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The Missing Piece (An Ursula Nordstrom Book) (Hardcover)

~ (Author, Illustrator) "It was missing a piece..." (more)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

It was missing a piece.
And it was not happy.
So it set off in search
of its missing piece.
And as it rolled
it sang this song -Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
Hi-dee-ho, here I go,
Lookin' for my missin' piece.

What it finds on its search for the missing piece is simply and touchingly told in this fable that gently probes the nature of quest and fulfillment.



About the Author

“If you are a dreamer, come in,” begins “Invitation,” the opening poem in Where the Sidewalk Ends. Millions of dreamers have answered that call, returning again and again to the poems, drawings, fables, songs, plays, and all the other inspired creations of the incomparable Shel Silverstein.

Born in Chicago on September 25, 1930, Sheldon Allan Silverstein grew up to attain an enormous public following, but he always preferred to say little about himself.“When I was a kid,” he told Publishers Weekly in 1975, “I would much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls.But I couldn’t play ball.I couldn’t dance.So I started to draw and to write.”He began contributing cartoons to Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military publication, when he was serving in the armed forces in Korea during the 1950s.

Shel Silverstein never planned on writing and illustrating books for children, but happily they are now available in more than 30 languages around the world.His first book, Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book, published in 1961, was intended for adults.But Tomi Ungerer, a friend whose own career in children’s books was blossoming, introduced him to his editor, Harper’s legendary Ursula Nordstrom.In 1963, Shel Silverstein’s first children’s book appeared, Lafcadio, the Lion who Shot Back, the story of a lion who becomes a famous marksman only to discover that worldly success is not what he wants.

The next year brought The Giving Tree.The book sold modestly at first, but soon this gentle parable about a boy and the tree that loved him was admired by readers of all ages, recommended by counselors and teachers, and being read aloud from pulpits.Decades after its initial publication, with more than five and a half million copies sold, The Giving Tree holds a permanent spot atop lists of perennial bestsellers.

Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein’s first collection of poems, was published in 1974 and hailed as an instant classic.Its poems and drawings were applauded for their zany wit, irreverent wisdom, and tender heart.Two more collections followed: A Light in the Attic, in 1981, and Falling Up, in 1996.Both books dominated bestseller lists for months, with A Light in the Attic shattering all previous records for its 182-week stay on the New York Times list.

Silverstein’s unique talent ranged broadly.He enjoyed a long career as a songwriter, with credits that included the Johnny Cash’s number one hit “A Boy Named Sue” and “I’m Checking Out,” written for the film “Postcards from the Edge” and nominated for an Academy Award in 1991.He performed his own music on a number of albums and produced others for friends, including his last, “Old Dogs,” which was released in 1998. Silverstein won a Grammy Award in 1984 for his selection of poems “recited, sung and shouted” from Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Shel Silverstein was so accomplished as a playwright that Frank Rich, the New York Times critic, once wondered if the theater “may eventually prove his most fruitful career to date.”His theatrical work included the 1981 hit “The Lady or the Tiger Show” as well as “Remember Crazy Zelda?” and “Wild Life” (the 1988 production of several one-act plays that prompted Mr. Rich’s happy speculation).He and David Mamet each wrote a play for Lincoln Center’s production of “Oh, Hell,” and they later collaborated on writing the 1988 film “Things Change,” which Mr. Mamet also directed.

For many years, Shel Silverstein maintained homes in Greenwich Village, Key West, Martha’s Vineyard, and on a houseboat in Sausalito, California.He died in Key West in May 1999.


Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 4-8
  • Hardcover: 112 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (April 14, 1976)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060256710
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060256715
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,473 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #10 in  Books > Children's Books > Literature > Poetry > Silverstein, Shel
    #10 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Silverstein, Shel
    #22 in  Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Classics

More About the Author

Shel Silverstein
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
It was missing a piece. Read the first page
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The Missing Piece (An Ursula Nordstrom Book)
69% buy the item featured on this page:
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Customer Reviews

39 Reviews
5 star:
 (35)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (39 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Human Spirit Captured in the Simplicity of a Circle!, July 2, 1997
By A Customer
Shel Silverstein's "The Missing Piece" is truly entertaining, capturing the essence of the human spirit in the simplicity of a circle.

Like a person searching for his 'soul mate', the Circle is happy in life, but feels incomplete, and longs for the day when it will finally find what it has been missing.

We see the Circle finding many pieces, all perfectly fine alone, but just not the right fit with our Circle. Some are too large, or too small, or too pointy. Still, the Circle doesn't give up. It just merrily rolls along, talking to a worm, or smelling a flower, and singing its song. Human beings, like the circle, find that they have many relationships with other people who just aren't right for them, the 'halves' don't fit together right, shall we say.

Silverstein has created a remarkably versatile story that when read to children, is a lovely tale they will request to hear nightly, ( much like Shel's other fantabulous works) yet when read by adults, carries a hidden meaning, another story tucked away between the lines that so carefully reflect our own souls in their tightly connected thoughts.

I always enjoy the simplicity Shel Silverstein creates, and would highly recommend this story to all those who have ever longed for the perfect relationship, been in it, lost it or have it. As well, anyone wishing to fulfill both her and her child's reading desires with a wholesome, entertaining tale. It is definitly a wonderful piece of work!

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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Make sure to get the sequel too!, April 16, 2000
Yes, the artwork is simple, but that's missing the point. The Missing Piece means even more to me as a college student then it did as a child. EVERYONE should read this book (along with its sequel The Missing Piece Meets the Big O)every 5 years. Together they are a testament to individualism, and the idea that life is in the journey, not the destination.
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Missing Piece, September 5, 2005
One of the best books I've found to remind people, young and old, that they have to be their own piece long before they can be anyone else's! Happiness comes from the inside, and Mr. Silverstein demonstrates that elegantly and precisely in this beautiful life lesson, disguised as a children's book. A must-have for readers of all ages!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for elementary school students!
This book is an excellent introduction for young students to the world of Shel Silverstein! The 4th and 5th grade students in our school love this author's books. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Valerie M. Carson

5.0 out of 5 stars the Missing Piece
How many times have we all felt like we are missing a piece? this charming book by Silverstein tells the journey of a circle in search of its missing piece. Read more
Published 1 month ago by A Mother of 2 Kidlets

5.0 out of 5 stars Very happy
The book came in the condition it said it would be in and was very prompt.
Published 1 month ago by H. Cohen

5.0 out of 5 stars My review
This book is a must read for anyone going through relationship problems or problems with life in general. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Joseph Rozzero

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Silverstein
I love this book. Not only does my son loves the story and the simple yet interesting pictures, but I think it carries a message that even adults can appreciate. Read more
Published 7 months ago by W. Holt

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute!
Highly reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon, it's a simplistic tale that will be enjoyed by children, and a life-lesson enjoyed by adults. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Runa Zaman

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
We're big fans of this author. The book is fun for the kids and thought provoking for the adults.
Published 14 months ago by E. Neal Morgan

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for young and old.
My son brought this book home from the school library and the message stuck in my head for a long time. Read more
Published 16 months ago by mauibeach

5.0 out of 5 stars Even young children get it
Both my 5 year old and my three year old love this book. It relates to all three of us at levels we all can understand. Read more
Published on September 28, 2007 by M. Fulford

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the best book ever written
OK, there may be some stiff competetion in terms of "the best book ever written" -but this is one of my favorite books ever written. Read more
Published on September 9, 2007 by A. Shapiro

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