Customer Reviews

Where the Sidewalk Ends

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was buying Shel's books for my kids several years befor they were born and found this album at the time of my daughter's birth. I have enjoyed Shel's writing, both for Dr. Hook and for his own releases. Shel's interpretations of his own works, on this album, are hilarious. His choice of titles is well done, all of the poems he does work very well.

I have grown up listening to the adult as well as children's recordings of Shel Silverstein. I first heard this in 3rd grade, and I STILL think it is great. Everyone who stumbles upon this needs to do me a favor. Listen to or read anything you can of Shel's. It will be worth your time!

Shel Silverstein is brilliant. His light hearted and irreverent approach to poetry leaves everyone with a smile. On this CD Shel reads his poems as they were meant to be read. There is simply no comparison to listening to any poet read his own poetry, and when it's Shel there is no comparison at all. It will be a favorite of anyones always available when you need a smile, a laugh, or a Hug-a-War!

I grew up with this book and loved it dearly. I love the fact that it is still around today and as refreshing as ever. This is a book that will be passed on to my children someday, and it is even more delightful in audio form. A must have for any parent, as they will enjoy it as much as their kids.

We discovered this CD, along with A Light in the Attic, and they have been our travelling companions for family trips. Silverstein's madcap interpretations of his poems are remarkable to hear. His voice ranges all over the spectrum of tone and volume, and occasionally he finds his poems too funny to finish and the track ends in raucous laughter. If you enjoy the poetry, then this is an essential purchase. It will have you laughing all the way to wherever you're headed, both the first and hundredth time you listen.

My four year old and I love this CD and laugh every time we listen!

I use this with my fourth grade students and they want to listen to Shel Silverstein 24/7! He is a master at reading his poetry - and the CD is worth owning if you have kids of any age. I love it too.

I had heard Shel Silverstein's spoken rendition of "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout" before, and loved his books of poetry. The rest of the album met every expectation I had. Any fan of Silverstein will love this.

My children and I would spend many a night listening to the creative genius of Mr Silverstein. My son's favorite was "Sister for Sale". I saved the tape for when I had grandchildren. My grandson arrived in 2006. My children remember those wonderful moments we shared even today. I hope you and your special little ones enjoy it as much as our family has. I was ecstatic to find it in a CD.

I was first introduced to Silverstein's poetry when my dad checked out Sidewalk on cassette from the local library. Since then I'vealways loved is work. Indeed I later learned that one of my favorite short stories as a child, The Giving Tree, was written by Shell, though at the time my dad read it to me courtesy of an audiocassette (he was on a Navy ship at the time), I wasn't aware of that fact.
But Shell's poetry is down right brilliant and his madcap interpretations are enough to make you pee your pants. Indeed, Shell himself apparently finds certain of is poems too funny to finish and so those tracks end on raukus laughter and you wonder if he also peed his pants. Shell even sings a number of his poems, sometimes accompanied by synthesized music and sounds but more often just his guitar. Favorite tracks of mine include Captain Hook, Boa Constrictor and When you Spit from the 26th floor. THe eleven new poems added to this expanded edition include other favorites of mine such as Hungry Mungry,about a kid who decides to eat the entire universe for dinner. Then we have The Generals (although this was on the original), about a pair of generals who decide to forego the war they're fighting to go to the beach, only to go right back to their war when they're bothered by fears of what they'll do if the weather doesn't cooperate. Of course my absolute favorite, as it would be for any kid who hates school, is Sick. Some of her symptoms are down right hillarious.
Silverstein does have some more serious moments though, such as No Difference and Enter this Deserted House and Forgotten Language. I wholeheartedly recommend this collection because although I'm not always a fan of authors reading their own works, this is one author who can do it right.