Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings (original 1974; edition 2014)

by Shel Silverstein (Author), Shel Silverstein (Illustrator)

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A boy who turns into a TV set and a girl who eats a whale are only two of the characters in a collection of humorous poetry illustrated with the author's own drawings.

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Member:	Madeleine1850
Title:	Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings
Authors:	Shel Silverstein (Author)
Other authors:	Shel Silverstein (Illustrator)
Info:	HarperCollins (2014), Edition: First Edition, 176 pages
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
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Work Information

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein (1974)

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110
A Light in the Attic: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein (gilberts, KTIversen1)
KTIversen1: A Light In the Attic was written and illustrated by the same brilliant poet/artist, Shel Silverstein. So how could you possibly go wrong?
10
The Bridge Across The River by Shepherd Thorleif Halvorsen (KTIversen1)
KTIversen1: The poems in The Bridge Across The River are possibly the best comparisons to those in Where The Sidewalk Ends. There is, however, two distinct differences between them. While Shel Silverstein's poetry was not specifically written for children, the poems in The Bridge Across The River were. And The Bridge Across The River contains not pictures, only poetry.… (more)
00
Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee (Cecrow)
Cecrow: Pre-eminent children's poets in their respective countries.

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English (498) German (1) All languages (499)

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Reading Level: 4th and 5th

Awards: New York Times Outstanding Book Award

ALA Notable Book

Golden Archer Award

Amazon.com Customers' Favorite

George C. Stone Center for Children's Books Recognition of Merit Award

Michigan Young Readers Award

DLlanosVSU24 | Dec 9, 2024 |

"Where the Sidewalk Ends" is an imaginative collection of poems and drawings that spark laughter, reflection, and creativity with an independent reading level for grades 3rd to 6th.

Awards:
ALA Notable Children’s Book.
New York Times Outstanding Book Award (1974).

Aleishak3 | Dec 2, 2024 |

Independent Reading Level: Grades 2nd - 5th
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Nominee – 1977)
Golden Archer Award (Winner – Intermediate – 1996)
Kid's Choice Award (Nominee – Favorite Book – 2010)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee – 1976-1977)

KSnell04 | Dec 1, 2024 |

Awards/Honors: New York Times Outstanding Book Award
ALA Notable Children's Book
Featured on many "Best Children's Books of All Time"

msirmans | Nov 29, 2024 |

Independent Reading Level: Grades 3-6
Awards/Honors: Golden Archer Award (Wisconsin)
Amazon.com Customers' Favorite.
New York Times Notable.
New York Times Outstanding Book.
ALA Notable Children's Book.
George C. Stone Center for Children's Books Recognition of Merit Award.

Hafsi2021 | Nov 28, 2024 |

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▾Published reviews

1 review

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thingScore 50

There's some nice, lively stuff in here, good for reading aloud on a sleety weekend afternoon. Just don't make it the only book of verse on the children's shelves.

added by Shortride | editThe New York Times Book Review, Sherwin D. Smith (pay site) (Nov 3, 1974)

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▾Series and work relationships

Is contained in

The Giving Tree / A Light in the Attic / Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein: Poems and Drawings: Slipcase 3-Book Box Set by Shel Silverstein

Where the Sidewalk Ends / Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein 4 Book Set- Where the Sidewalk Ends, a Light in the Atic, Falling Up, and Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein

Is expanded in

Where the Sidewalk Ends Special Edition with 12 Extra Poems by Shel Silverstein

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Nominee – 1977)

Golden Archer Award (Winner – Intermediate – 1996)

Kid's Choice Award (Nominee – Favorite Book – 2010)

Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)

William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee – 1976-1977)

Notable Lists

100 Books to Read in a Lifetime

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up (2009.0276, 2009, Ages 5↑)

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Important events

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Epigraph

Dedication

For Ursula..

First words

"Invitation"
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...

If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come in!

Quotations

“HUG O’ WAR”

I will not play at tug o’ war.

I’d rather play at hug o’ war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins.

“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.”

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

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Information from the Hebrew Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.

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Original language

English

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

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Wikipedia in English (1)

Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2011 October 12

▾Book descriptions

A boy who turns into a TV set and a girl who eats a whale are only two of the characters in a collection of humorous poetry illustrated with the author's own drawings.

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▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

I think these are great poems that stand the length of time. What really stands out about Shel Silverstein is that his work is not just for children. His work has a place in probably 3rd grade on up. They are silly and funny which make children really want to listen. This is good poetry to start introducing this type of literature to children. The deeper meaning of these poems can also be discussed analyzed by older children.

Haiku summary

Sidewalks end, dreams start / Silverstein guides us with art / To where wonders lie. (hiki)