The Giving Tree
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The giving tree
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Mom
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rated it 5 stars
Jun 11, 2008 10:57AM
We need more giving trees in this world
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i agree. do you see yourself as the giving tree or the boy? or do you sometimes find yourself both.
I think this should be mandatory reading in every grade. It's so beautiful. Lovely.
I dear. I hate to be the odd person out here. I refused to give this book to my grandson for fear that he would identify with either the boy or the tree. The boy is a self-centered monster and the tree takes the noble idea of self-sacrifice to the absolute extreme. Why should anyone be allowed to use "someone" to the point of the annihilation of that "someone" and why should that "someone" allow himself to be annihilated?Beyond the issue of personal politics, there was also lurking a suggestion of colonialism and humankind's predatory use of the environment.
Although I've enjoyed Silverstein's other books (my older son is a particular fan), I just couldn't come to terms with this one.
Deborah touches on the subject of peace with her questions (comments). If we look deeply, we find the answer within us. This is the beauty of "The Giving Tree". The author shows us love, but never tells to love or how to love. This book illuminates the path that is beneath our feet.
I was commenting on the book in large part from the viewpoint of a parent and grandparent. It isn't very appropriate for the majority of very young readers. With older children it might generate a very interesting discussion. I don't think it illuminates much of anything, but rather leaves unanswerable questions which are not very productive. When I finally read it with my grandson, who is now 11, he said, "But there's nothing left of the tree. The boy/man took everything." He was disturbed by the inequity; what right did the boy/man have to deprive the tree of its existence? From this point, where does the discussion go? Actually, there's more to say, but I've run out of time.
i love this book so much.it is great
I have to agree with Deborah: I find the story repellent. The boy uses up the tree with no sign of returning its love or of even considering its needs. Let's add gender politics too: is the tree the "perfect woman"? If so, that's sad and illuminating.
I vote with Katharine and Deborah. The tree gives too much and it not good for the tree or the boy. I really didn't get what Silverstein was trying to say. But, I hope to be neither the tree or the boy.There are some situtions between people that the book mirrors. In such situtions you end up with two very damaged people. Cause the boy doesn't learn to give or become independent and the tree is just about dead.
its so sad!but all together a very lovely book.
two thumbs up!
I read this book to my son when he was two years old and were you to ask him what his favorite childhood book was, this is it. And as a grandparent, I've read the book to each of my grandchildren and they love it as well. It's thought provoking but I don't see the fearfulness some have expressed. The tree loves the little boy (a Mother's love perhaps?) and would do anything for that child. And the boy goes to the tree hoping his request will be granted.
Inever liked this one, and used to dread my daughter chosing it from the shelf. Perhaps my co-dependent qualities glare when I admit --- I felt so sorry for the tree, the invisible tree that is not even seen by the boy, except when the boy wants something...hmmmmm...I'll save it for therapy
Fascinating reactions. It never occurred to me that the boy's behavior is glorified or held up as a good example at all. My son is too young to grasp the events in the story, but when we read it together and he says, "But...but the tree gave up everything and he used it all up" we will have a conversation about giving and taking. The book provides a beautiful opportunity to begin that conversation.
This is a wonderful book. It shows the beauty of love- the tree loves the boy so much that it ends up humbly giving him everything it has. I think that rather than it being a horrible book because the boy took everything, it actually shows that you shouldn't destroy living things. The reader feels sorry for the tree, and thinks twice before they do something like the boy did. The story is sad but beautiful, and I have always loved it and always will.
Intresting that such a simple story can stir up so many reactions. I wonder what Shel Silverstein purpose was in writing the book. It does seem there is more to the story than I thought at frist glance since it stirs up so much conversation.
Just throwing in my hat with Deborah - and being thankful I am not the only one who feels that way....
I have to agree with Pandora "Kat"! Personally I feel the book is some what a warning of codependency relationships with a strong moral about giving and taking, that at first glance is not on the surface, I believe people will always want to relate with the tree, as the tree has a good heart, where nobody wants to be the selfish boy, but the moral hits you no matter which you associate with as you realize the tragedy of both the tree and the boy and how many of us are actually like the two. I think the Moral of course is not to be the tree or the boy. Since most personality traits are learned at a young age, I would have to disagree with Deborah and somewhat agree with Heather (although every grade may be a little extreme). I do think that for younger readers they will take home a good lesson about giving and taking, where as an older reader will take home the deeper aspects of the moral. Now that said I should get back to my deeply unhealthy codependent relationship! LOL!
Well said, Joseph. And I agree, too, that it is a great story for both young and old.
I have read this book to every child I have ever cared for. Then one day after a heavy wind storm we noticed that our beloved Monkey Tail tree in the front yard had pulled up out of the ground about six inches. We babyed it for several years then another wind storm pulled it up another 4 inches. Time to call the professional. "If you don't cut it down, the next wind storm it will fall on the house" We made arrangements for it to be totally turned to chips and spread on the bridal trail at Marimore Park. When the workers were almost finished, friends and family gathered and we read aloud "The Giving Tree" It was a nice way to say goodbye to a dear old friend, and it helped to know that horses would have a soft place to walk because of this tree.
This story left me feeling sorry for the tree.I think the moral of this story is simple.
Take from the tree only what is has to offer for the season.
then let it regenerate for the next year.
Then there will always be a tree and it will
always be giving.
