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Loading... The Giving Tree (original 1964; edition 1964)by Shel Silverstein, Shel Silverstein (Illustrator)
Work detailsThe Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (1964)
Picture Book: The Giving Tree gives the boy what he needs as he grows up, apple shade, somewhere to play. As the boy gets older the tree continues to be there for him. As an old man he returns to the tree requesting a place to rest while he waits for death. The tale teaches about loyalty and giving.  KristinPetersMoreno | May 14, 2013 |  Eeeek! A selfish jerk of a boy and a tree who lets him literally kill her. Not cool. (  ) WeaselOfDoom | May 13, 2013 | This is a sad but sweet book about a boy who takes everything from a tree. The tree loves him so she gives him everything because it makes her happy. This book can be interpreted different ways and it would be an interesting discussion topic to have with students. (  ) crfonten | Apr 27, 2013 | This beautiful story is about the relationship between a young boy and tree. As the boy grows up the tree goes through different stages in it's life as well and is always willing to give everything it can the boy. This story explains the many changes we encounter in life and the way our environment changes with us in the most poetic and simple of ways. Lizziep | Apr 24, 2013 | This is such a sad book, but it has a very important truth and lesson in it. The tree gives and gives to the boy until he grows old and the tree is nothing but a stump, and yet the tree is still happy. Timeless lesson on the joy and humility in giving and how its not about getting anything in return. This book is very detailed and visual in character development so you could use it in the class by talking about how the environment and other characters influence each other. (  ) hipsterkidd | Apr 24, 2013 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0060256656, Hardcover)To say that this particular apple tree is a "giving tree" is an understatement. In Shel Silverstein's popular tale of few words and simple line drawings, a tree starts out as a leafy playground, shade provider, and apple bearer for a rambunctious little boy. Making the boy happy makes the tree happy, but with time it becomes more challenging for the generous tree to meet his needs. When he asks for money, 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 and sad to play in the tree, he asks the tree for a boat. She suggests that he cut her down to a stump so he can craft a boat out of her trunk. He unthinkingly does it. At this point in the story, the double-page spread shows a pathetic solitary stump, poignantly cut down to the heart the boy once carved into the tree as a child that said "M.E. + T." "And then the tree was happy... but not really." When there'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 her services, and he sits on it. "And the tree was happy." While the message of this book is unclear (Take and take and take? Give and give and give? Complete self-sacrifice is good? Complete self-sacrifice is infinitely sad?), Silverstein has perhaps deliberately left the book open to interpretation. (All ages) --Karin Snelson(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:27:04 -0500) A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return. (summary from another edition) |
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