Most of us know Shel Silverstein as a prolific poet, but did you know he was also a songwriter? Among Shel's many talents, his ridiculous and profound wordplay amazes his readers from childhood long into adulthood. Today, he's known for his unique way of writing and displaying poems and as one of the most famous classic children's book authors of all time. On the show today, we're going to focus mostly on Where the Sidewalk Ends. We speak with Beth Ferry, author of acclaimed picture book, The Scarecrow, about how wordplay has impacted her writing success. We'll also catch up with poetry teacher, Rachel Eisler about her love of poetry, particularly Shel's, and how it plays in the classroom. Both guests read Shel's poetry for us, and it's poetry magic!

To learn more about Shel Silverstein, visit www.shelsilverstein.com/

Link to The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry: bit.ly/2Z0JL8x

Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at [email protected]. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!