SOURCE: Barnes, Bart. “Author Shel Silverstein Dies; Wrote Children's Books, Songs.” Washington Post (11 May 1999): B5.

In the following obituary, Barnes praises Silverstein as “one of the world's best-loved and widely read children's authors.”

Shel Silverstein, 66, an author, artist, poet and songwriter who was best known for such bestselling children's books as A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends, was found dead May 10 at his home in Key West, Fla. His body was discovered by two cleaning women. A police spokeswoman said there was no evidence of drugs or weapons, and the cause of death was not immediately known.

To millions of children and adults, Mr. Silverstein was a master of whimsy and light satire, which he delivered in verse—sometimes downright goofy—that tapped a universal sense of the absurd. His writing was accompanied by line drawings of confused and befuddled people and other creatures...