� 丿蹖丿賲
噩丕賳賲 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池�
乇丕賴卮 乇丕 诏賲 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿
丌丿乇爻 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池�

蹖讴鈥屫篡屫坟з� 丿蹖丿賲
乇賵丨賲 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池�
丿賵趩乇禺賴鈥屫з� 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池� 賯乇囟 亘诏蹖乇丿

蹖讴 丿乇丕讴賵賱丕 丿蹖丿賲
禺賵賳賲 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池�
蹖讴 丿丕賱乇 賲蹖丿丕丿
丿賵 倬賳噩丕賴 爻賳鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池�

賴乇亘丕乇 讴賴 賲賵噩賵丿 噩丕賱亘蹖 丿蹖丿賲
賲卮讴賱蹖 丿丕卮鬲

郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯

鬲賲丿賳:

丕诏乇 亘丕 蹖讴 丿蹖诏乇 乇賵亘賴 乇賵 卮賵蹖賲 賵 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 爻賱丕賲
丕蹖賳 禺賵卮 丌賲丿 诏賵蹖蹖 丕爻鬲 诏賵蹖丕
丕诏乇 亘倬乇爻蹖 丨丕賱賲 趩胤賵乇 丕爻鬲
丕蹖賳鈥屫堌� 賳卮丕賳 丿丕丿賳 丕爻鬲
丕诏乇 丕賳丿讴蹖 亘丕蹖爻鬲蹖賲 賵 丨乇賮 亘夭賳蹖賲
丕蹖賳 賲讴丕賱賲賴 丕爻鬲
丕诏乇 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 亘賮賴賲蹖賲
丕蹖賳 丕乇鬲亘丕胤 亘乇賯乇丕乇 讴乇丿賳 丕爻鬲
丕诏乇 噩丿賱 讴賳蹖賲 賵 噩蹖睾 亘讴卮蹖賲
丕蹖賳 丕禺鬲賱丕賮 丕爻鬲
丕诏乇 亘毓丿卮 賲毓匕乇鬲 亘禺賵丕賴蹖賲
丕蹖賳 丌卮鬲蹖 丕爻鬲
丕诏乇 丿乇 禺丕賳賴 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 蹖丕乇蹖 亘丿賴蹖賲
丕蹖賳 賴賲讴丕乇蹖 丕爻鬲
鬲賲丿賳责
噩賲毓 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏ж池� 丿蹖诏乇
丕诏乇 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 丕蹖賳 卮毓乇 毓丕賱蹖爻鬲貙 禺賵丿禺賵丕賴蹖爻鬲責

郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯郯
賴蹖趩 讴爻:

賴蹖趩 讴爻 賲乇丕 丿賵爻鬲 賳丿丕乇丿
賴蹖趩 讴爻貙
賴蹖趩 讴爻 賳诏乇丕賳 賲賳 賳蹖爻鬲
賴蹖趩 讴爻 丕夭 丿乇禺鬲 亘乇丕蹖賲 卮賮鬲丕賱賵 賵 诏賱丕亘蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屭嗃屬嗀�
賴蹖趩 讴爻貙
賴蹖趩 讴爻 亘賴 賲賳 丌亘賳亘丕鬲 賵鈥屬嗁堌簇жㄙ� 賳賲蹖鈥屫囏�
赖蹖趩鈥屭┴池�
亘賴 卮賵禺蹖 賴丕蹖 賲賳 诏賵卮 賳賲蹖鈥屫囏�
賳賲蹖鈥屫嗀�
賴蹖趩 讴爻 亘賴 賵賯鬲 丿毓賵丕 亘賴 讴賲讴賲 賳賲蹖鈥屫③屫�
賴蹖趩 讴爻
賴蹖趩 讴爻 賲卮賯鈥屬囏й屬� 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖賲 賳賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫池�
賴蹖趩 讴爻 丿賱卮 亘乇丕蹖賲 鬲賳诏 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堌�
賴蹖趩 讴爻 亘乇丕蹖賲 诏乇蹖賴 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�
賴蹖趩 讴爻貙
賴蹖趩 讴爻 賮讴乇 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 趩賴 丌丿賲 賳丕夭蹖 賴爻鬲賲
丕诏乇 丕夭 賲賳 亘倬乇爻蹖 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 丿賵爻鬲鬲 讴蹖爻鬲
蹖讴 丿賲 亘乇 賲蹖鈥屫屫操�
噩賵丕亘 賲蹖鈥屫囐�:
賴蹖趩 讴爻!
丿蹖卮亘 丨爻丕亘蹖 鬲乇爻蹖丿賲
丕夭 禺賵丕亘 亘蹖丿丕乇 卮丿賲
丿蹖丿賲芦賴蹖趩 讴爻禄賳蹖爻鬲
丿爻鬲賲 乇丕 亘賴 爻賵蹖卮 丿乇丕夭 讴乇丿賲
丕鬲丕賯 鬲丕乇蹖讴 亘賵丿
丿乇 噩丕蹖 賴賲蹖卮诏蹖鈥屫ж� 賳亘賵丿
賳亘賵丿 讴賴 賳亘賵丿
丿乇 禺丕賳賴
賴乇 爻賵乇丕禺 爻賳亘賴鈥屫й� 乇丕 诏卮鬲賲
賵賱蹖 賴賲賴 噩丕 蹖讴蹖 乇丕 丿蹖丿賲
诏卮鬲賲 賵 诏卮鬲賲 賵 诏卮鬲賲
鬲丕 禺爻鬲賴 卮丿賲
丨丕賱丕 丿蹖诏乇 卮讴蹖 賳蹖爻鬲
丨丕賱丕 爻丨乇 乇爻蹖丿賴
賴蹖趩 讴爻 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖卮賴
乇賮鬲赖

