Shel Silverstein
September 25, 1930 - May 10, 1999
Shel Silverstein was an American poet, songwriter, cartoonist, and children's author. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and began his career as a cartoonist and writer for the military magazine Stars and Stripes. He later became a cartoonist for Playboy magazine, where he contributed both cartoons and written pieces. He began writing children's books in the 1960s, with the publication of "Where the Sidewalk Ends" in 1974. He went on to publish several more popular children's books, including "A Light in the Attic" and "Falling Up." Silverstein's poetry was known for its humor, wit, and clever wordplay. He often wrote for children, but his work was enjoyed by readers of all ages. His poetry continues to be popular and widely read, many of his poems being used as songs and many books being translated to different languages.