The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
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Book Reviews of The Giving Tree
Book Review: The tree that gave too much...
Summary: 5 Stars
While not what you'd call a balanced relationship, it has a poignant-and further, disturbing-meaning to it. The boy, when he is young, enjoys the simple things-climbing the tree's trunk, eating apples, making leaves into crowns, swinging on branches, resting in shade. As he grows older, however, he becomes more and more materialistic. One might blame the tree for giving and giving to a person that is so selfish, but it seems that this is unconditional love we're talking about, here-that, and the tree has never learned otherwise. Some people think that the tree is foolish for giving to a person that never learns-but the tree has no choice in that her love for this boy hinders any alternative methods, and that she has no REAL friends to show her whom to invest such love into. She offers the "boy" everything she has, always yearning for the simpler days-asking him through the years if he wants to play with her, but he always refuses and takes and takes for his selfish needs until there is nothing left but a stump. The boy is never happy, thinking he will be after he gets a girlfriend, after he settles down, after he goes away on a long trip. A symbolism of the friendship between this pair probably gives a hint on how other people have regarded the man at first, and why all of them left him in the end. The tree, however, always kind, always gentle, always GIVING-despite all of the abuse she suffers through the boy's wanton "needs", forgives him. The only reason why she is sad after he leaves with the trunk is because she has nothing left to give. The story ends as it began. The "boy" is now old, alone, and makes a seat out of the stump-perhaps to contemplate his sad and sorry life. Some people thought this book was sexist. It IS an interesting point of view, but PLEASE-when I was younger, *I* don't remember ever caring whether the tree was female or the taker was male. I just saw it for what it is-a story about a tree that gave too much, and a boy that gave too little. I remember feeling sorry for the tree that was too generous with the wrong person, not that giving or taking too much was *right*. If people are so worried and analytical (the guy's using her-!) about this, discuss it with your kids. No need to get in a huff about it.Book Review: It's more fortunate to give than to take.
Summary: 5 Stars
Having read the book a few times, I let my 7-year old son read it. His first response, upon completion, is "the boy is selfish", a fair and natural comment from a child of his age. During the subsequent discussion with him, it is not my goal to change his view towards the boy, but to add to him different perspectives of the story, perhaps the title of the book to start with. It is "The Giving Tree", not "The Selfish Boy",not"The Taking Boy"....In the traditional Chinese belief, there is the saying "It's more fortunate to give than to take". It is normally the rich gives the poor; the physically competent helps the physically handicapped. It is, however,difficult today in our part of the world (I believe, so do most developed and developing cities) to bring our children to appreciate the intrinsic value behind this belief.
Taking is a pleasure apparently to most children. What about giving? Do our children have enough giving exposure before or after one or many taking experience? Unfortunately, my son doesn't, even though he did comment the boy selfish.
To highlight,in the book, the tree was happy everytime the boy came to it. To be able to offer something unconditionally to the boy everytime is a pleasure. The tree wanted the boy to come back and wanted to give more. There is nothing wrong with the tree, but neither with the boy to be offered and to take. It is just that the boy, or the author did not write intentionally, that the boy has never expressed any gratitude to the tree or to offer something in return. Does it matter so long as the tree was happy, happy to give?
I read a review from a California's reader and quite understand where he/she comes from when he/she said a book on "love without conditions" is not one he/she would give any child. This is the concern of most parents/teachers.
The value of this book to young readers will only exist if we parents/teachers bring our children to different perspectives under our support in reviewing the philosophy of "The Giving Tree". I enjoy reading the book and, having talked with my son, I become confident of recommending this book to those who want children learn the beauty of giving.
Book Review: Horrifyingly Depressing
Summary: 1 Stars
Let me start off by saying, that if this book is in your posession, throw it away. But before you do, rip off the back cover of the book and bury it underground so you don't give the garbage men a heart attack. Honestly! The author looks like an ungroomed cavemen who, by the way, is staring at you irritably, and looking like he'd much rather kick you, then look at you. Silverstein looks like a surprise monster on the back cover that's supposed to freak you out for laughs. That alone lets you know that the book is going to sadden/depress/scare you. I'm twelve years old. I read the book. At first, I thought it was good.....but then as I got towards the end, it started to dawn on me: "That tree's an idiot, and the boy's not helping the situation." Eventually, I made it through the end, which left me in bewilderment and confusion. Unconditional love? So if you love someone, you are supposed to let them chop you up to pieces, and then when they come back as an ugly, shriveled man, let them sit on you? Silverstein was confused when he wrote this. Poor guy.
