Throwback Thursday - Where the Sidewalk Ends

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Publisher - Harper Collins
Publish Date - 1974
Genre - Children's Book
Age Range - 8-12 years
Buy on Amazon
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I mentioned one of my Aunts in my last Throwback Thursday post, and I’m going to lead with her again. Her name was Kathleen but we called her “Aunt Kack” or “Aunt Kackallack”. She was an elementary school teacher and so much fun – we loved when she came to visit. Unfortunately, we lost her way too young but I still think of her often, especially when I’m reading.

She had this tradition to always give each of us books for our Birthday or Christmas. As much as I loved reading as a child, this tradition really was something that I didn’t truly appreciate until I was older. I love it so much, that I’ve continued on her tradition with my own nieces. I make sure that I get them at least one book for their Birthday and Christmas. My hope is that it helps develop a strong love of reading for them that it did for me.

One of my favorite books to read when I was younger was Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Even John loved this book growing up too (which is saying a lot because he hates reading). So, this past Christmas we gave a copy of it to our niece. The poems are kind of silly and full of nonsensical language so I think some of it was lost on her right now. Hopefully though, she’ll come to love the fun poems as much as we did growing up!

Where the Sidewalk Ends isn’t just a collection of great children’s poems but the illustrations that accompany them are fantastic. They are full of imagination and perfectly bring to life the fanciful poems. I mean, you can’t really go wrong with Llamas, Crocodiles, monsters and silly little kids who don’t listen to their parents.

Here’s my favorite poem from Where the Sidewalk Ends:

It’s Dark In Here

I am writing these poems

From inside a lion,

And it’s rather dark in here.

So please excuse the handwriting

Which may not be too clear.

But this afternoon by the lion’s cage

I’m afraid I got too near.

And I’m writing these lines

From inside a lion,

And it’s rather dark in here.