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Shel Silverstein
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The Missing Piece Hardcover – January 24, 2006

by Shel Silverstein (Author, Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,252 ratings
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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!

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    2 - 9 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    112 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Lexile measure
    AD480L
  5. Dimensions
    8.74 x 7.36 x 0.7 inches
  6. Publisher
    Harper & Row
  7. Publication date
    January 24, 2006
  8. ISBN-10
    9780060256715
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0060256715
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

It was missing a piece.
And it was not happy.
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.

What it finds on its search for the missing piece is simply and touchingly told in this fable that gently probes the nature of quest and fulfillment.

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.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0060256710
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper & Row; First Edition (January 24, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780060256715
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060256715
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 - 9 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD480L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.74 x 7.36 x 0.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,252 ratings

About the author

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Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein

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"And now, children, your Uncle Shelby is going to tell you a story about a very strange lion- in fact, the strangest lion I have ever met." So begins Shel Silverstein's very first children's book, Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. It's funny and sad and has made readers laugh and think since it was published in 1963. It was followed the next year by three more books. The first of them, The Giving Tree, is a moving story about the love of a tree for a boy. Shel returned to humor the same year with A Giraffe and a Half, delighting readers with a most riotous ending. The third book in 1964 was Uncle Shelby's Zoo Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies, Shel's first poetry collection, and his first and only book illustrated in full color. It combined his unique imagination and bold brand of humor in this collection of silly and scary creatures. Shel's second collection of poems and drawings, Where the Sidewalk Ends, was published in 1974. His recording of the poems won him a Grammy for best Children's Album. In this collection, Shel invited children to dream and dare to imagine the impossible, from a hippopotamus sandwich to the longest nose in the world. With his next collection of poems and drawings, A Light in the Attic, published in 1981, Shel asked his readers to turn the light on in their attics, to put something silly in the world, and not to be discouraged by the Whatifs. Instead he urged readers to catch the moon or invite a dinosaur to dinner- to have fun! A Light in the Attic was the first children's book to break onto the New York Times Bestseller List, where it stayed for a record-breaking 182 weeks. The last book that was published before his death in 1999 was Falling Up (1996). Like his other books, it is filled with unforgettable characters. Shel Silverstein's legacy continued with the release of a new work,Runny Babbit, the first posthumous publication conceived and completed before his death and released in March 2005. Witty and wondrous, Runny Babbit is a poetry collection of simple spoonerismsH, which twist the tongue and tease the mind. Don't Bump the Glump! And Other Fantasies was recently reissued in 2008 after being unavailable for over 30 years. Shel was always a believer in letting his work do the talking for him--few authors have ever done it better.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
2,252 global ratings
The book is very clean as it has been read
4 Stars
The book is very clean as it has been read
I like the book and the price. My friend's young son is reading now.
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Top reviews from the United States

Kevin M Foster
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
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Great kids book
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SR
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
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This is one of my favorite books. I buy it for all my friends with young children.
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Drew
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
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Got this to read to my 3year old. I loved it as a kid and so does she!
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Karen
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
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Great simple story about life
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Peter & Mona
5.0 out of 5 stars Review
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
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Great gift
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Beverly Y.
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story!
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2023
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I have loved this story since I read it to my niece for the first time over 20 years ago. I was excited to be able to purchase it to read to my 2.5 year old grandson. The "sing-song" lyrics throughout the book kept his attention. I plan on buying it for other kids in my life- it's so cute & it teaches a valuable lesson!😊
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Judy K. Polhemus
5.0 out of 5 stars No doubt--a five-star book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2011
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How in the world have I lived 60+ years and never read "The Missing Piece" by Shel Silverstein? What a delightful, simple, poetic-like work of art? philosophy? poetry? children's tale? fable? How profound can be the simplicity of words and illustrations? Yet the two work together to present to the reader a seemingly simple, but nicely complex piece of illustrated writing.

I'm a children's librarian who thought she knew most of the books in our small school library, if not having personally read them, then handling them. Yes, I knew "The Missing Piece," but just discovered recently I didn't know it at all. Opened it at the beginning to that long black line. OK, I thought, I am used to the antics of writers.

After eight pages of straight line, we meet "It." "It was missing a piece,/And it was not happy." The reader sees a circle, about 7/8 complete with a pie-shaped opening that resembles a mouth. "It was missing a piece." He decides to seek his missing piece. A "missing piece?" Well, that's one way of looking at it.

He describes all the things he does living with "a missing piece": bakes in the sun, cools off in the rain, talks to a worm, smells the flowers, plays with a beetle, travels the world. Then he begins meeting various "pieces," only to discover eventually that none fit really well. Finally, he matched up, traveled with the piece, then found the excitement of two pieces living as one was no longer exciting. In fact, it was stifling, so he gently set down the missing piece and pretty much tiptoed away.