The ill-fated people who said this was a "beautiful" book are still confused. They are in shock of what a horrifying book this is, so for the time being, they'll call it a classic. Many "classic" things are labeled by unfortuantely lost and confused people. Pray for them.
When you do get a message, you'll either get one of the two:
1) Be a savage! Take from people until they are useless and dead. If you meet a pushover, squish them like a bug and sit on them when you are done abusing them. Take advantage of the weak! Destroy the kindhearted and simpleminded!
2) Let yourself be killed. Let people use you until you have nothing left. Then, be happy that you got to do such an honorable thing as being used and plunged to your death by a greedy, selfish, loveless jerk.
None of of these messages are good for children. If they (your children) are unusually impressionable, be warned! You might raise a brat or a doormat if they start getting ideas from this book. Please spare the world from another Giving Tree, and/or another Selfish Pig.
Book Review: Though not religious...
Summary: 5 Stars
Shel Silverstein and a friend were sitting in a cafe one afternoon, and Silverstein was asked, "How would you define Jesus?" He went home and wrote this indescribably magnificent work about the ideal behavior of what, to the passerby, would seem to be an ordinary apple tree.
It works on SO many levels; of course, you have the environmentalist argument that the tree is a representative of the earth that man rapes with his plows and his highways. However, you also have the viewpoint of a being whose only desire in life is to please the person she loves...the very definition of the Christ, willing to give everything up for man's well-being.
Contrary to the beliefs of some "readers," it has nothing to do with gender--not many things do, but people heedlessly assign stereotypes and negative connotations to anything that can be construed in a sexual manner. The tree happens to be female in this story. It makes no difference. Her love knows no bounds...no race, no economic situation, no ulterior political motives...she just is. And her simple existence is a testament to the hope and wonder that Silverstein (and many others, hopefully) can find in the minutiae of life.
I don't follow any particular religion per se...but I think that the fact that as long as people like Silverstein and dreams of characters such as the tree still exist, we must be headed in the right direction.
This book is also an initiator of self-analysis...how much do you share with people that desire/want/need something that you can give...and how willing are you to do so? The tree gives without question, without thinking, and is satisfied simply to have the companionship of the boy whenever she can. The tree is the mom that spends her lunch break running children's forgotten homework to the school at the cost of not eating. The tree is the poor older sister who has two hungry younger siblings and one banana to feed the three of them, of which half goes to each brother and she eats the peel. The tree is everything that you can find in people in this world that still fits under the category of "good."
Book Review: A great book for all ages
Summary: 5 Stars
Summary: Over time, a little boy grows from childhood into old age interacting with a tree whom he loves. When the boy is young, it is easy for the tree to make him happy. She provides shade to rest, apples to eat, a trunk to climb, etc. The tree gives unconditionally to the boy, making him happy. The tree provides the boy with happiness, resulting in her own happiness. As the boy grows older, it becomes more complicated for the tree to bring him joy. The boy takes everything from the tree until she is only a stump. He sells all of her apples for money, he takes her branches to build a house, and he uses her trunk to craft a boat. The tree is more than willing to keep giving to the boy, but she is uncertain whether or not she is truly happy. Finally, at the end of the book, the boy returns one last time as an old man. Since the boy has taken everything from the tree, all she can offer him is a quiet place to sit and rest. The old man is content with this, and so he sits down on the tree's stump.
Evaluation: This is a wonderful story with many varying viewpoints and themes. The simplicity of this book, leaves the moral of the story up to multiple interpretations. Because of this, the story may be too complicated for the age level that this book is targeted at. Children may be able to enjoy the book, however they may not fully understand, or be able to take away a lesson from the story.
It is clear that the simplicity of the illustrations contribute to telling the story just as much as the words do. The straightforward black and white drawings reinforce the simplicity of this book. The spacing around the plain line drawings help to show the uncertainty of the relationship between the boy and the tree throughout the story.
The fact that the story does not have a happy ending, allows it to be more realistic. This may be beneficial to children because it is opposite of the normal "happily ever after" ending. This story gives children a more realistic view of the world and how it works. Not everything results in happiness.