Shel Silverstein’s Classic Work- The Giving Tree

Author's Rating:

Pros: Remarkable classic story with multiple applications, good mentor text for writing, great illustrations

Cons: none

The Bottom Line: 
What is the value of friendship?  Silverstein, in his classic work The Giving Tree, gives opportunity for children to think about life.

Author's Review
Perhaps among more recent children's literature that has reached the stage of being counted a classic, The Giving Tree by the late Shel Silverstein is one of the greatest.  The story is about a little boy who becomes friends with a tree.  During the course of the years, the tree gives the boy everything that it has to offer.  The little boy, in apparent indifference to the sacrifice of the tree, continues to take.  As the boy grows older, the sacrifice of the tree is first renewable.  But as greater demands are made and met, the tree continues to yield up everything that makes it a tree until finally only the stump is left.

In the end the old man finds even the stump can provide what is needed.  While the needs of the person developed over time, the ability of the tree to provide as it had in the past eroded.  But the tree never stopped trying to give.

The invaluable lessons that may be learned from The Giving Tree are both priceless and timeless.  And here are but a few of the things that come to my mind: the value of a true friend, selfishness and selflessness, how needs change over time, the quality of giving, fulfillment, and the lessons go on.

Parents value books that they may read to their children that have powerful lessons beyond the moment.  Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is an example of literature that consistently lays foundational principles providing value parents wish to build.  In that same class is this rare jewel from the pen of Shel Silverstein.  The Giving Tree is a delightful 52-page read that provokes conversation at several levels.  The book is an excellent read aloud to younger children; for the classroom, it could serve as a great independent reading book for older children.  

This book serves as a prime example of materials that are excellent to bridge between the reading and writing experience in the classroom.  Having children write about the nature of their friendships, describing what they give or take from a friendship, etc. could serve to mentor the writing process.  The various levels of writing in the book serve as prime examples of how writing takes many different forms through its development.  In the beginning of the book, Silverstein uses very few words per page allowing the illustrations to do much of the work in telling the story.  As the narrative becomes more complex, there are more words to explain what the illustrations can no longer by themselves explain.

The Giving Tree, first published in 1964, has stood the test of time.  This book graces book shelves across the world as exemplary children's literature.  Silverstein, the multi-faceted writer had a knack for creating a world in which children could visit and learn.  Such abilities are rare and this book above all that he has written shows why he was a master at his craft.

The Giving Tree
Shel Silverstein
978-0-06-025665-4
Harper Collins