Shel Silverstein was a highly talented individual. He has been involved in many traits throughout his life. Some of his traits include poetry, writing, illustrating, singing, composing, and performing. Hugh Hefner said, “He was a giant as a talent, a giant as a human being, “ says Hefner. “He really was a Renaissance man.” (Pascual, 64)She Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 25, 1930. He was born to Nathan and Helen Silverstein whom named him Sheldon Allen Silverstein. Shel has always had a natural talent for drawing and writing. He said they were the only things he was good at. Silverstein said, When I was a kid—12, 14, around there—I would much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls. But I couldn’t play ball, I couldn’t dance. Luckily, the girls didn’t want me; not much I could do about that. So, I started to draw and to write. I was also lucky that I didn’t have anybody to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style, I was creating before I knew there was a Thurber, a Benchley, a Price and a Steinberg. I never saw their work till I was around 30. By the time I got to where I was attracting girls, I was already into work, and it was more important to me. Not that I wouldn’t rather make love, but the work has become a habit. (Mercier)Shel Silverstein has had many professions, all of which contributed to his great success as children’s book author. In the 1950’s he served as a member of the U.S. military forces in Korea and Japan. While serving in the military he was a cartoonist for the military newsletter, Pacific Stars and Stripes. In 1956 Hugh Hefner gave Silverstein his first big break. Hefner, being the editor and founder of Playboy Magazine, started publishing Silverstien’s cartoons, stories...
