Review:
Shel Silverstein's The Missing Piece Meets the Big O is written for children -- but it is a book for readers of all ages. The book can be read from cover to cover in less than ten minutes, and the illustrations could have been drawn by anyone who can draw a simple line and somewhat round circle. The book is simple to read and understand -- but complex and powerful in its personal message.

In this story, the missing piece feels incomplete, and it is looking for a Big O with a missing piece so that they can join and become whole. The missing piece does many things to try to attract its incomplete counterpart -- it tries to be more attractive and flashy. For various reasons, the missing piece's counterparts never seem to be a good fit -- or if they are, it is only temporary. Finally, the missing piece is left to figure out how to become whole itself. As a counselor I've used this book in many ways. Because of its simple pictures and few words, it is great to read to a class or group. As a children's book, it can be used to help children begin to understand their uniqueness and wholeness. With teens and adults, it is great for those struggling with codependency issues or who try to change in order to find or please a partner or spouse. I ask these clients to read the book, draw themselves as a missing piece, and then journal on how they continue to look to others to make them complete. I then have them draw what they will look like when they are whole -- a Big O -- and journal on what will be different in themselves and their lives. It is also a great book to use when working with adult singles who struggle with being single.

Shel Silverstein's book is a gentle, humorous, but profound reminder that each of us must do our own work in an effort to become whole -- not so that we must then live alone -- but so that we are then more complete in our relationships with others -- so we can roll!