The Giving Tree by Shel SilverStein

Author's Rating:

Pros: beautiful story, thought provoking and special

Cons: sad

The Bottom Line: 
One of the most beautiful children's book I know of

Author's Review
27 pages, $15.99 hardcover
Lime Green Cover with little boy, tree and boy with arms outstretched catching a falling apple
Simple reading, simple illustrations

This book I first read when a special friend gave it to my husband & I for Christmas one year. She inscribed on the front that we were such giving people that this book reminded her of us. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received and still highly treasure it. I have read it to my children and get tears in my eyes because it's such a beautiful book. It's a great way to teach children the joy of giving.

This book is about a little boy and a tree. The tree loves the little boy. He swings on her branches and eats her apples. The boy loves the tree back, and the tree is happy.

As time goes by the boy grows older, and the tree is often alone. The boy comes and used what he needs from the tree such as when he needs money the tree offers her apples for the boy to sell. He takes the apples and the tree is happy. Again he is gone a long time and the tree is sad.

The boy comes back a man who needs a house, and the tree offers her branches for him to build a house. The tree is happy. The boy goes away again for a long time.

Again, The boy stays away a long time and comes back as an older man. He says he is getting old and wants to go far away, so the tree offers her trunk to build a boat. The boy does that and the boy goes away again.

The tree is left with nothing but her stump. The boy comes back as an old man. She says she has nothing left to give him. The boy says that since he is so old now he only needs a place to rest. The tree offers her stump for him to sit on. The boy does, and the tree is happy.

The boy through this book is referred to as "a boy" even though he is grown. This makes it more simple to see how the tree views the man, still as a boy. It will also make it more simple for children to understand.

This book can be taken in many different ways, but I think the main point is that of unconditional love. The tree loves the boy no matter what he takes from her, and she gives all she can until there is literally nothing left. Even when there is no more left of her, she still finds yet more. I'm actually getting tears in my eyes as we speak equating this story with my 93 year old Grandmother who still gives. Everyone knows of these special people who give only because they love us, unconditionally.

It is on some levels a very sad story. The tree gives continuously of herself and the boy rather selfishly takes. The crux of the story is not the boys selfishness, but the willingness of the tree to give despite the boys selfishness. It could be taken as some that the tree is a "doormat" and walked all over. I personally see the deep beauty of the story and it's believe the message is that it's always good to give it your all, and love is never a wasted emotion.

Many parents, nurses, teachers, doctors, police, firefighter etc. are this giving with their life. It can also be a good lesson as you can see which you can relate to more the tree or the boy. The story points back to the people in your own life who give and makes you appreciative of their selfless nature and sacrifices.

This is a great story to read to kids and discuss with them. You can ask them questions about the book and provoke them into some deeper thought. It would also be a great and meaningful gift even for an adult, as I mentioned before. The lesson above all is that it makes one happy to give. A good lesson for everyone!