A Light in the Attic

A Light in the Attic is a book of poems by American poet, writer, and musician Shel Silverstein. The book consists of 135 poems accompanied by illustrations also created by Silverstein.[1] It was first published by Harper & Row Junior Books in 1981 and was a bestseller for months after its publication.[2] It was a bestseller but it has faced controversy over the years since its publication.[3]

"Light In The Attic" redirects here. For the record label, see Light in the Attic Records.
A Light in the Attic
AuthorShel Silverstein
IllustratorShel Silverstein
Cover artistLarry Moyer
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's poetry
PublisherHarper & Row
Publication date
1981
Pages169
ISBN0-06-025673-7
OCLC7574216

Development

In the back of the book, Silverstein credits author Charlotte Zolotow, Harper’s publicist Joan Robins,[4] Harper’s executive editor Robert Warren,[5] author James Skofield, private secretary Glenise Butcher,[6] and John Vitale of HarperCollins.[4] He also thanks Harper & Row editor Ursula Nordstrom.[7] The book was published in Harper’s Junior Books division in 1981, but was marketed towards adults as well.[4]

Summary

There are 135 poems in this book.[1]

Reception

A Light in the Attic was number two on the New York Times bestseller list soon after its publication and remained on the list for 50 consecutive weeks.[1] It sold more than 575,000 copies in the first year.[1]

Influence and legacy

A Light in the Attic was praised by critics and audiences for years after its publication.[8] In the fall of 2001, HarperCollins Children’s Books honored the 20th anniversary of the book with a special edition release that featured a separate CD of 11 poems performed by the beloved poet.[8] It was the first children's book to break onto the Adult New York Times Best Sellers list where it remained for 181 weeks.[8]

Silverstein died from a heart attack on May 11, 1999, at the age of 68.[9] According to an obituary published by The Washington Post, "To millions of children and adults, Mr. Silverstein was a master of whimsy and light satire, which he delivered in verse--sometimes downright goofy--that tapped a universal sense of the absurd."[10]

Controversies

Attempts have been made to ban the book from some libraries in the United States, parents claiming that the poem "How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes" encourages messiness and disobedience.[11] The poem "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony" resulted in criticism for describing the death of a little girl whose parents refuse to buy her a pony.[3] This resulted in the book being banned by the Fruitland Park Elementary School in Lake County, Florida.[3] The decision, however, was later reversed by an advisory committee of parents and teachers.

Awards

Winner of the 1984 William Allen White Children's Book Award.

Winner of the 1984 Garden State Children’s Book Award for nonfiction from the New Jersey Library Association.[3]

Named a 1981 American Library Association Notable Children's Book.[3]

Named a 1981 School Library Journal Best Book.[8]

References
  1. McDowell, Edwin (1985). "'A Light in the Attic' Sets Best Seller Record". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  2. Hopkins, Lee B. (2005). "Shel Silverstein". Teaching Pre K-8. Vol. 36, no. 1. p. 114.
  3. West, M. I. (2008). "A Boy Named Shel: The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein". Children's Literature Association Quarterly. Vol. 33, no. 2. p. 207.
  4. McDowell, Edwin (November 8, 1981). "Behind the Best Sellers; Shel Silverstein". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  5. "Robert Penn Warren". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  6. Hjortsberg, W (2013). "Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan". Counterpoint.
  7. "About Shel". ShelSilverstein.com. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  8. "Celebrate Shel! HarperCollins Children's Books Marks 20th Anniversary of Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic". Business Wire. October 18, 2001. p. 1.
  9. "Shel Silverstein, Was Acclaimed Author of Children's Books; at 66". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. 1999.
  10. Barnes, Bart (1999-05-11). "Author Shel Silverstein Dies". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  11. Karolides, Nicholas J. (2001). Censored Books. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 42. ISBN 0-8108-4038-3.
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