Shel Silverstein (1930–1999)

I don't remember how old I was when I first read Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends (other than very young indeed), but I do remember the incredible delight I felt, because I've never stopped feeling it. Every time I pick one of his books up, the feeling instantly comes flooding back. Silverstein was one of the best things about my childhood, and, no, I don't think I'm exaggerating there. His poems are silly and clever, deliciously evil, laugh-out-loud funny, strangely insightful, show more and wonderfully subversive in ways that even little kids who've never heard the word "subversive" in their lives can instantly relate to. I adored them then, and I still do now.

I wasn't holding out lots of hope for this new collection, though. After all, books published years after the death of their author often turn out to be second-rate, unedited rejects scraped from the bottom of their desk drawers, right? Besides, encountering something like this for the first time can't possibly be the same when you're forty. Right?

Except, whaddaya know, it turns out it can be. And if this came out of the bottom of Silverstein's desk drawer, I can only hope there's a lot more down there where it came from. I swear, reading this made me feel like a little kid again, complete with all the delight I felt when I first read A Light in the Attic. Which isn't quite the same delight I felt when I first encountered Where the Sidewalk ends, since Silverstein was a brand new surprise then, and that only happens once. But it's more than enough.

A few pages in, I was thinking, in that wistful way I sometimes do when reading good kids' books, that I wished I could hop into a time machine and send this back to me-as-a-child, knowing she would have been absolutely over the moon. By halfway through, I was thinking, "Screw little-kid me! She can't have this one! It's mine!"

So, thank you, Mr. Silverstein. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. show less

FIVE STARS ! Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree is a poignant and thought-provoking picture book that explores themes of selflessness, love, and sacrifice. The story follows a tree that gives everything to a boy throughout his life, ultimately leaving itself as a stump for him to rest on. Silverstein’s simple yet powerful prose and minimalistic illustrations emphasize the emotional depth of the narrative. While some view the book as a touching tale of unconditional love, others interpret show more it as a critique of selfishness and exploitation. Its open-ended meaning makes it a valuable tool for discussion with children about gratitude and balance in relationships. The Giving Tree remains a timeless and deeply moving story that resonates across generations, encouraging reflection and empathy.



Personally, this book has impacted me, I strongly remember getting this book for Christmas one year. My mom used to always read it to my siblings and me. At a young age I was shown how to be selfless and loving, and I continue doing so. show less

I think the tree's willingness to give everything to the boy raises questions about selflessness and sacrifice. Is the tree's unconditional giving a pure expression of love, or does it suggest an unhealthy dynamic of giving without setting boundaries?

This book conveys several great messages under the guise of simplicity. On the surface, it is a lesson about loyalty and the bonds of friendship. The boy abandons the tree at times, but whenever he comes back, the tree helps the boy as if he had never been gone. On a deeper level, the meaning of the story is not as clear. The Giving Tree could be viewed as a story with insight to the relationship between man and nature; every time the boy returns, it is almost like he is home again. He is show more comfortable with the tree. I also see it as satirical; it points out the selfishness of men and how they take as much as they can until there is nothing left to take. Regardless of the interpretation, it is a story that can pull at the heartstrings and force the reader to slow down and enjoy what they have in the present. show less