Review: A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS.COM:

It's hard to imagine a world without A Light in the Attic. This now-classic collection of poetry and drawings from Shel Silverstein celebrates its 20th anniversary with this special edition. Silverstein's humorous and creative verse can amuse the dowdiest of readers. Lemon-faced adults and fidgety kids sit still and read these rhythmic words and laugh and smile and love that Silverstein. Need proof of his genius?

Rockabye

Rockabye baby, in the treetop
Don't you know a treetop
Is no safe place to rock?
And who put you up there,
And your cradle, too?
Baby, I think someone down here's
Got it in for you.

Shel, you never sounded so good.

MY TAKE:

I've seen this book several times but it was only today that I got to read it.

"A Light in the Attic" is a collection of poems for children. The topics and points-of-view vary from poem to poem, but all of them are clearly meant for children, even though some of them are a bit naughty (naughty as in bad, not naughty as in naughty).

What I liked about this book was that it made use of different poetry styles so it was never boring. The writing style is very cute, although occasionally the humor is dark. That said, I think this would be an entertaining bedtime read for kids, especially those with a short attention span.

THE GOOD:

1. It's a great way to teach kids about poetry.
2. Some of the poems are hilarious.
3. Three poems that amused me: THE DRAGON OF GRINDLY GRUN, LONGMOBILE and ATIONS.

THE BAD:

1. The dark humor in some poems can be disturbing to kids and/or their parents.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

HOW MANY, HOW MUCH

How many slams in an old screen door?

Depends how loud you shut it.

How many slices in a bread?

Depends how thin you cut it.

How much good inside a day?

Depends how good you live 'em.

How much love inside a friend?

Depends how much you give 'em.

READ IT IF:

• You're a kid.
• You're a parent.
• You like poetry.

RATING:

SOUNDS INTERESTING?