How The Light Gets In

Sheldon “Shel” Silverstein had one of the more extraordinary literary, music, and art careers you will ever read about, though many people will not recognize his name or face. He was the eccentric, artistic combination of country music legend, composer, cartoonist, author of children’s books, and columnist for Playboy magazine.

His two most famous works are on opposite ends of the creative spectrum. The first is a country music song recorded by Johnny Cash for which Silverstein won a Grammy, a song entitled “A Boy Named Sue.” The other work is a children’s picture book he called “The Giving Tree,” now a classroom favorite.

Silverstein’s work that I most enjoy is called “The Missing Piece,” a book about a rolling circle that has a huge, gaping wedge cut out. The circle rolls along clumsily while singing, “I’m lookin’ for my missin’ piece; I’m lookin’ for my missin’ piece; here I…