Profile Image for Ronyell.
989 reviews334 followers
March 15, 2014
鈥淎 Light in the Attic鈥� is one of Shel Silverstein鈥檚 best yet most controversial books of poems ever written. This book is full of poems about clowns, pirates, monsters and all manner of strange people and animals doing crazy things. 鈥淎 Light in the Attic鈥� may be too suggestive and morbid for smaller children, but older children will easily delight themselves with the silly shenanigans of the characters.

Shel Silverstein鈥檚 writing is as witty as it is funny as he writes each character鈥檚 stories in a poetic prose. One of the funniest poems I have read was 鈥淪quishy Touch鈥� when the main character turns everything into Jell-O. Shel Silverstein鈥檚 illustrations are highly creative as the images make the characters look scratchy and also I love the images being presented in black and white colors, a technique that is usually used for long books. The image that probably stood out the most was the image of the Gink as it has a large mouth with sharp teeth and the image of the kids coming out of the Gink on the next page.

Parents should know that there are some suggestive and morbid content in this book that young children might not understand. One poem that might be too suggestive for children would be the poem 鈥淗ow not to have to dry the dishes鈥� as it entices children to break the dishes in order not to dry them. Another poem that might be too morbid for children would be 鈥淟ittle Abigail and the Beautiful Pony鈥� as it deals with the death of a child and parents might want to explain to their children about the concept of death before they read this poem.

鈥淎 Light in the Attic鈥� is an excellent book about silly poems about silly people who do crazy stunts and it will surely be an instant for many children young and old. I would recommend this book to children ages six and up since smaller children might be a bit disturbed by the suggestive and morbid content displayed in this book.


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Profile Image for Elyse Walters.
4,010 reviews11.7k followers
May 3, 2014
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!! When I saw my 欧宝娱乐 friend 'post' she read this book, I smiled BIG time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Neda.
477 reviews82 followers
May 16, 2015
"The saddest thing I ever did see
Was a woodpecker peckin' at a plastic tree.
He looks at me, and "Friend," says he,
' "Things ain't as sweet as they used to be."

While reading I noticed that I've had read it long ago.. But I just couldn't stop! I just love Shel!
Profile Image for N.N. Heaven.
Author听6 books2,047 followers
September 29, 2017
Why I love it: Really? This is a banned book? Somewhere, Mr. Silverstein is shaking his head sadly. It鈥檚 a hilarious book of illustrations and poems. Silly poems. Its message is clear: use your imagination, laugh often and your life will be good. It promotes kindness, goodness and understanding. There鈥檚 nothing wrong with that.

My Rating: 5 stars
Profile Image for Valerie.
155 reviews81 followers
August 5, 2008
Recently, I started re-reading A Light in the Attic with my younger daughter, who's four-and-a-half. I think when I first read it I must have been about eight or nine years old, because I remember reading it myself, and loving it. (I must have checked it out of the library about a million times.) What's not to love? Shel gives us such gems as:

BEAR IN THERE
There's a Polar Bear
In our Frigidaire--
He likes it 'cause it's cold in there.
With his seat in the meat
And his face in the fish
And his big hairy paws
In the buttery dish,
He's nibbling the noodles,
He's munching the rice,
He's slurping the soda,
He's licking the ice.
And he lets out a roar
If you open the door.
And it gives me a scare
To know he's in there--
That Polary Bear
In our Fridgitydaire.


and

HOT DOG
I have a hot dog for a pet,
The only kind my folds would let
Me get.
He does smell sort of bad
And yet,
He absolutely never gets
The sofa wet.
We have a butcher for a vet,
The strangest vet you ever met.
Guess we're the weirdest family yet,
To have a hot dog for a pet.


