Shel Silverstein books in order
American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer
- Lived
- 1930–1999
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 21
Shel Silverstein published 1 novella, 1 non-fiction book, 7 children's books, 6 poetry collections and 6 other books, beginning with The Giving Tree (1964).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Shel Silverstein
Start here
The Giving Tree
Shel Silverstein's most-read book, rated by 114 Open Library readers.
Novellas in order
Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back (1963)
Non-fiction in order
Playboy's Silverstein Around the World (2007)
Children's books in order
The Giving Tree (Oct 1964)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)
The Missing Piece (1976)
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O (1981)
A Giraffe and a Half (1985)
Falling Up (1996)
Runny Babbit (Mar 2005)
Poetry in order
Don't Bump the Glump! (1964)
A Light in the Attic (1981)
Poetry Galore & More With Shel Silverstein (1993)
Shel Silverstein: Poems and Drawings (2002)
Every Thing On It (2011)
Runny Babbit Returns (2017)
Other books in order
Different Dances (1979)
Draw a Skinny Elephant (1999)
An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein (2003)
Shel's Shorts (2003)
Where the Sidewalk Ends + Every Thing On It (Hardcover) (2016)
Uncle Shelby's Abz Book
Film and TV adaptations
- I'm Here (2010)Film · from The Giving Tree
About Shel Silverstein
Sheldon Allan Silverstein was an American writer, cartoonist, songwriter, and musician. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended college before being drafted into the United States Army. During his rise to prominence in the 1950s, his illustrations were published in various newspapers and magazines, including the adult-oriented Playboy. He also wrote a satirical, adult-oriented alphabet book, Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Shel Silverstein FAQ
- How many books has Shel Silverstein written?
- Shel Silverstein published 1 novella, 1 non-fiction book, 7 children's books, 6 poetry collections and 6 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Shel Silverstein's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Giving Tree.
- What is Shel Silverstein's last book?
- Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back (1963).
- What is Shel Silverstein's most famous book?
- The Giving Tree (1964) is Shel Silverstein's most widely read book.
- Which Shel Silverstein books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The Giving Tree (as I'm Here, film, 2010).
Authors like Shel Silverstein
J. R. R. Tolkien
Also wrote children's books and poetry
Alan Arkin
Also wrote children's books and humour
Langston Hughes
Also wrote poetry and humour
Charles M. Schulz
Also wrote humour and children's books
Roger Hargreaves
Also wrote children's books and humour
Mika Waltari
Also wrote children's books and poetry
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.