Oh, if only this were the format of a lengthy essay, I would have so much fun interpreting each part of this prose-poem. For example, going up mountains is obviously the struggles of life, rolling down mountains is surely the obstacles that knock us down, and so on. One reviewer saw the meaning of this prose-poem as a rally for non-monogamy. I think it's more a rally for being at peace with oneself, flaws and all. If we're not comfortable with our flaws, then how can we truly find our "missing piece?" Besides, a piece is just that--not whole.

See what I mean? I read this poem to my first grade class, who LOVED it! I was so surprised! It has stayed checked out for several weeks. I finally just latched onto the book, put it in my book bag to take home and write this review. I'll return it for check-out this very day. They'll never know it went missing for a day.

Truly, if you've never read this book, please do yourself a favor, go to your local library, and check it out. While you're there, locate "The Missing Piece Meets the Big O"  The Missing Piece Meets the Big O and take that home as well. I've done my good deed for the day. You're welcome.
25 people found this helpful
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Pink Lady
4.0 out of 5 stars Dust Cover
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2023
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The book is great only complaint I have is the dust cover has a huge cut in it....like whoever opened the box sliced into it.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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David Russell
5.0 out of 5 stars Missed but no longer missing
Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2023
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What a wonderful little book and story, I bought it for my niece who added it to family read night.
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Julia Dicarlo Braga
5.0 out of 5 stars Genial
Reviewed in Brazil on May 29, 2023
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"The Missing Piece" is a charming and introspective children's book written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. Published in 1976, the book tells the story of a circular character who is missing a piece of itself and embarks on a journey to find it.

Through simple yet profound illustrations and poetic storytelling, Silverstein explores themes of self-discovery, personal fulfillment, and the importance of embracing imperfections. The circular character encounters various shapes and objects along its quest, hoping that each one will be the missing piece that completes it. However, as it progresses, the character begins to question whether finding the missing piece is the ultimate goal or if true happiness lies in accepting oneself as is.

"The Missing Piece" encourages readers, both young and old, to reflect on the idea of self-acceptance and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Silverstein's whimsical illustrations and poetic language create a captivating narrative that engages readers and sparks their imagination.

This heartfelt book serves as a gentle reminder that true happiness comes from within and that embracing one's flaws and imperfections is an essential part of the journey towards self-discovery. It teaches valuable lessons about self-acceptance, resilience, and the importance of embracing the process of growth and change.

"The Missing Piece" is a timeless and thought-provoking tale that resonates with readers of all ages. It invites us to reflect on our own journeys and encourages us to appreciate the beauty of the incomplete puzzle that makes us who we are.
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Ana Angelica Rufina
5.0 out of 5 stars Libro per bambini e adulti!
Reviewed in Italy on January 5, 2024
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 Per chi ha già letto “Il Piccolo Principe”, questo libro è un'altra di quelle favole semplici.
Racconta la storia di un essere circolare che si sente incompleto, che vive cercando la parte che gli manca, per assicurarsi la sua completa felicità.
Cercando la parte mancante, l'essere circolare scopre che la felicità è dentro di sé e non nella parte che gli mancava. Finì per scoprire che era completo così com'era e che non dipendeva da nessun altro per amare o essere felice.

Il messaggio e le semplici illustrazioni contenute in questo libro rendono quest'opera una lettura accessibile sia ai bambini che agli adulti. In effetti, pur essendo un libro per bambini, oserei dire che è un libro che ha molto più senso per gli adulti.
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Ana Angelica Rufina
5.0 out of 5 stars Libro per bambini e adulti!
Reviewed in Italy on January 5, 2024
Per chi ha già letto “Il Piccolo Principe”, questo libro è un'altra di quelle favole semplici.
Racconta la storia di un essere circolare che si sente incompleto, che vive cercando la parte che gli manca, per assicurarsi la sua completa felicità.
Cercando la parte mancante, l'essere circolare scopre che la felicità è dentro di sé e non nella parte che gli mancava. Finì per scoprire che era completo così com'era e che non dipendeva da nessun altro per amare o essere felice.

Il messaggio e le semplici illustrazioni contenute in questo libro rendono quest'opera una lettura accessibile sia ai bambini che agli adulti. In effetti, pur essendo un libro per bambini, oserei dire che è un libro che ha molto più senso per gli adulti.
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Clau
5.0 out of 5 stars Missing
Reviewed in Mexico on February 15, 2021
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Autoconocimiento autoaceptación
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Lehr, Albert Gregor
5.0 out of 5 stars Verlorenes wiederfinden
Reviewed in Germany on February 3, 2022
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Ein buch, das Lust auf das Finden dessen macht, was unser Leben ausmacht. Was es dazu braucht: Fantasie und gut hinschauen, was es ist, was uns fehlt.
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