April 2014

BotM-WhereSidewalkEnds

Where the Sidewalk Ends

By: Shel Silverstein

Where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins. There you'll meet a boy who turns into a TV set and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist.

Activities

  1. Which was your favorite poem in Where the Sidewalk Ends? Discuss with your family the meaning of the poem and why you enjoyed reading it. See if you can memorize the poem and recite it aloud to a friend or family member. Memorizing poetry can be a great exercise to learn language and train the brain to memorize.

  2. Visit this site to learn more about the many different poetic styles featured in Where the Sidewalk Ends. Choose your favorite style and use your imagination to write a poem in the style you selected. Shel Silverstein often accompanies his poems with art, so be sure to include illustrations with your work!

  3. April 26 is National Poem in Your Pocket Day. On this day, copy down your favorite poem from Where the Sidewalk Ends or write a new poem of your own and keep it in your pocket to share with friends throughout the day. Visit my facebook page to let me know which poem you selected!

  4. Reading poetry with rhymes and patterns can be a fun way to discover the many uses of language. Poetry can also help improve literacy and critical thinking. Visit your local library to find additional books with poems for children.