Where the Sidewalk Ends

Where the Sidewalk Ends, the full-length poetry collection in which this poem was featured, was originally released in 1974. In 2004, five years after the poet’s death, the collection was rereleased in an expanded 30th anniversary edition. Although Silverstein found widespread success through his songwriting, his name is largely remembered for its association with children’s poetry and his short work of children’s fiction, The Giving Tree. Each work explores deceptively complex themes that have, in recent years and toward the end of Silverstein’s life, become increasingly controversial.

In 1986, Where the Sidewalk Ends was banned in several school districts across America and became a topic of heated debate among parents and teachers. The controversy stemmed primarily from the book’s depictions of rebellion and disregard for authority (one of the likely reasons it became so popular in the first place), as well as suggestions of violence, drug use, and supernatural influence. It’s also been suggested that some of the animosity toward Silverstein’s work may have also come from his history as a cartoonist for Playboy magazine, which some saw as disqualifying to a career as a children's writer.

The Giving Tree also faced controversy for its mixed message of selfless love. While it was initially received as a celebration of sharing and selflessness toward loved ones, it gained criticism for its portrayal of a