The Giving Tree
from: HarperCollins
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Amazon.com Review:
To say that this particular apple tree is a "giving tree" isan understatement. In Shel Silverstein's popular tale of few words andsimple line drawings, a tree starts out as a leafy playground, shadeprovider, and apple bearer for a rambunctious little boy. Making theboy happy makes the tree happy, but with time it becomes morechallenging for the generous tree to meet his needs. When he asks formoney, she suggests that he sell her apples. When he asks for a house,she offers her branches for lumber. When the boy is old, too old andsad to play in the tree, he asks the tree for a boat. She suggeststhat he cut her down to a stump so he can craft a boat out of hertrunk. He unthinkingly does it. At this point in the story, thedouble-page spread shows a pathetic solitary stump, poignantly cutdown to the heart the boy once carved into the tree as a child thatsaid "M.E. + T." "And then the tree was happy... but not really." Whenthere's nothing left of her, the boy returns again as an old man,needing a quiet place to sit and rest. The stump offers up herservices, and he sits on it. "And the tree was happy." While themessage of this book is unclear (Take and take and take?Give andgive and give? Complete self-sacrifice is good? Completeself-sacrifice is infinitely sad?), Silverstein has perhapsdeliberately left the book open to interpretation. (All ages)--Karin Snelson
Product Description:
'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.'
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.
Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.
This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.
Ages 10+
To say that this particular apple tree is a "giving tree" isan understatement. In Shel Silverstein's popular tale of few words andsimple line drawings, a tree starts out as a leafy playground, shadeprovider, and apple bearer for a rambunctious little boy. Making theboy happy makes the tree happy, but with time it becomes morechallenging for the generous tree to meet his needs. When he asks formoney, she suggests that he sell her apples. When he asks for a house,she offers her branches for lumber. When the boy is old, too old andsad to play in the tree, he asks the tree for a boat. She suggeststhat he cut her down to a stump so he can craft a boat out of hertrunk. He unthinkingly does it. At this point in the story, thedouble-page spread shows a pathetic solitary stump, poignantly cutdown to the heart the boy once carved into the tree as a child thatsaid "M.E. + T." "And then the tree was happy... but not really." Whenthere's nothing left of her, the boy returns again as an old man,needing a quiet place to sit and rest. The stump offers up herservices, and he sits on it. "And the tree was happy." While themessage of this book is unclear (Take and take and take?Give andgive and give? Complete self-sacrifice is good? Completeself-sacrifice is infinitely sad?), Silverstein has perhapsdeliberately left the book open to interpretation. (All ages)--Karin Snelson
Product Description:
'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.'
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.
Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.
This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.
Ages 10+
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- One of the Best Children's Books Ever Written
In 1974, I gave this to my then seven-year-old son for Christmas - a time for "Giving."I let several days pass and then asked him if he had read the book.He had, so I asked him if he liked it.He said he did, so I asked him what he liked about it.He told me he was glad the tree was still there enough for the man to sit on because the man needed a good friend.Out of the mouths of babes, I thought.I remember stroking his head and saying, "You're right, he did.I'm glad, too, that he had ... Read More
Rating: - This book a must.
I bought this for my granddaughters after they lost all their books in a flood this summer. I am trying to rebuild their library. It is a wonderful classic book and comes with an audio CD of Shel Silverstein reading it. Definitely a must for any child's library.
Rating: - Great for all ages.
The tree that keeps giving, wanting nothing in return but to please the little boy.
It's a wonderful story and teaches a lesson, at any age.I found myself feeling like the giving tree lately, while part of a non-profit organization.When I verbalized the analogy, I realized that many people had never heard of the book.It's on top of my gift list this year.
Rating: 
- I can't believe this book was in the Childrens section
My little girl is four years old.I was strolling around the book store looking for simple books to read.I picked this book up after only reading the first few pages.With the simple syntax and simple line drawings, I thought this would be a book we could read at bed time.Toward the end of the book, I shut it and picked another bedtime book to read her.This story may be representative of real life, the aging of a relationship, we all grow old and pass away, or maybe it is a metaphor for some ... Read More
Rating: - great message!!
Also donated to a local charity--they are collecting books for a holiday raffle this year...
It is one of childrens' favorites!
- One of the Best Children's Books Ever WrittenIn 1974, I gave this to my then seven-year-old son for Christmas - a time for "Giving."I let several days pass and then asked him if he had read the book.He had, so I asked him if he liked it.He said he did, so I asked him what he liked about it.He told me he was glad the tree was still there enough for the man to sit on because the man needed a good friend.Out of the mouths of babes, I thought.I remember stroking his head and saying, "You're right, he did.I'm glad, too, that he had ... Read More
- This book a must.I bought this for my granddaughters after they lost all their books in a flood this summer. I am trying to rebuild their library. It is a wonderful classic book and comes with an audio CD of Shel Silverstein reading it. Definitely a must for any child's library.
- Great for all ages.The tree that keeps giving, wanting nothing in return but to please the little boy.
It's a wonderful story and teaches a lesson, at any age.I found myself feeling like the giving tree lately, while part of a non-profit organization.When I verbalized the analogy, I realized that many people had never heard of the book.It's on top of my gift list this year.
- I can't believe this book was in the Childrens sectionMy little girl is four years old.I was strolling around the book store looking for simple books to read.I picked this book up after only reading the first few pages.With the simple syntax and simple line drawings, I thought this would be a book we could read at bed time.Toward the end of the book, I shut it and picked another bedtime book to read her.This story may be representative of real life, the aging of a relationship, we all grow old and pass away, or maybe it is a metaphor for some ... Read More
- great message!!Also donated to a local charity--they are collecting books for a holiday raffle this year...
It is one of childrens' favorites!
