Insight in Disguise
While at first glance it may seem that Silverstein's poetry is simply splendidly silly, when you look again, you can see that behind the whimsical drawings and rhymes hides a world view that offers insight, inspiration, and sometimes even sorrow.
For example, in "Where the Sidewalk Ends," behind the fanciful rhymes, the moon-birds, and the arrows in chalk, lies a message about the power of imagination to rescue us from a world that threatens us with darkness and despair. Silverstein draws us in with the fun of his sounds, and sticks with us through the depth of his messages. While kids love his poems, it may be adults who can benefit from their messages most.