Customer Reviews

A Light in the Attic

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you don't remember these rhymes from your childhood, then it's about time you visited the attic, "A Light in the Attic," that is. Silverstein combines humorous sketches, whimsical poetry and fanciful word play in another amusing collection. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" will always be my favorite, but poems like "Spelling Bee," "Deaf Donald," "Nobody" and "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony" definately make "A Light in the Attic" a close runner-up.

If you know Silverstein's work, then you are familiar with his simple rhyming style. His flair for combining drawings and words make for a book that's much more than just a collection of poetry. His poems are an experience that would be diminished without the visual aspect.

Silverstein's collections are great for all ages. I read them as a kid, but I enjoy them just as much now. Silverstein has the soul of a child, but the wit of a sage.

"The saddest thing I ever did see
Was a woodpecker peckin' at a plastic tree.
He looks at me, and 'Friend,' says he,
'Things ain't as sweet as they used to be.'"
-Shel Silverstein page 83

This poem book is the best yet, I have never read any poems as funny as the ones Shel Silverstein writes."A Light in the Attic" is a book for people of all ages.The whole class of seventh graders enjoyed it.We were laughing our heads out when we heard the poem,"Standing is Stupid".I recomend this book to anyone who is having a bad day and wants a moment of happiness!

Silverstein is our favorite author of children's books. He is just perfect! In fact his works are as good for the parents as for their children. Whichever Silverstein's book I bought for any of my five children (each one of them has his own Silverstein), we have ALL read them. That includes my children, myself, and even sometimes my husband. "Light in the Attic" is no exception to that rule. I think that all of Shel's books are equally good. Check also Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook, A Giraffe and a Half, Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings. If you are a loving mother that wants to see smile on your child's face, give him Silverstein - it's children's literature classic and a safe bet. A recent discovery for me is Boszenna Nowiki and her series Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 1, Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 2, Why Some Cats are Rascals ( Book 3) with some very touching stories of speaking cats...

Shel Silverstein does it again. This time with "A Light in the Attic". A great compelation of poems that will have you laughing throughout the day. When I first picked this book up, I couldn't put it down for its gripping the reader techniques with such humorous poems. With characters in his poems ranging from any animal to any human, this book definitely has variety. I love the way Shel is able to rhyme things together and come up with such great stories in his poems......this is very evident in this book.

Most of th peoms run about half a page, some long, some short. All of course, though, have humor and really show the work put in to them. This poem book is one of Silverstein's finest and deserves some sort of award.

I want to thank Shel Silverstein for creating such a wonderful poem book and such great ideas that make you want to read the whole book in one sitting. That would definitely take time though it would be worth it.

As you can see, I really recommend anyone of any age buying this book so they can enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for reading my review and have a nice day!!

I hadn't read Shel Silverstein for years until I recently picked up this ancient book of my youth. Looking at it now, I truly appreciate Silverstein's unique writing (maybe for the first time). It's difficult not to fall in love instantly with a man who makes cannibalism, monsters, and other ephemera kid friendly. Not to mention the fantastic illustrations and original verses of each poem. Interestingly, I saw real similarities with, of all people, Gary Larson ("The Far Side") down to the grotesque but can't-look-away illustrations. I would recommend this book to any child I know. These poems do not date and feel as fresh as when I read them as a young-un.

"A Light in the Attic" is the funniest book I have ever read.It is a great book for people of all ages.Once I began reading it, I didn't want to put it down. I reccomend this book to anyone who is having a bad day and wants to feel good. This book will put a smile on your face. My favorite poem was Standing is Stupid.Everyone should have a book like this in their library at home, it's the best!

I absolutely adore these drawings and poems - I have been reading and giggling and remembering my own childhood when I giggled and laughed at them... My kids both laughed and laughed when I read them to them - and my 18 year old daughter had to show them all to her friends. This is a just an adorable book and well worth the money for the kid at heart or by age!

This is one of the cutest books I have ever read. It is a great book to pull out on a rainy day, I never get bored with it, no matter how many times I read it. The poems are all funny, and they can cheer anyone up. I will definatly treasure this book forever!

My name is Jazmin. I'm a third grader in Salton City, California. I think The Light in the Attic is a great book. My favorite poems are Deaf Donald and the Lost Cat. It's a great book because of the pictures and the words in the poems and I hope all of you people buy this book and read it because it's a beautiful book.

For kids, this book is excellent. It is filled with funny, irreverent poetry that really seems to locate the core essence of childhood and speaks to children at their level without talking down to them. Kids will find this book funny and refreshing because it treats them like people instead of little kids.

But that's really only half the story. Underneath the "children's book" veneer is what appears to be a love letter from the author to some unnamed other person. It really didn't strike me that this was the case until about halfway through I came across the poem about misunderstandings, apologies, and forgiveness. Then, the huge random listing of poems suddenly made a whole lot more sense. Each poem is a small extract of Siverstein's relationship with this person. He even feels safe to talk with this person about philosophical topics as in "The Big G and the Little A" which is a rebuke of atheism.

His poems discuss all sorts of things ranging from aspirations and limitations (Rock and Roll Band) to the everyday occurences of meeting funny people (The Babysitter). The poems make sense when read within the context of a love letter. It is as if Silverstein gives us a little peek into a few years of his life with this loved one. Funny observations, hopes and dreams, love, forgiveness.

The first poem, A Light in the Attic, gives the first clue that this book isn't just about children's poems. In the poem, he spies a light coming from his lover's attic and knows that it isn't only himself who is looking, but also that his lover is looking out at him. Maybe they have only been together a short time and are unsure how to proceed, but he tells that person, "If I can read your thoughts, I see a fire in your eyes that is afraid to come out. I love you, and I think that you love me too."

By all means, get this book for your kids. They will love it. But take the time to enjoy it for yourself. Silverstein has cleverly disguised his love letter as a bunch of silly children's poems.