A Light in the Attic

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A Light in the Attic
Image:A Light in the Attic cover.jpg
Cover of A Light in the Attic
Author Shel Silverstein
Illustrator Shel Silverstein
Cover artist Larry Moyer
Country United States of America
Language English
Genre(s) Children's poetry
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication date 1981
Pages 169
ISBN 0-06-025673-7
OCLC 7574216

A Light in the Attic is a collection of poems by the American poet and children's writer Shel Silverstein. It was first published by HarperCollins in 1981. The poems for children are accompanied by illustrations also created by Shel Silverstein.

The book has been banned from some libraries for its attitude towards child behavior (at times seeming to encourage messiness and disobedience). People claim that it "encourages" children to break dishes in order to get out of having to dry them. Also, one of the verses describes the death of a girl after her parents refused to buy her a pony, ending with the line "And this is a very good story to read to your parents when they won't buy you something you want." Other, more serious complaints included the mention of supernatural themes, including demons, devils, and ghosts.

A Light in the Attic features the following poems, and it was dedicated by Silverstein "To Shanna." "Shanna" was the nickname of Shel's daughter, Shoshanna, who died of a cerebral aneurysm on April 24, 1982, at the age of 11.

[edit] Poems in the Book light in the attic

  • "A Light in the Attic":

A mysterious light shines out from an attic. We can all see in...and someone is looking out at us.

  • "How Many, How Much":

Shel shares ideas on how to get the most out of days and friendships.

  • "Moon-Catchin' Net":

A girl becomes determined to capture the Moon in her net, and tells readers to look for her "swinging' on a star" if she fails.

  • "Hammock":

Grandma sends a hammock, God sends a breeze-but what can we do about those unmoving trees?

  • "How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes":

This controversial poem encourages children to drop dishes on the floor to break them, and thus get out of the job.

  • "Stop Thief!":

A strange thief steals a man's knees!

  • "The Sitter":

Mrs. McTwitter takes the term "baby-sitter" a little too literally.

  • "Prayer of the Selfish Child":

A spoiled boy hopes that, in the event of his untimely death, God will break all of his toys.

  • "What Did?"
  • "Shaking"
  • "Signals"
  • "Picture Puzzle Piece"
  • "Put Something In"
  • "Monsters I've Met"
  • "Rock 'n' Roll Band"
  • "Something Missing"
  • "Memorizin' Mo"
  • "Somebody Has To"
  • "Reflection"
  • "Fancy Dive"
  • "Here Comes" here comes summer here comes summer whoosh shiver ther it goes
  • "The Dragon of Grindily Grun":

The poor Dragon of Grindily Grun has a problem. He prefers to eat princesses that are "medium-rare"...but they always come out well done!

  • "Blame"
  • "Messy Room"
  • "Never"
  • "Day After Halloween"
  • "Wavy"
  • "Longmobile"
  • "Backward Bill"
  • "Mr. Smeds and Mr. Spats":

Mr. Smeds has twenty-one heads and one hat, and Mr. Spats has twenty-one hats and one head. When they meet, Mr. Spats buys Mr. Smeds's hat!

  • "Snake Problem":

A python twists itself into three rather frightening words: "I love you!"

  • "Bear in There":

It's apparently warm outside, as a polar bear is hiding in the fridge!

  • "Superstitious"
  • "The Pirate"
  • "Hurk":

Children would rather do anything that go to work-including the imaginary "Hurk!"

  • "Anchored":

Some children decide to go on a sailing trip. Unfortunately, the anchor they built is far too large.

  • "Unscratchable Itch"
  • "Squishy Touch":

A poor girl suffers a modern King Midas problem-everything she touches melts into a squishy goo.

  • "Important?":

The "little a" brags to "Big G" about how "heaven and earth" could not be without his presence. The Big G quickly points out that "heven nd erth would still be without thee."

  • "Thumb Face"
  • "Homework Machine":

A wonderful new machine promises to perfect any child's homework...just as long as the little boy who actually does the problem guesses correctly.

  • "Eight Balloons"
  • "Ations":

Different kinds of "ations" are described, including "exaggeration", "cooperation", and "altercation."

  • "Musical Career"
 
  • "Anteater"
  • "Buckin' Bronco"
  • "Snap!"
  • "Overdues":

What do you do when your library book is forty-two years overdue?

  • "Wild Strawberries":

Watch out-those strawberries are literally wild, complete with sharp teeth!

  • "How To Make a Swing With No Rope or a Board or Nails":

It's easy to make a swing with no nails. All you need is a long time and a very long mustache!

  • "Gumeye Ball":

Why is there an eyeball in the middle of the gumball machine?

  • "Hot Dog"
  • "Adventure of a Frisbee"
  • "Come Skating"
  • "The Meehoo With an Exactlywatt":

A strange creature known as a Meehoo knocks on a door, holding an Exactlywatt on a chain. A long joke ensues, based on the classic "Who's on First?" routine.