Of course, she loves almost all of the poems. And I'd forgotten that the wonderful illustrations were also by Silverstein. One word of caution for parents reading to younger kids: some of the poems do deal (albeit in a silly way) with issues such as drowning (in your own tears), getting kidnapped (by a Wild Barbazzoop), and Ticklish Tom (who unfortunately giggles his way onto a railroad track). Small matters, surely, but good to know when you're reading something to your child that's slightly over their head in terms of age-appropriateness. It's nice to be prepared for the moment just after you've finished reading, and your little one turns to you and says, "Mommy, what's kidnapping?"
Profile Image for Karen.
2,418 reviews873 followers
November 11, 2023
The world lost a light when Shel Silverstein passed away in 1999. So much of what he shared through his poems were messages, that although they appeared to be children鈥檚 books, seemed more relatable for adults.

Especially in this book.

Consider Cloony the Clown:

鈥淥ne day he said, 鈥淚鈥檒l tell this town
How it feels to be an unfunny clown.鈥�
And he told them all why he looked so sad,
And he told them all why he felt so bad.
He told of Pain and Rain and Cold,
He told of Darkness in his soul,
And after he finished his tale of woe,
Did everyone cry? Oh no, no, no,
They laughed until they shook the trees鈥�
And while the world laughed outside.
Cloony the Clown sat down and cried.鈥�
~ Cloony The Clown

It sounds depressing. Not necessarily something I would read to a child.

This one, I have to admit, it may have even broken my heart, just a little.

In Wonders NearBy he has readers having us wishing what we should have or could have or would have done. Though the truth is what is done is done. It really is a great reminder to live life the best way we know how.

Wonders NearBy
I鈥檝e never dealt draw poker
In a rowdy lumber camp,
Or got up at the count of nine
To beat the world鈥檚 champ,
I鈥檝e never had my picture on
A six-cent postage stamp.
I鈥檝e never scored a touchdown
On a ninety-nine-yard run,
I鈥檝e never winged six Daltons
With my dying brother鈥檚 gun鈥�
Or kissed Miz Jane, and rode my hoss
Into the setting sun.
Sometimes I get so depressed
鈥楤out what I haven鈥檛 done.
~ Never

叠耻迟鈥�

Don鈥檛 be discouraged.

Throughout this book there are hopeful and inspirational poems that are child worthy.

础苍诲鈥�

This book has something for everyone.

It is an easy-to-read, entertaining collection.
Profile Image for 顿别补戋�.
479 reviews
March 18, 2022
I rarely read poetry because it's a hit or miss for me. There are always some poems that I really like and the rest of them I just skim read. But I find children poetry more tolerable and usually more amusing.
This poetry collection was very funny, quirky and easy to read. Some of the poems may seem suggestive and even a little bit morbid (especially the last few in this collection) but overall I think most of them promote positive thinking and kindness.
I haven't read this as a child and I think I value this better as an adult. Most of the poems are very straightforward but also profound and witty in a way I probably wouldn't have appreciated as a child.

Some of my favourites are:

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-grumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.

description

This one is my favourite because we bookworms would have more time for reading when we wouldn't have to work, but then how would we buy ourselves new books to read!?
description
Profile Image for DJ Harris.
114 reviews64 followers
March 27, 2013
Need to feel like a kid again? Cozy up with this humorous and whimsical book of poetry. Kids of all ages are sure to enjoy Shel Silverstein's fanciful word play in this amusing collection.

Besides reading this book myself, I also purchased a copy of this book for my children and grandchildren. It is a good book to get your children into reading.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!



