A Light in the Attic

"Light In The Attic" redirects here. For the record label, see Light in the Attic Records.
A Light in the Attic  
Author(s) Shel Silverstein
Illustrator Shel Silverstein
Cover artist Larry Moyer
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Children's poetry
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication date 1981
Pages 169
ISBN 0-06-025673-7
OCLC Number 7574216

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

Controversy

Attempts have been made to ban the book from some libraries, parents claiming that the poem "How Not To Have To Dry The Dishes" encourages messiness and disobedience.[1] The poem "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony" led to more criticism for describing the death of a girl after her parents refuse to buy her a pony. This led the book to be banned by the Fruitland Park Elementary School in Lake County, Florida.[2] The decision, however, was later reversed by an advisory committee of parents and teachers.[3] Other complaints included the mention of supernatural themes, including demons, devils, and ghosts.[3]

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ Karolides, Nicholas J. (2001). Censored Books. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 42. ISBN 0-8108-4038-3. 
  2. ^ Rogak, Lisa (2007). A Boy Named Shel. Macmillan. p. 161. ISBN 0-312-35359-6. 
  3. ^ a b "All Because of a Pony Her Parents Wouldn't Buy". Bookslut. http://www.bookslut.com/banned_bookslut/2004_02_001498.php. 
Awards
Preceded by
Peppermints in the Parlor		 Winner of the
William Allen White Children's Book Award
1984		 Succeeded by
The Land I Lost
Books
Poem collections
Where the Sidewalk Ends · A Light in the Attic · Falling Up
Albums
Songs