Shel Silverstein was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books. He is best known for his books 'Where the Sidewalk Ends' and 'The Giving Tree'. He was also a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, having written songs for Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and other artists. Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois, and died in Key West, Florida in 1999.