Silverstein was also an accomplished songwriter. He wrote many of the songs for the band “Dr. Hook,” and penned such classics as “Sylvia’s Mother,” which was a Top 40 hit in the 1970's. Along with composing the score for “Postcards From The Edge,” he also wrote the songs for the movies, “Ned Kelly,” and “Thieves.”
If Shel Silverstein was able to write in so many different types of genres, why is that he has been recognized as a children’s writer, far and above the rest of his works? He contributed to “Playboy” on and off for over 40 years, his final new work published in 1998. His songwriting and composing abilities were obviously proven time and time again. However, few people know about any of his other writings, aside from the children’s book, “Where The Sidewalk Ends.”
Silverstein’s writing style, primarily in poetry, was very child friendly. Although his cartoons were well received in adult circles, his style took off in the children’s world, with pictures of big beasts, and fuzzy animals, they were cartoons that told stories themselves. Silverstein’s adult stories were well written, hi songs were successful, but he was simply a star in the genre of children’s poetry. This is where he shined the brightest. He could write virtually anything, and it didn’t take him long to do it either. He could whip out a poem within minutes, a play within a couple of days. He even wrote a short crime story once for a compilation composed by a friend. Silverstein enjoyed writing, period. It did not matter what type of writing he was doing. It was not so much that he found his knack in children’s writing, but that readers fell in love with the children’s writing of Shel Silverstein.
For an excellent website on some of Shel Silverstein's adult works, please visit : http://www.banned-width.com/
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