My daughter cried when some one read this book with her. She also hated Rock-a-bye Baby because she didn't want a baby to fall. (She's super sensitive--and has been since she was tiny). I remember people (where I worked) saying how ridiculous it was that the book upset her...I clearly didn't read it to her!Now that she's 13, I'll share this all with her. I'm sure she'll appreciate the "Take from the tree only what it has to offer for the season, then let it regenerate for the next year" quotation!
The book is a favorite at my house (grown boys 30 and 24). I always thought it was an alagory for growing old...doing what you could with what you have and at the end having great memories and friends.the Regneration angle is false because, trees will eventually die...having a family, as the man did and I always thought the tree did, makes things and people immortal.
Loved the story Peggy even though I'm not a big fan of the book. I like how you incorporated it into an important moment in your lives!
yes, trees do die, but they live a long time.And during that time, many can enjoy them.
I'm talking about greedy people who don't leave
something for the next person that comes a long.
They use the tree because it's there.
Save for a rainy day is what I say. Take care of something so it will last and take care of you.
But being useful is important, too. When I go, I want to be totally used up! I want to give and be a part of this short life we have. I would rather be useful than looked at.
I agree that in our personal relationships, we can't allow ourselves to be used, and that can be one lesson from this book--along with not being a greedy person who never gives back.But I think there are deeper lessons to be learned. I think the main lesson of this book is love. Love is valuable enough that it is it's own reward. Love is something we can give to everyone whether or not they return it.
(This is not the same as being in an unhealthy relationship. In a healthy relationship, one gives to another. In an unhealthy relationship, one takes from another.)
Although, I like to think the boy loves the tree, and love is all that the tree wants in return for what it gives. As someone mentioned, it's like a parent's love.
I am religious, so I also see a gospel parallel: Our Heavenly Father and Christ give us everything we need, but all we have to give them in return is our love.
As for the tree being used up and dying, the stump will last a long time and then it will give life to other plants. The tree lived and loved. Isn't that better than just being?
Like Mary Todd said, "When I go, I want to be totally used up! I want to give and be a part of this short life we have."
Sorry but, I don't see how it can be said, the boy loves the tree. Does the boy ever water the tree? Help it grown? Provide anything for the tree? No. He just takes and takes until the poor tree is dead. As a moral aganist unhealthy loving the book has something. Though I'm still not a fan. But, read as an example of pure love then no the book creeps me out.
You must not get the point in the story then. You need to have more live in this world,that is what the story is about and i kind of shows me that the tree is sort of like Jesus. Jesus wants you to have every thing you want but you have to work and believe for it
This was one of my daughters favorite books when she was little and every time I read it to her I would cry at the end. Now she reads it to her daughters and also cries at the end. I think because we see ourselves as the tree (as mothers) and give of ourselves to our children no matter what, because that is what mothers do. Maybe too much giving? Too much taking? Still, it is what mothers do.
yes, but isn't it true that we mothers love our children no matter what they do?
YES it is you must love your child just like Jesus loves his children no matter Wat we do
I think most of us are like the boy. In these ways. We take things for granted way to much. We need to be more willing to give and not get anything back.
I agree! Hopefully people will stop cutting down trees so much and learn their importance.
Horrible book portraying a horrible relationship. Reminds me of the also horrible Rainbow Fish book.
This book is such a great story about the relationship between humans and nature and how nature changes as humanity evolves. I rate it high on my list of children's books because it demonstrates the important dependence that we as humans have and always will have with nature, no matter how we try to change it. Such a beautiful and simplistic book!
The beautiful thing about this children's book is that there are so many interpretations. I think that is why some people have rated it poorly and some cherish it close to their hearts. Shel was truly a cleaver man.
I agree with the interpretation made that the book parodies the relationship of a parent and a child. Children, by their nature must be parasitic--they would never make it to adulthood if there weren't. One day parents are the best thing ever, and then as children mature our statures shrink. I also agree that it is an excellent vehicle for discussion and questioning. A trait that children will hopefully carry thorough their lives.I also find it extremely ironic that people are outraged by the child taking everything from the tree when this site caters to people who read books--tree killers. Yes, there are the few 100% ereaders out there, but I seriously doubt The Giving Tree is a staple of those few.
Well that is completly wrong to me. I think that was rude. In a way, that was right.
In this book I thought that the boy was taking and not giving. That is a unhealty relation ship.
Tiffany wrote: "I believe the message is that love should be unconditional. When you give you should NEVER do it in the hopes of receiving back. The tree so loved the boy that she gave him everything he could ever..."
Thank you for that. I agree with you. It is unconditional love. Mothers give it to their children, don't we? It is not about nature and cutting down trees.
Thank you for that. I agree with you. It is unconditional love. Mothers give it to their children, don't we? It is not about nature and cutting down trees.
This was my favorite book as a child and didn't realize how sad it was until I read it to my child. There are many different ways to interpret the story, as we have read here, which makes it all the more amazing.
What type of person cuts down a tree for himself? That's a bad friendship.
this is one of my favorite books ever. Where ever i see it, i have to sit down and read it. :)
so sad, the tree gave everything to the little boy. very cute book though
Yes the book does show the boy take everything from the tree,but it also shows the good aspect of the tree giving all it can. I think both extremes needed to be shown in order for people to understand we must not be too giving and not so selfish, but between.
I don't think the tree was doing a bad. But I, think the. boy did a bad thing.
he took every thing from the tree
A wonderful bookmade me cry!
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