The missing piece

by Shel Silverstein

Hardcover, 1976

Status

Available

Publication

New York : Harper & Row

Description

A circle has difficulty finding its missing piece but has a good time looking for it.

User reviews

LibraryThing member kshielee
This book is poetry because of the way that the writing is set up. There is some rhyming and a definite rhythm to the reading of this book. Sentences are all split up and not read in the way a normal book is read. This book could also be seen as fantasy because it breaks some of the common
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boundaries of poetry such as creating characters, setting, and a plot. The main character in The Missing Piece is simply called it and sets out on a journey to make himself whole. The plot of this story starts with the conflict of it not being whole. It looks for a piece to fit. The building action comes through the unsuccessful attempt of trying to get pieces to fit, however they do not. Once it finds a piece that does fit, it is happy, but then cannot sing it's song, so it leaves the piece and goes off singing it's song. This is the resolution. The climax comes with it finding the correct piece, but then realizing that it cannot sing.
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LibraryThing member clark.hallman
Rayna gave me this book for my birthday in 1999 and wrote the following message on the cover page:

-- Dad, Sometimes the best thing is to let go of your missing piece and notice the good things you have around you. Love, Rayna --

I don’t remember which missing pieces I was seeking back then, but
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her message and this little book provided a very helpful lesson for me.-- I just reread it today and the message is still relevant.
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LibraryThing member jadepumpsthejams
The book begins "it was missing a piece, and it was not happy." A round pacman-looking character searches for "the missing peice" (a partner to fill the void). All through it's search, the "best time of all" is when a butterfly perches on it. It finds many peices. They are too small, too big, too
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sharp, too square, etc. Sometimes it breaks or looses a seemingly perfect piece. When it finds "the perfect peice" it can no longer sing, and it rolls too fast for a butterfly to stop on it. It realizes that it is happier looking for a piece than having one. Beautiful story, fun simple illustrations.
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LibraryThing member crystalr
shel Silverstein is such an amazing poet. And his illustrations are amazing as well.
LibraryThing member lmbenji
Another great Shel Silverstein book with another great moral! The circular object sets out to find its missing piece but along the way realizes that maybe the missing piece is missing for a reason. It's a fun read and an easy story to read for young children.
LibraryThing member sarahbatte
This book is about a half circle thing that goes searching for his missing peice. He tries to fit in and talk to different objects and creatures. He goes on his journey and never gives up trying to find the missing peice. This could be representive of life in general that we have all different
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kinds of relationships throughout our life some work and some do not. I love silverstein and all his work.
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LibraryThing member jrlandry1410
A little story about a circle who is missing a piece, so he sets off in search for the piece and when he finds it he realizes he was happier the way he was before. A strange little book that will delight people of all ages, that teaches you that you can be perfect just the way you are.
LibraryThing member nkertz
this little circle spends his life looking for his missing piece but he can never seen to locate it. one day he finally finds it and is happy, but realiezes he was happier the way he was before. this book could be used in a lesson about be happy with oneself just the way they come.
LibraryThing member jebass
Love this story; Silverstein's O is missing a piece, so it sets of in search of it, so it can be "complete." When the O finds the right piece, he discovers that he was better off without it.

This book could be used as a introduction to Shel Silverstein's work. The Missing Piece is a simple story
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that young children can understand, like "The Giving Tree" and "Giraffe and a Half." But I can also see it used for older children as well. I personally believe that the way Silverstein fashions his work to appeal to all ages is a large part of his genius. He just "gets it." I think that older children would be able to apply more abstract and critical thinking to the story (as in, "what's the point?") whereas younger children will see it for what it is (a simple story for kids). I think that's wonderful. And I would definitely love to read this book aloud, to children or really, to anyone.
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LibraryThing member satyridae
Dreck. Tragic that the mind which brought us such classic songs as "Polly In A Porny With A Pony" and "You're Always Welcome At Our House" and books like Different Dances should have come to this.
LibraryThing member hopefully86
Silverstein writes for children ages 1 to 99. I find the same poems I enjoyed as a child have much deeper meaning as an adult. I hope my someday children will enjoy these!
LibraryThing member patricia_poland
A very adult poem disguised as a child's book. I have used this in storytimes when I used to do storytimes - would always sing when the character sang and no matter who was in the audience, adult or child, they would 'bounce' along with me. Love this poignant look at finding one's self and being
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okay with being alone.
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LibraryThing member esiera1
The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein is my favorite children’s book I have read this semester. I have heard of Shel Silverstein before, but always thought of this work as strange. After Beckie’s presentation about this author, I was very curious about his work! I read The Missing Piece and
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absolutely loved it. The book most definitely pushes the reader to think about life, and is engaging for adults too! It begins by saying, “It was a missing piece. And it was not happy. So it set off in search of its missing piece.” The writing flows and paces well through the pages. It has simplistic wording, yet a challenging topic. Even though the illustrations are not much, it fits perfectly with the style of text and is appropriate for the mood. If you can read fluently, as you turn the page it is almost like a short film because the piece looks like it is moving! I love that the character is on a search for his missing part, but in the end realizes it is okay being independent and on his own. The only thing I didn’t enjoy about this book was the song that the piece sang as it was searched. I felt like it was unnecessary, and didn’t really work well when trying to find a tune. The big idea of this story is to understand independence and accept yourself as you are!
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LibraryThing member ocosta1
The Missing Piece is a great book. I liked the writing style Shel Silverstein used in this story. Every page only had a few words which keeps the story easy to read. I also liked the illustrations Silverstein drew with it. They were simple as well and could even stand alone to tell the story
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without the words. Each drawing explains every page, therefore readers wouldn't have to read the words to know what happens.

