Shel Silverstein (1930 -1999) was an American writer, poet, cartoonist, singer-songwriter, musician and playwright.

His incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator began in 1963 with the publication of Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. He is also the creator of picture books, including the perennial favourite The Giving Tree, as well as classic poetry collections, such as Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic.