Where the Sidewalk Ends is a beloved children's poetry collection by Shel Silverstein. The book's whimsical and humorous rhymes and surreal illustrations have charmed readers of all ages and from all walks of life since its 1974 publication.
The Sidewalk Ends collection includes several themed sections of poems such as "Sick of Shadows," "Listen to the Mustn'ts," and the title section, "Where the Sidewalk Ends."
As of 2016, the book had sold over 20 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages around the world.
The Sidewalk Ends poems range from silly and lighthearted to more introspective and meaningful topics.
Famous poems from the book include "Jennifer Johnson and the Sticky Kiss," "Maggie and Millie and Molly and May," and the well-known title poem, "Where the Sidewalk Ends."
The author, Shel Silverstein, provides the book's surreal illustrations.
Upon its first publication in 1974, Where the Sidewalk Ends was honored with the Pulitzer Prize in 1975.
An animated TV special on the poem "The Garden of Eating" was created in 1995.
The book inspired an album release of the same name, performed by Jack Jamaica and Chrys Nemeth in 1984.
Shel Silverstein's creatures from the book, such as the Cat in the Hat, have since found life outside of Where the Sidewalk Ends--most notably on The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! TV series.
Silverstein included several surprise upside-down poems at the bottom of the book's pages.
