Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein

Silverstein, Shel. Every Thing On It: Poems and Drawings. New York: Harper, 2011. ISBN: 9780061998164

Twelve years after his death, Shel Silverstein’s family has compiled never before released drawings and poems. Anyone familiar with Silverstein’s talent and humor will find his posthumous contemplation just as odd, gross and hilarious as his other works. Every Thing On It includes 145 poems in all. Silverstein rejected these pieces from his earlier publications as they did not fit the tone he was trying to achieve in prior works.

The collection is arranged with a single poem taking up a page or a two page spread accompanying one of Silverstein’s black and white drawings. His use of figurative language makes the collection one that stimulates fun, as the use of play on words creates a laughing good time.

In Her…

In her mink coat

And her buckskin pants

And her lizard skin boots

With the rattlesnake bands

And her beaver hat

With the raccoon tails

We heard her shoutin’…

SAVE THE WHALES

Included in the book is an index, making it easier for readers to locate particular drawings. The book's opening, dedicated “For You” and the final poem, “When I’m Gone” causes the reader to reflect on the author, his other works and the part each has played in our lives.

When teaching about plagiarism/cheating to elementary students I would begin the lesson with a reading of Silverstein’s poem titled,

The Problem.

Jim copied the answer from Nancy

Sue copied the answer from Jim

Tim copied the answer from Sue, and then

Anne copied the answer from him

And Fran copied Anne and Jan copied Fran

The answer kept passing along

And no one got caught, but the problem was-

Nancy had it wrong.

Discussion could continue about the importance of doing one’s own work and giving credit to those we get information from.