Learning Resources

A guide to the World of Shel Silverstein for parents, educators, and librarians—create a Shelebration moment with young readers.

Whether you’re reading Shel Silverstein’s poems with your children, using his books to celebrate Poetry Month, or planning a Shelebration event at your home, school, or library, we have the resources you need to engage kids in Shel’s extraordinary world. Follow the links below for lessons, event kits, and activities to share with the children in your life. Happy Shelebrating!

Teach Shel

Teach Shel at home or in the classroom with this all-new Common Core aligned teaching guide featuring discussion questions and writing activities for The Giving Tree; Don’t Bump the Glump!; A Giraffe and a Half; Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back; Where the Sidewalk Ends; and Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?

Every Thing On It Lessons & Activities

Inside this kit you’ll find unique classroom activities based on Shel Silverstein’s latest poetry book, Every Thing On It, that teach students to write, think, and draw poetry. Kids will be challenged to come up with rhyming words, draw an illustration in Shel’s signature black and white style, infer what happens in a poem, and much more.

See Every Thing On It

Runny Babbit Lessons & Activities

In these activities based on Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook, kids will learn about spoonerisms, the clever twist on language that Shel Silverstein employs in this humorous book. Kids will practice speaking, translating, and even reciting the spoonerism poems. We guarantee a learning experience that’ll feel more like a Shelebration.

See Runny Babbit

Runny Babbit Returns Event Kit

Host a Runny Babbit Returns storytime with this event kit that includes reproducible storytime activities exploring poetry and the world of Shel Silverstein, a decorative event poster, a Runny Babbit standee, and Runny Babbit rabbit ears!

Every Thing On It Event Kit

This kit has everything in it to celebrate Shel Silverstein’s newest poetry collection, Every Thing On It. Activities include a matching game, the “Italian Food” Word Search, and Shel Silverstein trivia.

See Every Thing On It

Don’t Bump the Glump! Event Kit

Have you ever seen a Gritchen in your kitchen or dared to dance with a One-Legged Zantz? Enter Shel Silverstein’s zany zoo and meet his unusual characters in this kit with activities including a word finder and a matching game.

See Don’t Bump the Glump!

Shelebrate “Poet Tree” Month with Shel Silverstein

Create your own “Poet Tree” and have a Shelebration all April-long! Just print out a set of leaves, jot down a few poems, and share using #ShelPoetTree. We can’t wait to see what you put in the world!

2016 Poetry Month Activities

Celebrate the world of Shel Silverstein with these brand-new printable activities from Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Every Thing On It, and Runny Babbit.

Poetry Month 2015 Event Kit

In this kit of all-new thought-provoking and fun printable activities based on the wonderful cast of characters in Falling Up Special Edition and Runny Babbit, you’ll meet the Monkey, have fun with Headphone Harold, get silly with spoonerisms, and much more.

The Giving Tree 50th Anniversary Event Kit

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Giving Tree, as well as the anniversaries of five other Shel Silverstein titles, with these all-new activities.

2013 Poetry Workshop Kit

In this brand-new kit, children will learn about many different types of poetry, gain clever tips to write their own, and compile their own poetry portfolio, all while having some fun along the way.

Poetry Month 2012 Event Kit

In this kit, the first to feature Every Thing On It, kids will delight in activities such as Shel-doku, make your own bookplates, word scrambles, and more.

Poetry Month 2011 Event Kit

Kids will learn to write their own poems, build vocabulary skills, and solve word puzzles in this kit celebrating all of Shel Silverstein’s poetry books.

Poetry Month 2010 Event Kit

This kit celebrates the zany, wild, and creative world of Shel Silverstein and his characters from books including Don’t Bump the Glump! and A Giraffe and a Half with activities such as the Cherished Characters Crossword, Perform a Poem, and Spot the Difference.

Poetry Month 2009 Event Kit

This kit provides a variety of materials to host your own Shelebration event. Activities include the Lafcadio the Lion Word Search, the Runny Babbit Decoder Game, and The Missing Piece Maze.

Poetry Month 2008 Event Kit

In this kit, kids will have the chance to talk like Runny Babbit, compose their own ending to one of Shel Silverstein’s poems, and design their own postage stamp in honor of Poetry Month.

Cuttin’ Kate Drawing and Activity Booklet

Use your imagination to add illustrations for the poem on each page; then gather your friends to act out the poem in this fun-filled live-action poetry extravaganza.

Eight Balloons Drawing and Activity Booklet

Bring “Eight Balloons” from A Light in the Attic to life with this booklet by adding illustrations and acting out the poem with your friends.

See A Light in the Attic

Shelebrate “Poet Tree” Month with Shel Silverstein

Create your own “Poet Tree” and have a Shelebration all April-long! Just print out a set of leaves, jot down a few poems, and share using #ShelPoetTree. We can’t wait to see what you put in the world!

2016 Poetry Month Activities

Celebrate the world of Shel Silverstein with these brand-new printable activities from Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Every Thing On It, and Runny Babbit.

Poetry Month 2015 Event Kit

In this kit of all-new thought-provoking and fun printable activities based on the wonderful cast of characters in Falling Up Special Edition and Runny Babbit, you’ll meet the Monkey, have fun with Headphone Harold, get silly with spoonerisms, and much more.

The Giving Tree 50th Anniversary Event Kit

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Giving Tree, as well as the anniversaries of five other Shel Silverstein titles, with these all-new activities.

2013 Poetry Workshop Kit

In this brand-new kit, children will learn about many different types of poetry, gain clever tips to write their own, and compile their own poetry portfolio, all while having some fun along the way.

Poetry Month 2012 Event Kit

In this kit, the first to feature Every Thing On It, kids will delight in activities such as Shel-doku, make your own bookplates, word scrambles, and more.

Poetry Month 2011 Event Kit

Kids will learn to write their own poems, build vocabulary skills, and solve word puzzles in this kit celebrating all of Shel Silverstein’s poetry books.

Poetry Month 2010 Event Kit

This kit celebrates the zany, wild, and creative world of Shel Silverstein and his characters from books including Don’t Bump the Glump! and A Giraffe and a Half with activities such as the Cherished Characters Crossword, Perform a Poem, and Spot the Difference.

Poetry Month 2009 Event Kit

This kit provides a variety of materials to host your own Shelebration event. Activities include the Lafcadio the Lion Word Search, the Runny Babbit Decoder Game, and The Missing Piece Maze.

Poetry Month 2008 Event Kit

In this kit, kids will have the chance to talk like Runny Babbit, compose their own ending to one of Shel Silverstein’s poems, and design their own postage stamp in honor of Poetry Month.