The Missing Piece

by Shel Silverstein, Shel Silverstein (Illustrator)

Overview

From Shel Silverstein, the celebrated author of The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends, comes The Missing Piece, a charming fable that gently probes the nature of quest and fulfillment.

It was missing a piece. And it was not happy. What it finds on its search for the missing piece is simply and touchingly told. This inventive and heartwarming book can be read on many levels, and Silverstein’s iconic drawings and humor are sure to delight fans of all ages.

So it set off in search of its missing piece.
And as it rolled it sang this song—
Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
Hi-dee-ho, here I go,
Lookin' for my missin' piece.

And don't miss Runny Babbit Returns, the new book from Shel Silverstein!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060256715
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/24/2006
Series:	Ursula Nordstrom Book Series
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	14,203
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Shel Silverstein 's incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator began with Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. He is also the creator of picture books including A Giraffe and a Half, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, The Missing Piece, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favorite The Giving Tree, as well as classic poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Every Thing On It, Don't Bump the Glump!, and Runny Babbit.

Shel Silverstein 's incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator began with Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. He is also the creator of picture books including A Giraffe and a Half, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, The Missing Piece, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favorite The Giving Tree, as well as classic poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Every Thing On It, Don't Bump the Glump!, and Runny Babbit.

Date of Birth:

September 25, 1930

Date of Death:

May 10, 1999

Place of Birth:

Chicago, Illinois

Place of Death:

Key West, Florida

Education:

Chicago School of Fine Arts; University of Illinois (no degree)

Website:

http://www.shelsilverstein.com

Editorial Reviews

"It was missing a piece. And it was not happy." So begins this delightful fable of quest and fulfillment with its lovely sparse line illustrations to supplement the text. Singing nonsense rhyme repetitions like "So grease my knees and fleece my bees I'm lookin' for my missin' piece," it travels far and wide searching for its missing piece. Sadly, when it finds its missing piece and can roll very fast it discovers that life at a fast pace does not have time for pleasurable things like talking with friends, entertaining a butterfly, and singing a happy song. In fact, when it was complete it could not sing at all, so it set the piece down gently, slowly rolled away and sang its song, "Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece . . .," once again singing to its butterfly friend. There are many choices to be made in a child's life and gentle guidance without tedious preaching is important to their development. This book can be a helpful tool in the process. The message that everyone has some "missing piece" is important for self-esteem, and when the message is packaged in an entertaining, readable book, it is doubly valuable. You may also see the sequel, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O. 2004, Evil Eye Music, Ages 5 to 7.
—Mildred Hart

Children's Literature