  • "Cloony the Clown"
  • "Tryin' on Clothes":

Shel can't find the proper pair of clothes, until he discovers that nature's own coverings are the best of all.

  • "Shapes"
  • "Tired"
  • "Prehistoric"
  • "My Guitar"
  • "Spelling Bee"
  • "Always Sprinkle Pepper"
  • "Peckin'"
  • "It's Hot!":

A boy cannot get cool on a hot day, even when he takes off all of his clothes...and skin, too!

  • "Turtle"
  • "Crowded Tub":

An extremely crowded bathtub causes trouble.

  • "Channels":

Shel points out that all of the channels on television are playing mindless drivel. Wouldn't talking be a better idea?

  • "Hippo's Hope"
  • "Whatif"
  • "Sour Face Ann":

Sour Face Ann is never happy. She finally has a new fur coat, but now she whines about the fleas!

  • "The Climbers":

Some brave mountain climbers explore mysterious peaks, which look remarkably like a human face...and then, the mountain starts snoring!

  • "Rockabye"
  • "The Little Boy and the Old Man"
  • "Surprise!"
  • "Ticklish Tom"
  • "The Nailbiter"
  • "The Fly is In"
  • "Strange Wind"
  • "One Two":

Shel tries to recite "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe", but an annoying voice interprets every line literally and picks a fight.

  • "Tusk, Tusk"
  • "Captain Blackbeard Did What?":

The entirety of the pirate world-parrots included-goes crazy when Captain Blackbeard shaves!

  • "Magic Carpet"
  • "Outside or Underneath?"
  • "It's All The Same to the Clam"
  • "Hula Eel":

Eels make great pets, as this child with one wrapped around himself demonstrates. If only he wasn't turning blue-perhaps he could say something!

  • "Bored"
  • "Standing is Stupid"
 
  • "Who Ordered the Broiled Face?":

A menu offers a delicious Broiled Face-but don't try to fry it!

  • "Headache"
  • "Quick Trip":

An extra-long stretch limousine is the fastest way to travel. Once you get in, you're at your destination!

  • "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony"
  • "Hiccup, Cure"
  • "The Painter":

A mysterious painter brags about his handiwork, which includes sunsets, flowers, and springtime.

  • "Nobody"
  • "Zebra Question":

A boy asks a zebra if it is white with black stripes or black with white stripes. The cunning zebra responds with similar questions-is the boy good and occasionally bad, or bad and occasionally good?

  • "Sword-Swallower"
  • "Arrows"
  • "The Toad and the Kangaroo":

A toad and a kangaroo plan to have a baby that will be able to jump better than any animal in the land. Unfortunately, they disagree about what to name it, and thus the plan falls apart.

  • "Play Ball":

The kids on the playground assign themselves positions for a baseball game-and one lucky kid gets to be the ball!

  • "Friendship"
  • "Examination"
  • "Poemsicle"
  • "Senses"
  • "Hinges"
  • "Fear"
  • "Twistable, Turnable Man"
  • "Batty":

A baby bat suffers from severe fear of light!

  • "Hitting"
  • "Catching"
  • "Deaf Donald":

Talkie Sue tells Deaf Donald she loves him-but all Donald can do is sign "I Love You" back to her. She leaves him, thinking him rude.

  • "Have Fun"
  • "Dog's Day"
  • "Skin Stealer"
  • "Ladies First":

Pamela Purse is a die-hard feminist. She cries "ladies first" for everything, including the ice cream line, the ketchup at dinner...and the menu of a cannibal king!

  • "Frozen Dream"
  • "The Lost Cat":

The family cat goes missing, so everyone asks a walking hat-complete with kitten-shaped lump-to help look for it.

  • "God's Wheel"
  • "Shadow Race"
  • "Clarence":

Clarence Lee of Tennessee cannot resist buying everything he sees on television. He even buys himself some new parents!

  • "Rhino Pen"
  • "If"
  • "Push Button"
  • "Kidnapped!"
  • "Suspense"
  • "Dinner Guest"
  • "In Search of Cinderella"
  • "Almost Perfect":

An annoying girl finds fault in everything "almost perfect" from childhood to middle age to death. Upon reaching Heaven, though, God finds that she, too, is "not quite" right.

  • "Pie Problem"
  • "The Oak and the Rose":

A rose brags of its beauty, but a wise oak points out that a sweet smell and pretty appearance cannot stop it from dying without a purpose.

  • "They've Put a Brassiere on the Camel"
  • "This Bridge"

[edit] Awards and nominations

  • American Association: Best Graphic Illustrations
  • Notable Childrenal Interest
  • Winner, 1983–84 William Allen White Award (Kansas)
  • Winner, 1983 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey Library Association)
  • 1984 Garden State Children's Book Award Center for Children's Books (Claremont, CA) "Recognition of Merit" Award
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