Excerpt:

"Somebody Has To

Somebody has to go polish the stars,
They鈥檙e looking a little bit dull.
Somebody has to go polish the stars,
For the eagles and starlings and gulls
Have all been complaining they鈥檙e tarnished and worn,
They say they want new ones we cannot afford.
So please get your rags
And your polishing jars,
Somebody has to go polish the stars.
"

Profile Image for Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library).
4,887 reviews80 followers
July 26, 2020
I was introduced to the works of Shel Silverstein when my fourth grade teacher read Where the Sidewalk Ends to my class. Sadly, the author passed away not long after I discovered his poetry; still, he lives on thanks to his timeless works. This book has some crazy poems; between the zany words and hilarious illustrations, kids and even some adults are sure to laugh. Occasionally, the poems were crude, but only in a "PG" way. While I was disappointed when I found out about Mr. Silverstein's lifestyle--and, if you check out his Wikipedia page, you'll see why--that doesn't reflect on this book.
Profile Image for Stephen.
1,516 reviews12.1k followers
July 29, 2010
4.0 to 4.5 stars. One of those books that can be enjoyed by children and adults depending on how deeply you dive into the meaning of the stories. Incredibly imaginative and very well done.
Profile Image for sarah.
12 reviews
April 17, 2021
I've got no complaints. Seriously. This is such a wonderful all-ages poetry book with illustrations; a childhood favorite of mine. Anyone who wants a lighthearted, funny book should probably read this.

Bored
I can't afford
A skateboard.
I can't afford
An outboard.
I can't afford
A surfboard.
All I can afford
Is a board.


Gumeye Ball
There's an eyeball in the gumball machine,
Right there between the red and the green,
Lookin' at me as if to say,
"You don't need any more gum today."


Wild Strawberries
Are Wild Strawberries really wild?
Will they scratch an adult, will they snap at a child?
Should you pet them. or let them run free where they roam?
Could they ever relax in a steam-heated home?
Can they be trained to not growl at the guests?
Will a litterbox work or would they leave a mess?
Can we make them a Cowberry, herding the cows,
Or maybe a Muleberry pulling the plows,
Or maybe a Huntberry chasing the grouse,
Or maybe a Watchberry guarding the house,
And though they may curl at your feet oh so sweetly,
Can you ever feel they you trust them completely?
Or should we make a pet out of something less scary,
Like the Domestic Prune or the Imported Cherry,
Anyhow, you've been warned and I will not be blamed,
If your Wild Strawberry cannot be tamed.


Turtle
Our turtle did not eat today,
Just lies on his back in the strangest way
And doesn't move.
I tickled him
And poked at him
And dangled string in front of him,
But he just lies there
Stiff and cold
And sort of staring straight ahead.
Jim says he's dead.
"Oh, no," say I,
"A wooden turtle cannot die!"


Anteater
"A genuine anteater,"
The pet man told my dad.
Turned out, it was an aunt eater,
And now my uncle's mad!
Profile Image for Gauri.
261 reviews6 followers
December 16, 2016
I read a little bit from this book everyday to my younger brother this past week. I can't remember if I finished this myself in my own childhood, but it felt like I read it for the first time, so I'll put this in the list of books I read this year.
This is a book full of poems about jokes or about little lessons presented in comical ways. It gets little kids thinking and gets them interested about deeper thinking. Definitely a must-read for children!
Profile Image for Amber J (Thereadingwitch).
1,117 reviews79 followers
January 4, 2022
This was one of my favorite books as a child, and I loved being able to read it again. Even more so I got to read it to my 7 year old daughter and some to my 10 year old nephew. They both loved it. They laughed at most of them and my daughter commented about it being sad when it was a sad poem. I got two more of his books from the library and I'm very excited to read them for both myself and my daughter.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
1,878 reviews278 followers
December 17, 2017
A load of fun to read these poems. I can see how they might be considered a little subversive by some and can see how they banned this book for a little while somewhere! I'd buy this for all my little relations no problem.
Profile Image for Ammara Abid.
205 reviews162 followers
December 5, 2016
Absolutely brilliant.
Every time I read it, every time I love it more.
Many poems are my favorite, I can't write all of them here but couldn't resist myself sharing these two,

The Nailbiter
Some people manicure their nails,
Some people trim them neatly,
Some people keep them filed down,
I bite 鈥檈m off completely.
Yes, it鈥檚 a nasty habit, but
Before you start to scold,
Remember, I have never ever
Scratched a single soul.


Zebra Question
I asked the zebra
Are you black with white stripes?
Or white with black stripes?
And the zebra asked me,
Are you good with bad habits?
Or are you bad with good habits?
Are you noisy with quiet times?
Or are you quiet with noisy times?
Are you happy with some sad days?
Or are you sad with some happy days?
Are you neat with some sloppy ways?
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?
And on and on and on and on
And on and on he went.
I'll never ask a zebra
About stripes
Again.
21 reviews
July 14, 2010
Shel Silverstein was the author of my childhood, and I was surprised to find that, in (sort of) adulthood, A light in the Attic hasn't lost any of its charm. In fact, I've discovered new layers of humor and meaning I couldn't have processed when I was eight.

