American poet, songwriter, childrenās author, and playwright Shel Silverstein is best known for his light verse and quirky drawings for young readers. His notable books include The Giving Tree (1964), Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974), and A Light in the Attic (1981).
Silverstein also had a successful career contributing illustrations and writing to adult publications such as Playboy, wrote one-act plays, and released many albums of folk and country music. Many of his songs were memorably covered by artists such as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Bobby Bare, Marianne Faithfull, and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.