The Giving Tree (Hardcover)

by Shel Silverstein (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
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

Product Description

"Once there was a tree ... and she loved a little boy." So begins a story Of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk ... and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1St Edition edition (October 7, 1964)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060256656
• ISBN-13: 978-0060256654
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (647 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,878 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

128 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A CONTROVERSIAL Classic to promote family discussion, November 28, 2005

By	L'lee (upstate NY, USA) - See all my reviews

There are two extreme ways to interpret this book, as shown by the multiple ratings of 1 and 5.

The first: This is a beautiful and sad story of unconditional love between a tree and a boy, in which the tree is generous and gives of itself to help the boy whenever he is in trouble. The metaphor in this case is that of a mother and a child, or God and a human.

The second: This is a story of a very selfish boy and a tree who loves him. Whenever he is in trouble, he returns to the tree who gives him another part of her self without ever setting limits, even though it makes her sad (and physically damages her) to do so. In this case, you can compare the story to a metaphor of an abusive, codependent relationship.

I can understand both views of this story, but the fact that the second interpretation is just as valid as the first makes me hesitate to recommend this book. Personally, I would NOT buy this book as a gift, or for my own children. If I had this book, I would wait to read it to my children until they reach the recommended 10 years old (or at least 8), and then I would discuss the book and its concepts (selfishness, limit setting/saying NO) with them. "What did you think of this book?" "Do you think that the tree/the boy did the right thing?" "What would you have done differently if you were the tree/the boy?" "If you were the tree, would you have said 'NO' to the boy at any point?"

A story that may be complementary to this one and more appropriate for younger audiences is "Ladies First", also by Shel Silverstein (found in "A Light in the Attic" or "Free to Be, You and Me"), which is about a girl who always gets to be first to do everything, but in the end that is not to her advantage. At least in that book the message is clear that selfishness is not OK.

If you prefer to avoid this type of discussion, you might be better off sticking to one of the MANY childrens' books that are much less controversial and intended only for entertainment.

75 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A children's book which never loses its power, August 15, 2002

By	C. Quinn (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Giving Tree is a beautiful book about a tree who loves a little boy. In the beginning, the love the two share is enough to make them both happy. As the boy grows older, his needs change and the tree gives him everything in order to help him achieve happiness. When the boy is gone and the tree is left with nothing, she is happy, but not really. Eventually the boy returns and the tree has nothing left to give, but the boy has changed and no longer wants anything from the tree other than the companionship they once shared, and both are happy once again.

I fell in love with this book the first time it was read to me, and my feelings have never changed. As I child I knew it was a sad book, but I didn't know why. Now that I am an adult, I can understand the cost of unconditional love and I know why the tree was sad. The fact that this book inspires so much debate is a testament to the power of Shel Silverstein's writing. There is a lesson in this book and a powerful message. For me, the key point is that in the end, the love the tree had for the boy was vindicated by his return- older, wiser, and more appreciative. My mother bought me this book when I was young because she thought it had a poignant lesson to teach. My mother tells me that the tree is every mother, and that the sadness felt by the tree is the sadness every mother feels when her child grows up and grows apart. She says every mother's hope is that her child will return someday, wanting nothing more than to to sit together in silence and to be happy. Anyone who has ever loved someone enough to let them go will understand the painful choice highlighted in The Giving Tree.

I love this book and I give it to special people in my life to celebrate our friendship. I higly recommend this book to adult and child alike.

78 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Co-dependent Tree, August 4, 2005

By	Christine (new Bern, NC) - See all my reviews

First, let me say that I adore Shel Silverstein... usually. When I was a child, I thought this was a sad story about a generous tree and a thoughtless boy. Despite that, I thought it was a wonderful ideal to be that giving. I read it again as an adult and was disturbed. "And the tree was happy... but not really". I know some people see this selfless sacrifice as a sign of unconditional love. I think there are a myriad of other stories that give children a positive view of unconditional love that doesn't entail a life long cycle of use, abuse, and abandonment. What's worse is I have to wonder with whom would my children identify: the doormat of a tree or the selfish user child? Please, don't dismiss me as cynical. I cry at sentimental stories. I have, however, seen people in my life who are stuck in unhealthy relationships that remind me way too much of this tree. Silverstein, however, was a clever writer, and I wonder if we've missed the point of this book. I don't know that it's supposed to leave us with a warm, fuzzy feeling as many claim. Perhaps we were supposed to feel a bit uncomfortable. As a child, I knew something was wrong with this relationship. As an adult, it makes my skin crawl.