I credit Shel Silverstein with my early love of poetry and, ultimately, literature. Recommend to anyone at any age, but a GREAT gift for a godson/ goddaughter, niece/ nephew, etc.. They'll cherish it forever!
Profile Image for Holly R W .
438 reviews64 followers
August 12, 2018
This book holds happy memories for me. I used to read the poems to my son Matt, who is now 26 years old. He and I both enjoyed their sweet silliness and the great illustrations!
Profile Image for Cathy.
81 reviews9 followers
October 27, 2007
Shel Silverstein was misunderstood.

He was a genius, but not an evil one. Just a hilarious one.

His books are looked at with suspicion. But shouldn't be, because they are full of fun, pun, and literate value.

Here is why this one was challenged by others, however:

"features a caricature of a person whose nude behind has been stung by a bee; the poem 'Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony' is morbid; imparts a 'dreary' and 'negative' message; encourages kids to break dishes so that they won't have to wash them; suggestive illustrations; glorified Satan, suicide, cannibalism, and also encouraged children to be disobedient; suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents; behavior abusive to women and children, suicide is the best way to manipulate parents; mockery of God; selfish and disrespectful behavior; very vile; contained subliminal messages"
Profile Image for Mohammad Roufarshbaf.
212 reviews27 followers
September 8, 2020
賲孬賱 亘賯蹖賴 蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 卮賱貙 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 倬乇 亘賵丿 丕夭 丕蹖丿賴 賴丕蹖 禺賱丕賯丕賳賴 賵 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賴丕 賵 賳賯丕卮蹖 賴丕蹖 亘丕賲夭賴.
賲賳 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賴賲賴 亘賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭蹖乇 禺賳丿蹖丿賲:
The MEEHOO with an Exactlywat
亘丕 禺賵丿賲 賮讴乇 讴乇丿賲 蹖讴 賳賮乇 趩賯丿乇 亘丕蹖丿 匕賴賳 禺賱丕賯蹖 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮丿 讴賴 趩賳蹖賳 丕蹖丿賴 蹖 亘丕賲夭賴 丕蹖 乇丕 丿乇 爻乇 倬乇賵乇丕賳丿賴 亘丕卮丿.
倬.賳.
丿乇 禺賱丕賱 禺賵丕賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賳鬲蹖噩賴 乇爻蹖丿賲 讴賴 丿蹖诏乇 讴賲鬲乇 丕夭 诏賵丿乇蹖丿夭 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 讴賳賲. 丿賱蹖賱卮 賴賲 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丿賵爻鬲 賳丿丕乇賲 亘丕 禺賵丿賲 蹖丕 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 丿乇 乇賯丕亘鬲 亘丕卮賲 讴賴 丨鬲賲丕賸 鬲毓丿丕丿 讴鬲丕亘 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 亘禺賵丕賳賲. 賴賲 趩賳蹖賳 丿賵爻鬲 賳丿丕乇賲 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賮毓賱丕賸 丿乇 賱蹖爻鬲 丕賵賱賵蹖鬲 賴丕蹖 禺賵丕賳丿賳 賲賳 賳蹖爻鬲 乇丕 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 卮賴乇鬲卮丕賳 丿乇 卮亘讴賴 賴丕蹖 丕噩鬲賲丕毓蹖 亘禺賵丕賳賲. 丕夭 丕蹖賳 倬爻 爻毓蹖 賲蹖 讴賳賲 丕夭 诏賵丿乇蹖丿夭 賮賯胤 亘乇丕蹖 蹖丕賮鬲賳 亘毓囟蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 禺賵亘 賲乇鬲亘胤 亘丕 毓賱丕蹖賯賲 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴 讴賳賲. 丕诏乇 丨爻 賵 丨丕賱卮 乇丕 丿丕卮鬲賲 卮丕蹖丿 乇蹖賵蹖賵 丕蹖 賴賲 亘賳賵蹖爻賲. 丕诏乇 賳丿丕卮鬲賲 丿乇 禺賵丿賽 讴鬲丕亘 乇蹖賵蹖賵 丕蹖 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丿賲 蹖丕丿丿丕卮鬲 賲蹖 讴賳賲貙 賲孬賱 丕賵丕蹖賱 丿賴賴 蹖 賳賵丿 讴賴 诏賵丿乇蹖丿夭 賳丿丕卮鬲賲 賵 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丿賲 賲蹖 賳賵卮鬲賲.
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