Where the Sidewalk Ends

ALA Notable Children's Book 1974

Citation:

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.  (HarperCollins Publishers, 2004).  183p. Poetry Junior Book.

Summary:

A humorous collection of poems that a reader of any age could enjoy.

Critique:

a.         The silliness and fun of the poetry and drawings delights the mind and the heart.

b.          The drawings are simple yet provide a story to the poem.  The word choice and adventures in the poem take the reader on a giggling journey.

c.         “KERPLOP” (p. 31) describes to your mind the sound of Sky Seasoning.  “But what’s one dentist, more or less?” (p. 66) leads the reader to conclude the ending in “The Crocodile’s Toothache.  “I have a Band-Aid on my finger,” (p. 140) is just the start of the Band-Aid explosion.

Curriculum Connection:  

Where the Sidewalk Ends is a collection of poetry that offers various styles of prose and rhyme.  The diversity of form could be used in any and all poetry lessons.