The Giving Tree 40th Anniversary Edition Book with CD
 | HarperCollins, 2004, Hardcover Customer Rating: 607 reviews Recommend |
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"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.
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.
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
Title: The Giving Tree 40th Anniversary Edition Book with CD
Sales Rank: 1005 in Books
Creator: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2004-03, Hardcover, 64 pages, ISBN: 0060586753
Package Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.7 x 0.6 inches, 0.9 pounds
- Great for all ages.
- The tree that keeps giving, wanting nothing in return but to please the little boy.
It's a wonderful story and teaches a lesson, at any age. I found myself feeling like the giving tree lately, while part of a non-profit organization. When I verbalized the analogy, I realized that many people had never heard of the book. It's on top of my gift… More reviews
- I can't believe this book was in the Childrens section
- My little girl is four years old. I was strolling around the book store looking for simple books to read. I picked this book up after only reading the first few pages. With the simple syntax and simple line drawings, I thought this would be a book we could read at bed time. Toward the end of the book, I shut it and picked… More reviews
- great message!!
- Also donated to a local charity--they are collecting books for a holiday raffle this year...
It is one of childrens' favorites! More reviews
- not so controversial actually......
- i'm a child psychology major. anyone who says this is bad for a child is obviously reading way too much into the book, and does not realize children are not capable of doing the same. this is actually a very good book for children. shame on you people and your awful thoughts. More reviews
- Its a great book, with a great philosophy. Read between the lines.
- The moral of the story is touching, its a great gift to give a parent. More reviews
