Poetry for Children 5903-23
Home | Shel Silverstein / Poet Study | Module1-The Poetry Environment | Poetry Break 1 | Poetry Break 2 | Poetry Break 3 | Poetry Break 4 | Poetry Break 5 | Poetry Book Review | Module 2-Major Poets | Poetry Break 6 | Poetry Break 7 | Poetry Break 8 | Poetry Break 9 | Poetry Break 10 | Poetry Book Review | Module 3: Poetry Performance | Poetry Break 11 | Poetry Break 12 | Poetry Break 13 | Poetry Break 14 | Poetry Break 15 | Module 3 Poetry Book Review | Module 4: Poetry Across The Curriculum | Poetry Break 16 | Poetry Break 17 | Poetry Break 18 | Poetry Break 19 | Poetry Break 20 | Module 4 : Poetry Book Review | Module 5-Multicultural Poetry | Poetry Break 21 | Poetry Break 22 | Poetry Break 23 | Poetry Break 24 | Poetry Break 25 | Module 5 Poetry Book Review | MODULE 6 RESPONDING TO POETRY | Poetry Break 26 | Poetry Break 27 | Poetry Break 28 | Poetry Break 29 | Poetry Break 30 | POETRY BOOK REVIEW | Contact Me | Bibliography of Poetry Books

Awards and Interviews

The following information  was take from the website run by Sarah Weinman  in her tribute to Shel Silverstein. Available from https://members.tripod.com/~ShelSilverstein/Interviews.html
Accessed July 1, 2005
 


Shel Silverstein was notorious for not giving interviews, stressed in the 1975 interview with Publisher's weekly: "...and I'm not going to give any more interviews." This sentiment was brought up again and again in the obituaries, as well as during the heyday of A Light in the Attic, when Ed McDowell of the New York Times Book Review wrote an entire article in praise of the work, but admitted that he'd hadn't tried to contact Silverstein in light of the attitude towards interviews.

As it turns out, while Shel wasn't exactly going to give interviews left and right to just anyone, there are interviews post-1975. I have a select few, though a couple of others are forthcoming. As well, if I can ever track it down (or a transcript) I would dearly love to include the 1994 interview (on CD) of Silverstein and Bob Gibson conducted by Studs Turkel. And there are plenty of offerings from the 60s and 70s that I am sure are just waiting to be included.

The Aardvark Interview from 1963, it is, by far, the most in-depth interview Silverstein ever gave. Definitely a must-read and a treat.

An interview from 1965, from the album "I'm So Good That I Don't Have to Brag." Is it a real interview, or is it bogus? I suggest you decide--because even now, I'm not so sure...

Chicago Tribune interview from March 4, 1973. Talks mostly about the then-current album "Freakin' at the Freakers Ball," but there's lots of other good stuff tossed in here, too.

Publisher's Weekly interviews Shel Silverstein: February 24, 1975. Because of his proclamation that he would be "giving no more interviews", this one tends to be quoted often, especially the bits about Shel's childhood.

The Third Mr. Silverstein: New York Times, April 30, 1978. Not an interview; more like a conversation.

The Stars and Stripes 50th Anniversary Edition Issue from 1995 has a retrospective on Shel, with excerpts from an earlier interview from 1969.

The Old Dogs site has a full-length article about the making of the album, a special project involving Silverstein, Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, Bobby Bare, and Jerry Reed. It's not an interview per se, but it does have quoted comments from Shel which are rather amusing. Patsi Bale Cox put together the liner notes in late 1997

Awards
 

Awards for Where the Sidewalk Ends

1974  Outstanding Book Award (New York Times)

     1981  Michigan Young Readers Award

1984  George G Stone Award

 

Awards for A Light In the Attic

1981  School Library Journal, Best Book Award

1983  Buckeye Award

1984  George G Stone Award

1984  William Allen White Award (William Allen White Library)

 

 

Award for The Missing Piece Meets the Big O

1982 Children’s Choice Award (International Reading Association)

  

 

Music Awards  

1969 Grammy Awards (National Academy of Recording Arts and Science) for Best Country Song, A Boy Named Sue

1984 Best Children’s Recording Album, Where the Sidewalk Ends—sung by Shel Silverstein

2003 Parent Choice Gold Award for the CD Underwater Land

Work Cited and Bibliography