The Giving Tree

Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" showcases the themes of love, sacrifice, and human relationships. The story follows a tree that selflessly gives everything to the boy. Her apples, shade, branches, and even her trunk. Silverstein's repetitive phrasing, specifically "And the tree was happy" evoke both warmth and sorrow, emphasizing the contrast between unconditional giving and quiet loss. The illustrations, done in Silverstein’s signature black-and-white line art, contribute to the story’s emotional weight. The lack of color allows the focus to remain on the characters and their relationship. The tree’s gradual diminishment visually parallels the passage of time and the extent of its sacrifice, making the illustrations a show more critical part of the storytelling rather than an embellishment. Although the book is often seen as a touching story of unconditional love, it has also sparked debate about its underlying message. I've seen that some interpret the tree's self-sacrifice as a cautionary tale about toxic relationships or the dangers of self-neglect. While others still view it as a story about generosity and the purest form of giving. I think that this debate between the underlying message between the story being true or not is a perfect example of why picture books can still be for older kids/adults. As a kid reading this book, I remember just feeling sad for the tree because she gave everything to the boy, and he took it without hesitation. Granted as a kid I probably didn't know what a toxic relationship was, but now rereading this as an adult I can definitely see that there could be a dual message to this story. show less

A children’s tale glorifying an abusive relationship with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer

Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” is often celebrated as a classic of children’s literature, yet, reading it now, I struggle to see the appeal. Where contemporaries in the genre – such as Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” – bring subtext, wit, and magic, Silverstein’s approach here is relentlessly didactic.

The narrative, centring on a boy’s lifelong (abusive) relationship with a perpetually self-sacrificing tree, bludgeons the reader with its message of unconditional giving to the point of tedium. “The Giving Tree” has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

The story’s moral simplicity feels not only show more outdated but, frankly, rather joyless. One leaves the tale with a sense of manipulation, not enlightenment. This might suffice for those in search of finger-wagging parables, but for those yearning for depth or nuance, there are far better options in the children’s canon.

One star out of five.

Blog | Goodreads | Hardcover | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Threads | StoryGraph | LibraryThing | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr

Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less

The Giving Tree was an integral part of my childhood. I love this book. Following the Boy and the Tree throughout their lives, the Tree was always happy to give to the Boy. The book teaches about selfless love through the actions of the Tree and all she gave to the Boy, even when all she could give him was a place to rest his tired body. This book teaches about how giving and providing for the people in your life is important, and how the things we give oftentimes mean more than we could ever understand. The relationship is similar to that of a mother and her child, the mother giving all of herself and her love to her child, even if it is detrimental to her. The illustrations are simple and unique, my next tattoo is actually going to be show more a picture of the stump with the words, "...and the Tree was happy". show less

The Giving Tree is a rather depressing parable about a tree that loves a boy who proceeds to take and take and take until the tree has nothing left. Forget children's story, this serves as a warning for anyone in or in danger of an abusive relationship.

I've only read this as an adult so I don't have nostalgic childhood memories. And honestly I'm not sure why anyone does but god knows children have weird ideas about what's a great story. To me, it was just sad. I felt sorry for the tree that gives and gives and never receives the love it deserves. 2 stars.

No sé ni por qué añadí este libro a mi lista de pendientes, supongo que por su altísima valoración, injustificada. Este cuentecillo ilustrado trata sobre un niño y un árbol. El árbol le da al niño todo lo que tiene (sus manzanas, sus ramas, hasta su tronco), pero el niño va a creciendo y pasa del árbol olímpicamente. Hasta que, en el espectacular final, el niño ahora anciano solo busca un lugar donde descansar, y el árbol le invita a sentarse en su tocón.

Si existe una moraleja, que venga Dios y me la cuente. Hay quien dice que es una parábola sobre la relación entre padres e hijos (me rechina), otra que es sobre las relaciones tóxicas en general, otra que trata de como hay que ser generoso hasta con las personas que show more dan asco, e incluso una pequeña parte que afirma que es una sátira de... nadie sabe exactamente qué. Lo único bueno que se puede decir es que para tener como 100 palabras en total da mucho que debatir. Pero bueno, también da que debatir el ébola y muy agradable no es. show less

There are children’s books that entertain, and then there’s The Giving Tree. It's a 64-page emotional stick of dynamite disguised as a sweet nature story. I used to read this to my daughter when she was little. The first time, I thought it would be a nice bedtime story about trees, apples, childhood… you know, harmless stuff.

This book hits harder than a grad school philosophy class.

The Giving Tree is a miracle of a book: painful, generous, unsettlingly honest, and far wiser than any adult ever expects going in. If you have a heart, or once knew someone who deserved one, this story will pry it open and leave it pulsing in your hands as you weep uncontrollably at the cruelty of growing up wanting more from the world than the world show more ever promised you.

This should be mandatory reading; preferably before adulthood has a chance to ruin us show less

I knocked this down to two stars, and part of me is so sad. This was hugely a childhood favorite, and I spoke of it fondly for decades. In the past few years, someone pointed out acidly that the tree is codependent until its death. Someone else made an alternative version where the tree yells at him for taking so much and never reciprocating, and the tree loudly suggests opening a bakery specializing in apple-based goods instead of giving until her resources couldn't be renewed anymore. The person even noted page numbers that could be stapled in as a replacement. -That- version made me feel a lot better as adult. The tree doesn't die prematurely just so an old man can park his butt; they help their community and the economy; and their show more relationship is a lot more balanced. Good lessons to teach kids. I'm both glad the original book was written, and for the updated retelling online. show less