A Light in the Attic is a collection of poems by the American poet, writer, and children's author Shel Silverstein.It was first published by Harper & Row in 1981. The poems for children are accompanied by illustrations also created by Shel Silverstein.ight In The Attic redirects here. For the record label, see Light in the Attic Records. A Light in the Attic is a collection of poems by the American poet, writer, and children's author Shel Silverstein. It was first published by Harper & Row in 1981.