Here's a little more from the Washington Post (I cut out the duplicated parts):

Kid's Author Shel Silverstein Dies Monday, May 10, 1999; 9:46 p.m. EDT

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) -- Shel Silverstein, the author of such acclaimed children's books as ``A Light in the Attic'' and ``Where the Sidewalk Ends,'' was found dead Monday morning of a heart attack. He was 66.

Silverstein had severe coronary artery disease. Friends said he had recently complained of an upset stomach and ``didn't feel quite right,'' said Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Richard Eicher.

Two cleaning women discovered Silverstein's body in the bedroom of his home Monday. Eicher said he could have died Sunday or Monday.

``It's a devastating loss,'' said his longtime friend and lawyer Sheldon Vidibor of Los Angeles. ``I'm numb.''

Vidibor described him as ``the sweetest brightest man that I know, good to everybody, loyal, loving. He's a wonderful person, a wonderful human being. It goes without saying incredibly talented.''

Silverstein's characters in ``A Light in the Attic'' include Mrs. McTwitter, the Gink and the Dragon of Grindly Grun. Mrs. McTwitter is the baby sitter, who's ``a little bit crazy. She thinks a baby sitter's supposed to sit upon the baby.''

The quick-digesting Gink is a giant lizard who swallows some children, and the fire-breathing dragon complains that ``lunches aren't very much fun. For I like my damsels medium rare and they ALWAYS come out well done.''

The Giving Tree celebrates 35 years in publication this fall. Silverstein won numerous awards for his work including the Michigan Young Readers Award for ``Where the Sidewalk Ends.''

In the poem ``Hug O' War,'' from ``Where the Sidewalk Ends,'' Silverstein describes his favorite game:

``I'd rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins...''

Children find his poems ``exciting and fun -- they're silly,'' said Jaime Johnson, children's librarian at the Coral Gables Library. ``He was different than Dr. Seuss. It had to do more with reality ... he used things kids knew.''

Before turning to children's poetry, Silverstein wrote verse for adults only. His career began as a writer and cartoonist for Playboy magazine in 1952.

Survivors include his 15-year-old son, Mathew.