The+Missing+Piece

**Summary & Review**
//The Missing Piece// is a short children's book about a circle with a missing piece who sets out on a journey to find what he thinks he is missing. This story is a wonderful statement about individualism, something Shel often brings to his stories. One major criticism of //The Missing Piece// is that the artwork is too boring and the story is too short. Some, however, would argue that it is perfect in its simplicity.



**Author Bio**
Shel Silverstein was a poet, songwriter, illustrator, playwright, cartoonist, composer, and musician. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois. During his time as a GI he created comics for adult readers and learned to play the guitar. He published his first book in 1963. His books are now published in over 30 languages. Shel was born in 1930 and died in 1999.

**Other Works**
Shel had twenty written works published and fifteen albums.

**Awards**
Shel won 15 awards for his works: 1974 // New York Times // Outstanding Book Award for // Where The Sidewalk Ends // 1981 Michigan Young Readers' Award for // Where The Sidewalk Ends // 1981 // School Library Journal // Best Books award for // A Light In The Attic // 1982 International Reading Association's Children's Choice award for // The Missing Piece Meets The Big O // 1983 Buckeye award for // A Light In The Attic // 1984 George G. Stone award for // A Light In The Attic // and // Where The Sidewalk Ends // 1984 William Allen White award for // A Light In The Attic // 1985 Buckeye award for // A Light In The Attic // Grammy Awards for Best Country Song, "A Boy Named Sue":1969. Grammy Awards for Best Children's Recording was for // Where the Sidewalk Ends // in 1984. ALA Notable Book for // Where the Sidewalk Ends // in 1974. Outstanding Book Award for // Where the Sidewalk Ends // in 1974. Best Book Award in 1981 for // A Light in the Attic. // Children's Choice Award for // The Missing Piece Meets the Big O // in 1982. William Allen Book Award for // A Light in the Attic // in 1984.

**Major Themes**
All of Shel Silverstein's works bring with them a sense of whimsy, even when they're sad; they are fantastic. Shel supports imagination and empowers children in many of his stories.

**Citations**
www.shelsilverstein.com www.poets.org