Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein- NEW POETRY BOOK (2011) Module 3

Shel Silverstein.2011. Every Thing On It. New York. HarperCollins.  ISBN 978-0-06-199816-4. 

Every Thing On It is written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein.  Members of Shel Silverstein's family selected poems and drawings from his personal archive for a volume to follow his much loved books such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up. The very first poem titled Years from Now is about Shel Silverstein's legacy in life and how much he truly will be missed since his death in 1999.  The poem goes like this: Although I cannot see your face, As you flip these poems awhile, Somewhere from some far-off place, I hear you laughing-and I smile. This and 129 other poems were chosen by Silverstein's family.  The poems vary in length, subject matter and difficulty. Some poems are for early readers and some are more in-depth which will expand their vocabulary. These poems are sure to attract every child's attention with his humor, silliness, and blunt sense of life.  Every single poem of his is great quality and no one will disappointed with this book.  There are several poems that are geared more towards adults with content like saving the whales and what materials are in their food but that is why this is a family fun book. Silberstein does not strive for perfect rhyming in his poems, some of the poems are rhyming poems while others sort of rhyme.  There are so many poems that offer sense imagery such as Food and Tiny Footprints. His poems not only stimulate a variety of thoughts and emotions but they also represent various moods.  Some poems are about school, family, friends, growing up and some are just funny about made up fictional characters. The format of the poems vary, some are very short while some take up three pages. Some of the shorter poems have several on a page while others are just by them self. There is an index in the back of the book to help you navigate through these wonderful titles.   

To accompany these wonderful poems are amazing illustrations done by Shel Silverstein himself.  Not every single title has an illustration.  The ones that do are done in a black ink drawing fashion against a white background.  His drawings are funny and fit the poems so perfectly they are sure to make every reader laugh and appreciate them.    

I was so glad to see another book done with poems from Shel Silverstein.  Even though he has passed away his poems will be shared with generations to come.  The poem that I would like to share with you is called THE ONE WHO INVENTED TRICK OR TREAT.  I read this poem and thought it was funny and charming and I hope you feel the same. 

THE ONE WHO INVENTED TRICK OR TREAT

Yes, I invented "trick or treat"

So you could fill your mouth with sweets-

Candy bars and lemon drops,

Marshmallows and Tootsie Pops,

Butterscotch and bubble gum.

Hold out your hand-they'll give you some

Chocolate kisses, Juiubes,

Sourballs and jelly beans.

Have a cake-some cookies too. 

Take a couple-grab a few

Peppermint sticks and Mary Janes,

Licorice whips and candy canes. 

Slurp some soda, munch a pie,

Don't let those M&M's go by,

Chew that toffee, munch those treats,

Get that caramel in your teeth.

Then come see me, I'll be here-

I'm your friendly dentist, dear.   

Classroom/Library Connection

Recommended audience:  Ages 7-13

Before reading:  Before reading this poem I would ask the students if they knew who Shel Silverstein was.  He has wrote some amazing poetry and I would tell them that I would want to share some with them. 

During reading:  I would read the poem slowly so they can truly appreciate the poem and the hidden meaning behind it with the dentist. 

Reread the poem: I would then discuss the poem with them and have the class do research behind who Shel Silverstein was.  Then I would reread the poem and maybe some others to them.    

After reading:  In Shel Silverstein's honor I would ask each one of the students to select some of his poetry books and do just like Silverstein's family did. Create a book of their favorite poems written by Shel Silverstein and share one of them in front of the class.  This would expose them to several of his works and truly appreciate the wonderful poet that he was!