Classics

The Giving Tree

by Channing Jackson

Title: The Giving Tree
Author: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: October 7, 1964
Pages: 64

'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. Ages 10+

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My Review:

Ever since I was a little girl I have enjoyed this book greatly. As I have gotten older I began to notice things about this book that I overlooked in my adolescent youth. The Giving Tree is a classic, sensitive parable about selflessness. Selfless love and giving is something to be admired.

Most people who read this book take it in different way. Either they like it or they don’t. Some think the boy is greedy and takes advantage of Mother Nature’s resources. Others see the Giving Tree as beautiful for her selfless love, even though it was taken to the extreme. But what will you see? What will your child see?

 What do I see? I see a tree who puts the boy’s needs above its own, because it wants him to be happy. Putting someone else’s needs above ones own is something we should all strive to do. I really admire this book. It is a beloved Children’s book that everyone should read.