The Giving Tree
by: Shel Silverstein
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Product Description:
CLASSIC,CHILDREN OF ALL AGES LOVE THIS BOOK!
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
CLASSIC,CHILDREN OF ALL AGES LOVE THIS BOOK!
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
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Very cute book
The content of the book is great, only complaint is it's in black and white.
Rating: 
- Review of The Giving Tree
This is one of those books that you read as a child and think that it is somehow special or insightful. Then, reading it as an adult, you realize that the message is questionable and maybe even a little destructive.
I think the message of this book is really that you should let people walk all over you, because that is love. Let them cut you down and turn you into a boat. This book represents the saccharine filled superficial message of the 60's that says that true freedom comes from ... Read More
Rating: 
- Sad message
The message of this bood was quite sad. Taking advantage of that which helps, until it can no longer live except in death is quite sad in my book.My young friends were quite distrubed by the ending, asking why the man killed the tree that was so helpful.They are only 6 years old.I couldn't answer them.
Rating: - A children's book that is perhaps best for adults
This was given to my girls as a gift for their third birthday. We must have read it at least fifty times in the past six months by their request. Clearly the story somehow resonates with them but I find it a little disturbing. Perhaps a good story to discuss with older children (ten and up) but not my choice for preschoolers. There are so very many other books for young children dealing with life cycles in a more positive light. This book just seems a bit too sad - the giving in this story is all ... Read More
Rating: - Favorite Children's book even as an adult
I read this book as a child and it made an impression on me.It taught me to be generous and selfless.As an adult with my own child now, this is the first book that came to mind when choosing bedtime stories for my son.It's a simple read, but has deep lessons and meaning.
- Very cute bookThe content of the book is great, only complaint is it's in black and white.
- Review of The Giving TreeThis is one of those books that you read as a child and think that it is somehow special or insightful. Then, reading it as an adult, you realize that the message is questionable and maybe even a little destructive.
I think the message of this book is really that you should let people walk all over you, because that is love. Let them cut you down and turn you into a boat. This book represents the saccharine filled superficial message of the 60's that says that true freedom comes from ... Read More
- Sad messageThe message of this bood was quite sad. Taking advantage of that which helps, until it can no longer live except in death is quite sad in my book.My young friends were quite distrubed by the ending, asking why the man killed the tree that was so helpful.They are only 6 years old.I couldn't answer them.
- A children's book that is perhaps best for adultsThis was given to my girls as a gift for their third birthday. We must have read it at least fifty times in the past six months by their request. Clearly the story somehow resonates with them but I find it a little disturbing. Perhaps a good story to discuss with older children (ten and up) but not my choice for preschoolers. There are so very many other books for young children dealing with life cycles in a more positive light. This book just seems a bit too sad - the giving in this story is all ... Read More
- Favorite Children's book even as an adultI read this book as a child and it made an impression on me.It taught me to be generous and selfless.As an adult with my own child now, this is the first book that came to mind when choosing bedtime stories for my son.It's a simple read, but has deep lessons and meaning.
