Kidsmomo

Special Edition of A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic is an amazing book for many reasons. The poems are clever, the illustrations are hilarious, AND it was the first children’s book to reach the New York Times bestseller list! First published in 1981, that was WAY before anyone had even heard of Harry Potter.

If you’ve never read A Light in the Attic, then you absolutely must pick it up — but wait until next month. Because in September, HarperCollins is releasing a new special edition of the book, which will include 12 previously unpublished poems and 10 new drawings!

And since I’m such a nice person (despite what you may have heard), I’ve done some online sleuthing and found a sneak peek at one of the new poems. Thanks to Publisher’s Weekly for this special preview:

Previously unpublished poem from the new edition of A Light in the Attic

Totally random, right? That’s what’s so AWESOME about Shel Silverstein! His poetry and drawings are all normal up to a point… and then they get completely wacky. It’s like when your parents make you promise to be really good and you say, “Sure, Mom and Dad” and give them your sweetest smile — but all the while, you’re crossing your fingers behind your back because it ain’t never gonna happen. In other words, this guy is twisted, and yet somehow adult-approved!

While you wait for the new edition of A Light in the Attic, I’d definitely recommend that you check out www.shelsilverstein.com. You can listen to two poems from the original version of the book, plus there are puzzles, downloadables, e-cards, and lots of other stuff. Unfortunately, no hints at the 11 other previously unpublished poems. Guess I’ll just have to get the book when it’s out!

— Karen