Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Adults Only by Shel Silverstein Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Adults Only
Book Review: A gentle tome for tender tykes
Summary: 5 Stars
Actually, this book is one of the great time bombs in gift giving. For a long time we gave this to friends who had children ... years would pass and they would finally actually look at it and call us up and yell at us things like "what the heck were you thinking?" Subversion at the highest level, I hide this from my children and make them read the Bible to purge them of any evil thoughts.Book Review: A Treasure With Lasting Power
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a babyboomer who remembers this fabulous book from my childhood dentist's waiting room back in the 60's. I thought it was great then, and am delighted that it is again available. I certainly had the intelligence not to take it seriously, and have shared it with my kids, who loved it as well...Book Review: Adults Only Is Right
Summary: 5 Stars
I absolutely love this book. My older copy is subtitled "a primer for tender young minds," but the "adults only" in the new edition is probably a good idea. You know your own kids best and can decide if they can handle it, but give this book to someone else's kids at risk of alienating their parents forever (though maybe that isn't a bad thing if they don't have a sense of humor). This is not one of his poetry books, but lists each letter and what it stands for. Silverstein's unique sense of humor is evident. He advises children to give Daddy a haircut while he is sleeping and to hide his keys, and these are some of the tamer examples. Of course the alphabet is too restricting, and Silverstein breaks off periodically to have a little more fun. I don't want to reveal too much, so suffice it to say that this book is hilarious. This isn't as engaging as Silverstein's poetic works, which would be a better choice for a newcomer to his writings. But if you are a fan and would welcome something different, this is a delightful choice.Book Review: Brilliant!
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhaps those who do not appreciate this book are not intelligent enough to understand the humor. This book isn't for children simply because they might not be old enough to get the jokes, not because of the nature of the material. And with anyone who wants to censor or ban books, how 'bout reading it completely before condemning it?Book Review: An adults-only book for kids!
Summary: 5 Stars
For starters, contra so many of the other reviews here, don't worry about children not getting the sarcasm in this book--anyone who knows children know that they can get and use sarcasm quite well.
And children should read this book, because this book is Shel Silverstein at his finest. It amazes me how many people have referred to Silverstein as just a "children's author" in these reviews--he was a Playboy cartoonist, to begin with, which doesn't seem very purely children's author to me. That aside, though, consider some of his poems from _Where the sidewalk ends_ such as "How not to dry the dishes" and "Abigail and the pretty pony, for starters--wonderful bits that masquerade as children's poetry, subverting all the rules we as a society try to use to keep things orderly (and boring). Silverstein was one of those rare authors who could write for adults and children at the same time--and the children will be better of for being exposed to it.