Banned Review “A light in the attic”

Banned Book Review:  “A Light in the Attic,” by Shel Silverstein

In honor of the many children’s books that have made ALA’s most challenged books list, I decided to start my banned books challenge with one of my favorite authors growing up – Shel Silverstein and his “A Light in the Attic.” When I was a kid, Shel Silverstein introduced me to poetry through “A light in the Attic” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”  I can remember giggling over the rhyming lines and funny sketches in books borrowed from my local library.  I would even come up with rhymes of my own, entertaining myself (and most likely annoying my older sister and parents) with my early endeavors as a writer.  :p

According to Wikipedia, the motives for banning this book range from promoting disobedience among children to describing death.  To this I say, some people need to lighten up. I give this book five out of five stars – strongly recommended for children and those of us who enjoy nostalgic reading that pulls our heart-strings with the serious poems that Silverstein weaves in with the silly.

I especially enjoyed the poem he ends this book with:

This Bridge

This bridge will only take you halfway there To those mysterious lands you long to see: Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fairs And moonlit woods where unicorns run free. So come and walk awhile with me and share The twisting trails and wondrous worlds I’ve known. But this bridge will only take you halfway there – The last few steps you’ll have to take alone.

-Shel Silverstein

If you haven’t already, check out the banned books challenge for 2015, because books should never be banned.