A Light That Ends with a Bridge ...Banned Book W/O
Written: Sep 26 '06 (Updated Sep 27 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Creative, fun, whimsical poems, word play
Cons: Really nothing
The Bottom Line: An entire generation grew up loving this book, it's a classic waiting for the next generation.
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| pestyside's Full Review: Shel Silverstein - A Light in the Attic |
There is no more Shel Silverstein to write words like these, there is no one else to talk of butts tattooed with bees, we miss his crazy pictures, and all his silly poems, and we never hear new mumble-grumble songs. Don’t take this book away, not even for a day.
Shel Silverstein’s classic A Light in the Attic should be read by all. It’s silly, fun, and delicious on the tongue. His words bounced and danced and we giggled through his nonsense. Let me explain, you’ll see what I mean…
What happens if
you add a sicle to your pop,
Would he become a Popsicle?
Would a mop become a mopsicle?
Would a copy become a copsicle?
Would a chop become a chopsicle/
Would a drop become a dropsicle?
Would a hop become a hopsicle?
You get the idea, however…
I guess it is time to stopsicle,
Or is it timesicle to stopsicle?
Heysicle, I can’t stopsicle.
Ohsicle mysicle willsicle Isicle
Havesicle tosicle talksicle
Likesicle thissicle foreersicle—
Huhsicle?
It’s about time to go running outside to scream. This is Shel Silverstein in action, you see what I mean. He could play with words and language and poetry better than anyone I knew. But he could also make you stop and think.
How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
Depends on 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.
If someone took this book away there is so much I’d miss. I’d never have met the Meehoo with an Exactlywatt, or the Little Boy and the Old Man; I’d never know about the unscratchable itch that was worse than a sunbeam that couldn’t be caught. How could I ever not read the message from the 24-foot python? This brings up the classic question of the Whatiffs?
Whatiff I never read this book
Whatiff someone took a look
Whatiff the pages all fell out
Whatiff someone forgot to shout,
Whatiff I never learn to dance?
Everything seems swell, and then
The nighttime Whatiffs strike again!
From the moment I read this poem, many years ago, I knew the “Whatiffs.” They tried to control my life but instead I said whatiff we just ignore those silly pests when they tried to crawl inside my ear.
A Light in the Attic has 136 poems, from A to Z, missing only J, X and V. Most are silly, a few are wise, and one or two might make you cry. There is a sword-swallower, a skin stealer and a twistable turnable man. But for those who care there is a naked butt with a message tattooed on it by a spelling bee and an absent-minded man who’s certain he forgot something (oh yes, he forgot his pants). If you’re prone to being scared there are monsters, a damsel munching dragon, and a 21-headed man. For those who really want to blush, a camel wears a brassiere…
They’ve put a brassiere on the camel,
She wasn’t dressed proper, you know.
They’ve put a brassiere on the camel
So that her humps wouldn’t show.
And they’re making other respectable plans,
They’re even insisting the pigs should wear pants.
They’ll dress up the ducks if we give them the chance
Since they’ve put a brassiere on the camel.
Excuse me while I finish laughing. Very few poets can take simple concepts and turn them into brilliant commentaries. In 1992 some parents asked to have this book restricted and children could only check it out from libraries with parental permission. The man stung by the spelling bees had a nude butt (I’m not convinced it was a man.) Later in 1996 a parent challenged a Missouri school library because this book had a dreary and negative message. Perhaps that person had taken the whatiffs seriously.
Shel Silverstein’s book is funny and irreverent; it builds dreams, and chuckles at the too serious. It shares a little of the poet and his playful love of language. If someone took this book away I’d never really know the importance of little a. He made me laugh and brightened the day.
A Light in the Attic was first published in 1981. It has been reprinted many times. Shel Silverstein's simple line drawings illustrate his creative poems. An entire generation of children will giggle (as adults) when you mention putting a brassiere on a camel or ask them what timesicle it is. They know, they’ve been touched by the brilliance of Shel Silverstein and I can only hope that this timeless book continues to be shared with our children’s children’s children.
But this bridge will only take you halfway there—
The last few steps you’ll have to take alone. Thank you Shel.
This book is an entry in my Banned Books Write-off. You are welcome to contribute. For details go to the Banned Books Write-off and join in the fun.
Recommended:
Yes
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