>A Boy Named Shel is an eye-opening look into the life of one of my favorite writers.

Growing up, one of my favorite things to do was read a book my parents had gotten for me called “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”

It was with this book that I first fell in love with the wit, humor, and downright silliness of Mr. Shel Silverstein. I am sure we all know the tale of Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout, and wondered “Why wouldn’t she take the garbage out?”

My parents at the time were also fans of Shel. Not only was he a successful cartoonist and poet, be he was also a very accomplished songwriter. Most people are unaware that Shel was the one who wrote the song “Cover of a Rolling Stone” made popular by Dr. Hook. So when I heard Dr. Hook singing Shel’s poems, I was instantly hooked on Dr. Hook. (sorry for the pun.)

Despite all of this success, Shel was at times quite insecure about his many talents. But he was the only one, young and old found humor and joy in his work. Shel was after all our ‘Missing Piece.’