A Light in the Attic

A Light in the Attic..

A Light in the Attic is a book of children's poems written  and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. Silverstein is famous for her poems and have written over hundreds. The first poems were published by Harper & Row in 1981. In this book there is over 100 poems, a few of them are named: 

1. A Light in the Attic
2. How Many, How Much
3. Moon-Catchin' Net
4. Hammock
5. How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes
6. Stop Thief!

It was received serval awards and it a book read to your children. It helps expand their imagination and sparks of conversation where you could teach your child new things. “A Light in the Attic” is an excellent book about silly poems and silly people who do crazy stunts and it will surely be an instant for many children young and old. I would recommend this book to children ages six and up since smaller children might be a bit disturbed by the suggestive and morbid content displayed in this book. Parents should definitely supervise if their children are reading this book but I think most of the poems throughout the book are very funny. 

Honestly i don't think the poems are bad I think that the illustrations are weird and thats why children might think they are odd and get scared by them. Overall, I think this book of poem is great for children that are older and interested in poetry. 

Discussion Questions:

1. How many poems do you think are in the book before even opening it to read it.
2. What is you reaction to the poems and the illustrations? What do you think the illustrator could change?
3. Do you think the book should add color or do you like it black and white?

Classroom Activity:

• Have the children write their own poems about whatever they want and then at the end put the poems together in a book and read them aloud to the class.  

If you liked this book of poems check out Silverstein's other poem books:

• Falling up 
• Where the SideWalk Ends
• Different Dances 

Silverstein, Shel. A Light in the Attic: Particular Books, 2011.