The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein - Quick Review

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[kaym]

One of my all time favorite books! I love reading it to my students!

[BSQMEXPOS]

I think it’s a good book for kids because it’s about generosity and having a big heart. I agree though, it’s pretty sad when you read it as an adult. It gave me a huge wake up call and actually got through to me that I needed to be better to my mom and dad, so I think it’s good for all ages.

[hannahsmith-lsen]

It always made me cry because the tree gave him everything, Still makes me cry. I am now 30 years old. 🥺😢 😭

[BrianRoberson-kg]

As a kid I thought this was another take on "The Golden Goose", a parable on reckless exploitation. Now I see it as a parable on aging. The young boy was happy just to swing on the branches, but the older man needed more practical things. Money, shelter, transportation, and finally a resting place. For the tree, aging comes in the form of being gradually dismantled until she is only a stump. When she becomes a stump, she's happy but not really because she's only a stump. She has no limbs, apples, branches, or trunk to give. When the "boy" reappears and only wants to sit on her stump, then she's happy again because she can give again, and will always be able to do so as a stump that can be sat on. The "boy" probably dies there, and his decomposing body can nourish the tree, and it can grow again. The "giving tree" was actually the boy himself.