Every Thing On It

Every Thing On It

Author: Shel Silverstein

Genre: Poetry

Ages: 8-11 years

Themes: Everything

Summary: A collection of never before published poems by this incredible children's poet. These poems are fun to read and will make children laugh out loud as they read them. 

Pre-Reading Activity: Talk about that some poems rhyme and others don't. Show the class a poem from this book that does demonstrate rhyme. Ask them to pick out the rhyming words. 

Post- Reading Activity: Re-read the following poem: When I Am Gone

When I am gone what will you do?

Who will write and draw for you? 

Someone smarter-someone new?

Someone better- maybe YOU!

Discuss what this poem means. Ask students why this is a good poem to end this book? Let them write their own short poem that they think would be good to end a book with. 

Reflection: After reading Shel Silverstein books of poetry growing up, this was a refreshing posthumous publication. The poems stayed true to his style and wit in his past books and it is a book that can be easily used to introduce students to poetry. 

About the Author:

Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein is the author-artist of many beloved books of prose and poetry. He was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter. Silverstein was a soldier in the U.S. Army in Japan and Korea in the '50s and drew cartoons for Stars and Stripes, the American military publication. His next cartooning gig was for Playboy.

Silverstein wrote several songs. His country-western song "A Boy Named Sue" was a hit for Johnny Cash in 1969. His song for Postcards From the Edge, "I'm Checkin' Out," was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

(www.barnesandnoble.com)