Book By Its Cover » Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book

2.8.08

Shel Silverstein

Well unfortunately this is Jess’s (see link above) last day of guest blogging. Thank you so so much Jess. I loved learning about all these funny kid’s books! Next week Sketchbook Series continues. I have lined up about ten artists, all of which are amazing–so get excited!

I have always been a fan of Shel Silversteinâ€™s work. But then I found this book which blows all the rest away. It maintains the same tone and style as his better known books for children, but he so amazingly switches from hug oâ€™ war to pure evil. He uses illustrations and happy little poems to encourage â€œchildrenâ€ to start fires so shiny red fire trucks come to visit, take candy from strangers, and steal money from their parents and mail it to him. Trust me, itâ€™s funny. The intentionally crude drawings with lots of handwritten text kind of remind me of David Shrigley, but with about 82% less inane bizarreness. You can visit Uncle Shelby here.

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13 Comments

02/8/08 7:10am

julia wrote

I love this! but should I even be categorizing this under children’s books?? ha. Shel is amazing- his writing and those awesome drawings. I adored his stuff as a kid. — Jess I do notice you have a definite taste in kid’s books- not only are they all somehow a little evil or weird but they almost all have illustrations that are black and white quirky line drawings. Interesting… thanks again Jess- it was a great week!

02/8/08 10:19am

maschera wrote

Oh…what a lovely book! It’s really really nice. I like it!

This is the first time I posted my comment here…I love you blog so much! keep going on!

02/8/08 11:09am

Janis wrote

I love Shel Silverstein and this is a great book choice … also enjoyed your guest blogging this week.

02/8/08 11:29am

Caitlin wrote

Hey Jess- nice job blogging! I want to check out all of these books. They’re all new to me.

02/8/08 11:33am

Sarah M... wrote

YAY! I actually read this book as a kid and loved it (I was an odd kid), but I’ve loved it even more as an adult. I’m so glad that Shel Silverstein’s more ‘mature’ books are now easily to find.

02/8/08 11:37am

Jessica wrote

one of my favorites..I love these drawings you have included.

02/8/08 2:06pm

Mary-Laure wrote

Ah, Shel Silverstein! I love his work.
I really enjoyed your blogging, Jess. There wasn’t a single book you featured here that I didn’t totally fall for.

02/8/08 4:15pm

Austin Kleon wrote

Silverstein is the best! Thanks for reminding me of this!

02/8/08 4:44pm

Hannah wrote

Shel is absolutely brilliant. If I had a coffee table, without a doubt, this would be on it.

02/8/08 11:40pm

sosser wrote

a fine finish to a great week of posts! thanks for the treats!

02/28/08 8:06am

Miguel Gouveia wrote

Shel Silverstein is probably the best poet for kids ever.
I’m just starting a publishing house in Portugal and it will be our preasure and plivilege to start with “The giving tree”.

09/13/08 9:17pm

Lee Hirsch wrote

I first read the ABZ book when I was a freshman in high school….it was hilarious then and it is hilarious now…..I think I will read it to my two grandsons someday….they are 4 and 2 years old. I think they’ll like it….

04/10/10 1:23pm

Kelly wrote

My mom had that book banned from our library when I was a kid. I had checked it out, thought it was funny, but apparently she didn’t. What a shame!

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