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The Giving Tree 40th Anniversary Edition Book with CD |  | Author: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins
List Price: $18.99
Buy New: $10.98
as of 11/21/2009 23:29 CST details
You Save: $8.01 (42%)
New (37) Used (23) from $9.38
Seller: a1books
Rating:  665 reviews
Sales Rank: 282
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Pages: 64
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 7.7 x 0.6
ISBN: 0060586753
EAN: 9780060586751
ASIN: 0060586753
Publication Date: March 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Outline 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 playgrou
Amazon.com Review
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
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 665
The Giving Tree by Isabel November 16, 2009
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstien
The Giving Tree is about a boy and a tree who grow up together. When the boy needed something, the tree would give something of herself to him. But when the boy moves out, the tree gets lonely and now is only a stump. Later, the boy comes back and sits on the tree's stump and the tree is happy to see the boy again.
This book is for all ages and is very touching and teaches us how to give even when we have nothing.
 Essential and Timeless November 13, 2009
Teresa M. Quint
As a current social worker (and a previous provider for preschoolers) this book became an essential. I am currently an Auntie and as they reach the 5 year old range - they begin to appreciate the message and simplified graphics. You must buy this for anyone age 5-25.
A classic November 8, 2009
Salaun (Limoges - France)
Brings back so many childhood memories with a beautiful story in a nicely presented and good quality book.
this book allows children to begin to understand emotional complexity October 31, 2009
Sophie (astoria, ny)
i remember also being a little "confused" by this book as a child, but that is the point. life is not black and white. this book demonstrates that there are two sides to every coin, that every positive has a negative. i can't wait to read this to my daughter. i only wish they made it in board books, right now she might damage it. better that children realize this balance needs to be attained while in the comforts of their own homes then thinking this thought for the first time as an adult. great book.
 Hate it, but my 3-year-old loved it October 26, 2009
spacemom3 (France)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really don't like this book. I don't know what to make of it - it seems to be a sad story, but I don't really know what the message is. It gives me the feeling that it's a subversive book, but I can't put my finger on it. Like the message is actually for parents about what their selfish children will grow up to be.
You see this boy who gives enormous joy to this tree, but then grows up and ends up taking and taking while the tree selflessly gives and gives until the boy is an old man and the tree is nothing but a stump. The drawings are simple, childish ink drawings. Nothing about this book looks interesting and it's even a little disturbing.
But my 3-year-old loved it and I finally asked her one day why. She replied as she was marveling at the pages "Sur chaque pages il y a quelque chose qui me donne plaisir" (On every page, there is something that gives me pleasure). I was a bit dumb-founded. Who am I to judge when it pleases her so much.
But now that she's 4, she doesn't like the book as well. She says that the drawings are ugly because there aren't any colors. It seems to me that the book is losing a bit of its magic for her. But maybe one day we'll have a real conversation about what she thinks about the story.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 665
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