The Giving Tree

Two characters interact through the green of youth and into old age, one firmly rooted at home and the other growing up on a journey off the page. This is not my favorite children's book, but negative reviews using words like poison, hate, evil and co-dependency compel me to defend it. The primary cause for controversy appears to be over the man shortening the life of the tree by taking her offerings and forgetting her for a time, which spurs her to offer everything. Cynical subtitles could include "The Taking Boy" or "The Martyr Tree" and some critics would stretch to read "The Battered Tree Syndrome" into this as well. We might be rightly skeptical about unconditional love and nurturing in some types of relationships, but cynicism is neither healthy nor natural for children. Adults should take that lead. The multiple interpretations and discussion generated in various reviews here show that the book stands up as a work of art. Parents should always screen based on their own values and situations, but I believe this book is well suited to introduce kids to the bittersweet of life and love. The Giving Tree is a simple presentation which lends itself to complex overlapping messages on love (whether divine, parental or otherwise), environmental resources, human capacity and mortality. Some reviewers seem to want the book to pass judgment by spelling out morals or consequences (perhaps showing the tree live on as a house or boat or nourishing others). This would detract from its beautiful simplicity, and is not necessary. Parents should reinforce the golden rule on a consistent basis anyway, and children can go with their generally correct instincts. Part of love in the parenting context is to give without tangible or immediate reward. It is sad to see the man take everything, but it is also sad to see love and life inevitably end. I am not aware of a gentler way to illustrate that reality. In the end, the man shown here does not profit from having grown apart from the loving tree of his childhood. I wonder if it would make critics happier to see another tree live in parallel a few extra years but never have loved so deeply or directly. Neither adults nor children need to be told how to feel at the end of this story; we can simply ask ourselves why we feel sad. It is obvious to me that no one would read this and and think that it condones killing the tree, though I suppose the man does have a stump to sit on at the end when he needs it. Diminution of the tree matches his own stooped grayness. He took from the tree, but life gives and takes from us all. We are set up to grow old and wither and let go as we gain the perspective to care the most. At the end of the book we care for the wronged tree (and perhaps even the old man) but learn to take a lesson and let go. Clearly The Giving Tree has lessons at different levels, and for the first reading with a young child, you can focus on both the giving and shared love which continues even at the end of life. I will not dwell on sad tales with my young son, but I worry about the reviewers who write that they do not want their young children to think deeply. Stories like this are a great way to start a kid thinking (subconsciously at least) about spiritual and moral life and responsibilities. It is not as lyrically fun to read as The Lorax, but you can draw a similar lesson of stewardship and preservation from a narrative more understandable to the young.

Writing a great children's book, specially for the ages where the adult is the one doing most of the reading, is hard. Either the book is too complicated for the child to understand or too boring or direct for the adult. This is one of those classics where both the child and the adult reader are going to finish the book and think about what they just read. The book goes through the life of a tree and a kid that are forever connected, through what they give to each other. Its a beautiful tale about what is really important in life, something many adults forget as they grow older and work drives everything they do. You can connect a lot of what is in the book with the malaises we see in the world today, so even if it was written over 60 years ago, we're still facing the same issues. All this is written in a way that is easy and simple for the child to understand, with short dialogs, beautiful art and just enough pages to be a great bedtime read. I always love when I get to enjoy the books I read to my kids as much or even more than they do and this is one of those, recommended!

Have gifted this very touching book to every child and grandchild in my life. The story is sensitive, touching, and teaches a beautiful lesson. It is a must have for every child, and adult, in your life.

I absolutely love this book! I discovered it while visiting a Barnes and Noble near me, but I figured I could buy it off of Amazon for cheaper. And I did. In terms of the book, it's a beautiful one. The illustrations are simple, but incredibly meaningful. And I love the ultimate message about unconditional love, putting your relationship first over material wants, and the beauty of simplicity. It's a message, that, as a grown adult, I deeply resonate with and find eloquently conveyed. I'm a strong believer that some children's books do a much better job at teaching/reinforcing good morals into our society, and this one definitely does that! I absolutely love and would encourage everybody to give it a read. It's a quick read, but savor every glance at a page.

It was about not taking things for granted and let things happen in life and use the things around you.

A true classic. I got this for my 4 year old. She likes the story and I like the message. Great for all ages.

Great book with only a few words. Good for ages 0 through 100. Awesome story. Makes a great gift too.

Wonderful book all ages enjoy this book.

これは絵本だけど、子供より子育て中のお母さんが読むとぐっとくると思う。自分の子育てを省みながらゆっくり思い出に浸る様な本だと思う。

All of my four children were brought up from an early age with "The Giving Tree", this iconic book about selfishness, compassion, love and ultimate detachment. This awesome and hugely didactic book left such a mark on all four of them that today as grownups they look back on it as much as a childhood landmark as a literary and artistic jewel to pass on with care to their own children.

I bought this for my 2 year old daughter and even tho she's so little, she loves the book. This will last us for years, since the story is so timeless

Minha filha é esposa adoraram o livro.

My 8-year-old absolutely loves this book and has read it over and over again. It's a timeless story with a beautiful message about kindness, generosity, and love. It's one of those rare children's books that kids enjoy reading repeatedly, and it also gives parents plenty to talk about afterward.