For many a young bookworm, reading consists mainly of comics, sports novels, comedic paperbacks, and similarly light-hearted fare. Thus, poetry, which has garnered a reputation for its difficult meanings and cryptic language, is largely ignored by the younger crowd. However, poetry is just as critical to the scope of literature and art as any story, play or epic; and, despite its more mature connotations, it deserves to be enjoyed by all ages.
Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, is a collection of poems and accompanying illustrations targeted specifically for children. First published in 1974, Silverstein's poems have preserved their humor and relevance through generations of very different childhoods. Silverstein manages to successful twist playful and imaginative writing with wit and truth to create an amusing and highly engaging anthology of poems and illustrations that both make a reader laugh and think.
There is a huge range of poems in the book, from purely creative and other-worldly to inspirational to humorous. "Smart" highlights Silverstein's typical ironic tone, presenting a boy eager to trade the dollar his father gave him. While the poem is certainly funny from a child's point of view, it gains a whole other sense of humor from an adult perspective. Indeed, this multi-layered construction is a reoccurring theme in many of the poems in Where the Sidewalk Ends, which is surely a reason for its enormous success and longevity.
"One Inch Tall" is another example of the pure fun and joy that Silverstein brings to his poems. His humor has poignancy, as do his memorable ending lines. "Sick" shares a similar humor. As a child, when I first read this poem, I laughed at silly Peggy Ann McKay, the girl who will make up any excuse to stay home from school. Looking back as an older reader, the humor of the poem remains, and readers can reminisce about the excuses they used themselves.
A personal favorite of mine from Where the Sidewalk Ends is the namesake poem. For me, this poem embodies everything that I cherish in Silverstein's poetry: how it encourages creativity, inspires children, and rejuvenates memories. Poetry, as Silverstein shows, is undeserving of its stuffy and antiquated image.
I would give this book a 10 out of 10. As a child, I was entertained and excited by Silverstein's wide range of poetry and captivating illustrations. As a teen, I am impressed at the continuing relevance of the poems in Where the Sidewalk Ends, as well as the humor they spread. For adults, this is not only a great anthology to share with youth, but a reminder of childhood blitheness. Where the Sidewalk Ends evokes a deep sense of fun with its poems, which are enjoyable at any age.
To finish with the words of Silverstein himself in his poem, Where the Sidewalk Ends:
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
Mari Miyachi is an Andover resident and student at Phillips Academy who reviews books for young adults.
