The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
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Book Reviews of The Giving Tree
Book Review: For bright people only
Summary: 5 Stars
Like most of the reviewers here, I read this book as a young child. I remember it was not like any other children's book I had ever read. I remember not liking the boy as he grew older and not wanting to be like him when I grew up, but I also remember wondering why the tree gave so much for nothing in return. I had questions and I asked them.Reading some of the reviews in here I am astonished at the degree and depth of ignorance some parents, including those describing themselves as educators, have with the themes in this book.
Here is a sampling of the conclusions:
"A cautionary tale about the human impact on the environment" -
Certainly one can draw a conclusion about the effect man has on the environment but to leave it at that is to miss the vast majority of the themes in the book. Or:
"it rationalizes and supports battered women staying with their scumbag abusers" -
The battered woman theme is so contrived that it could only be brought up by people who have nothing else on their minds but battered women. Give an inkblot to a battered woman and she sees a battered woman. Even:
"As a child, this was one of my favorite books. As an enlightened adult, it's a disturbing look at relationships"
This is a sad and ironic statement which strangely hints at the life of the person in the book! To the person that made this review: as a child you could "see"; as an adult you will make it what you want it to be. You are not enlightened; you were smarter as a child. Relationships!? Stop reading People magazine. The tree is not a symbol of people it is a symbol of bigger themes like life, unconditional love, self-awareness and introspection, even God - but relationships? Turn off your TV.
"a theme neither concrete nor relevant to young children's experiences"
"Beyond a young child's grasp"
To the one that wrote that comment, children old enough to read are old enough to understand the major themes. You must have trouble with the themes yourself and so you automatically assume others, and especially children, will too. Give your kids some credit; they are smarter than you think. Relevant!? What are you teaching your kids? Here's some advice for you: turn off the Family Channel - our world has enough conniving manipulation and prejudice for your kids to add to the mess as adults.
Sure, I'll get a lot of "no" marks for this review. But that's OK because, you see, most of the more intelligent reviews for this book are also given poor feedback. I'll be in good company.
Book Review: The Giving Tree-not just for children.
Summary: 5 Stars
While out and about on a Friday evening, I run into an acquaintance, we begin chatting about books. I mention Leil Lowndes and her books, he mentions Shel Silverstein, and his books.
The Giving Tree becomes the spotlight of our conversation. Never heard of it. My conversation partner (who happens to be 33-ish) for the evening was so impressed by this book that he went on to encourage me to buy it the next day.
Saturday morning, having this book on my mind, I drag myself (yes, after a long Friday night-literally drag-okay, crawl) into the nearest Barnes & Noble. Entering the children's section, I make my way to the Picture Book area and retrieve the book. Surprised by how small the book is, I decide to plop myself down at one of the child's tables (no pain, I'm only 4'11, and could fit easily) and read it.
Easy reading, which is a good thing with my short attention span, and it took no time at all. After flipping the first few pages, I began to feel teary-eyed and looked around to make sure no one saw this 27-year-old sitting in the children's area crying over a book (oh, wait-I wouldn't care anyway, but I didn't want to scare the small children-or their hot dads).
This book ripped my heart out and I had to read it again. My children are going to read this (several times) now in their young ages (4, 8, & 9) and as they mature.
The Giving Tree should not be limited to children, I know a few "grown-ups" I plan on sending this book to. What a wake up call for selfishness. I, too, was unknowingly practicing a bit of Ayn Rand's individualism. What if we all loved, were selfless and sacrificed our petty wants for the happiness & well-being of others? Ummm, yeah, relationships wouldn't be crashing and burning at such a monumental rate and we'd actually be a part of what truly makes (true) love--love; the unconditional kind.
Long story, (sorry, guys, it's a habit) short--The Giving Tree is an undemanding book about: unconditional love, narcissism (I think I dated the boy in this book), edacity for your own wants-apathy for the cost of the person giving, the price of selfishness, true selflessness & of loving someone until the end. We all should learn to be a Giving Tree. Go read it & cry-no one's watching.
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: 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."