The main idea of the story is that sometimes you look for something you think will make you happier, but you are better off without it. People can relate to this in their own lives. For example, many people may do this with love. They try all the wrong people and even when they find, what they believe to be, "the perfect fit", it still may not even be right.
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LibraryThing member CatherineWillett
“The Missing Piece” was a book by Shel Silverstein that I had not yet read before, and it was just as amazing as his others. What I enjoyed most of all was that the main character, after finding what he thought he wanted, realized that this new found “missing piece” was not a perfect fit
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because it stopped him from doing things he enjoyed. Such as, stop to smell the flower or to allow a butterfly to land on him. The book was written in fairly simple language, making it easy to read. However, the message is what I think was the best and that was a little bit harder to understand. I believe that the main idea is that getting what you want isn't all you always think it will be.
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LibraryThing member lstec2
This book is extremely simple with short lines and black and white pictures. I like that it is a metaphor for not necessarily needing something to make you whole and it emphasizes that the journey is far more important than the end result. The Big O ends up not being happy with its missing piece
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because it rolls too fast and cannot appreciate anything, nor can it sing its song about searching for its missing piece. I also like how simple the drawings are, because it keeps the reader focused on the important aspects of the story and you cannot miss the message that Silverstein is trying to convey. As I stated previously, the big idea of the book is appreciating the journey and what you see along the way, rather than what you get at the end of it.
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LibraryThing member MsBridgetReads
Perfect!

Shel Silverstein, as I always remembered, writes his stories/poems so cute and perfectly!

For me, I got out of this story that just because you feel you're missing something, doesn't necessarily mean it's actually missing or that you should have that piece in your life. sometimes, you have
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perfection in that small imperfection. It will make you see things differently and enjoy things you may not have enjoyed otherwise. I hope I explained that right..Lol...I may come back and redo this review at a later date.

I will be going out and finding the other books in order to buy them. I have always loved going through his "Falling Up" and "Where the Sidewalk Ends". I am looking forward to adding these and others to my Silverstein collection! :-)
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LibraryThing member grapeapril75
Fantastic book for kids! So imaginative and creative. Easy read that children will find delightful!

Shel Silverstein is always brilliant! His rhymes are fun and entertaining! Some of my all time favorites!! Such a great way to entertain children and get them interested in reading!
LibraryThing member Skaide1
In my opinion, this was an interesting book. It is about a shape that is missing a piece, and it goes on a journey to find it. I like the writing in this book, particularly its flow. Shel Silverstein does it so that most pages have no more than a sentence, and some pages only illustrations. It
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gives the book a feel as if it is taking a reader on a journey, as it is drawn out in length. It was a nice touch, in my opinion.

The illustrations were simple, yet said enough. Some pages had just the shape, and a piece that wasn't its match. Some pages just had a straight line, and so on and so forth. It was the way this book was done that made me to take such a liking to it.

I couldn't find a main message, however the shape never did find his "missing piece," so maybe it is that everyone is unique and special in their own way. I thought this book is very presentable to young readers, and would recommend it as such!
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LibraryThing member Kate_Schulte078
This is a good book that blends poetry and a story. I think students will like and relate to the story of the circle feeling he was missing something but in the end realizing that he liked himself the way he was.
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
"...and it set the piece down gently, and slowly rolled away"
Boy, did that hit home! Just super powerful and poignant. Wow.
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
*Such* a good lesson - especially for people searching for a fairy-tale love.
LibraryThing member boxofdelights
A depressing view of relationships. Not half as terrible as The Giving Tree though.
LibraryThing member robertbruceferguson
Shel Silverstein's The Missing Piece is about a incomplete circle (with a strong resemblance to Pac-Man). The piece is looking for a perfect fit. Along the way he sings. It meets with a worm, beetle, and a butterfly. After meeting several pieces that don't fit, he finally meets one that does. It's
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a great children's book, and adults can ponder of its meaning. A five minute read.
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Language

Barcode

2050

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