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What are readers saying about The Giving Tree 40th Anniversary Edition Book with CD?
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-02 11:20:36.
(Language: English)
  
So I know everyone loves this book, it's a classic children's story, and blah blah blah. But here's the thing. It's a book about a selfish little boy who takes and takes and takes until the tree has nothing left to give, and we're supposed to respect the tree for bending over backwards for this ungrateful prat. This book reinforces gender roles BIG time and propagates the idea that real love means mothers/women/lovers should give of themselves no matter the cost--that is the highest good. And even if the gender roles were reversed--with the man giving it all to the woman--it's just as bad, because one party is completely obliterating self in service of the other. And that's just bad business. And a bad message to send to children. And sometimes, a bad one for adults too.As a child, I loved this story. Now I feel it's not really about the tree, but about the little boy who just takes and takes and never things twice. 
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Jerry posted a review at 2011-07-18 07:01:06.
(Language: English)
omg what a psychotic sociopathic bunch of drivel. That poor tree the kid is all take, take, take. Lil' bastard. Perfect capitalist. Silverstein is creepy.
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keania posted a review at 2011-07-12 09:57:47.
(Language: English)
LOVE IT I LOVE ALL OH SHEL SILVERSTINES BOOKS :D
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-03 07:11:28.
(Language: English)
I love this book. When Lacy was a little girl she would read this to me and say "Mommy isn't it sad how the tree loved the little boy so much but really the little boy didn't love the tree, because he took everything from him until there was nothing left but a stump?" I will always remember this book Lacy's innocence.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-11 07:01:58.
(Language: English)
One of my favorite books to read to my children-though someday I think that they will look back and gather a deeper meaning, now gathering apples as we all do in our youth... when love is giving away! The tree gave everything she had because she loved the boy. What a great moral teaching to pass on when explaining how we should love others. It is also a very fun book. Everything by Shel Silverstein is gold. I have the fondest memories of growing up to his poems. My memory of childhood would not be complete without Shel Silverstein... :-)
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Eileen posted a review at 2011-04-28 10:29:46.
(Language: English)
my favorite children's book ever !
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-11 02:41:56.
(Language: English)
I read this book when I was living thousands of miles away from friends and family in South America in the early 1990s. A copy was on the bookshelf of an American missionary friend in La Paz among his little son's bedtime reading collection. It made me cry. It's an emotional and devastatingly perceptive myth about selfless love. You won't forget it and it won't forget you!
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-22 12:52:54.
(Language: English)
One of the best books ever written. Not just as a children's book, but as a book. A true tale of generosity and unconditional love. It's a very touching story from start to finish. I'm not a big fan of "Where the Sidewalk Ends" but Silverstein has brought this book to greatness. The art is simple yet conveys everything that needs to be emoted to the readers. I've made it a point to give this book as a present to kids, my god-son received it and my niece/god-daughter will get this on her 3rd birthday. Every time I see this book at Target or other stores, I always stop and read it. One of the BEST childrens book ever made.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-06-03 05:57:17.
(Language: English)
This book will damage you for life. This is one seriously dysfunctional relationship.
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maria posted a review at 2011-10-25 05:06:12.
(Language: English)
One of the Best
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vy posted a review at 2010-06-30 08:58:35.
(Language: English)
Once there was a tree…… And she loved little boy. And every day the boywould come And he would gather her leaves And make them into crowns and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk And swing from her branches And when he was tired,he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree…..Very much..And the tree was happy. But time went by, And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said: –”Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be “happy” –“I am too big to climb and play”said the boy. “I want to buy thing and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?” –”I’m sorry” said the tree,”but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in city. Then you will have money and you’ll be happy” And so the boy climb up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy.. But the boy stayed away for a long time…… and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy, and she said: –”Come, Boy come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be “happy”.. –“I am too busy to climb trees,” said the boy. “I want a house to keep me warm,” he said. “I and want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?” –“I have no house” said the tree.The forest is my house.” said the tree “but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy” And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build a house. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time……and the tree was sad. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. –“Come, Boy” she whispered, “Come and play” –“I am too old and sad to play.”said the boy. “I want a boat that will take me away from here. Can you give me a boat ?” –“Cut down my trunk and make a boat,” said the tree. “Then you can sail away…… and be happy.” And so the boy cut down her trunk And made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy…..But not really. And after a long time the boy came back again. –“I am sorry, Boy,”said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you— My apples are gone.” –“My teeth are too weak for apple,”said the boy. –“My branches are gone,” said the tree.”You cannot swing on them—” –”I am too old to swing on branches” said the boy. –“My trunk is gone,” said the tree.“You cannot climb—-” –”I am too tired to climb,” said the boy. –“I am sorry” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry…” –”I don’t need very much now” said the boy. “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired” –“Well” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down…and rest.” And the tree was happy..
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Jillian posted a review at 2009-07-26 07:00:46.
(Language: English)
I think this book may have ruined me for life. Don't get me wrong - I love it! I love it for it's tragic but unflinching love. But the boy is a jerk. And the tree was so maternal and loved him so much, she was blinded and did not see his selfishness. I know. It's a kids book. But i read it at a very young age and it really got into my head. For many years starting at a young age I thought that this was how you showed love. By giving everything you had to give to the person you loved so very much. But there is one flaw. If you are giving and they are just taking, well, it's not really a balanced love. I will always love this book. But not like I used too.
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Dominique posted a review at 2012-03-30 10:52:41.
(Language: English)
I read this book to my 4 year old daughter not too long ago. She picked it out at the library. The first time I read it to her, I had to hold back tears, the second time I read it to her, she let her tears flow. I couldn't believe the emotion that this book brought out of my little girl. It taught her a life lesson at such a young age. I have since bought it for her and it's one of our favorites to read together.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-08 11:07:48.
(Language: English)
I think this book is TOTALLY depressing. I'm not really sure if teaching that giving until you can't give anymore if the same person asks repeatedly is a good lesson. What about reserving just a little energy for yourself? What about others who are selfish and don't know when to stop asking or can't rely on themselves? I know this is a kid's classic but is one of my least favorites. (Ok rant over) Like another reviewer I get this book is supposed to be a classic but just find it to be majorly depressing- just shows how someone disrespectfully takes and takes until there is no more- feels more like a 1980's Gordon Gekko message to me
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-05-15 06:10:53.
(Language: English)
Can't read it with the kid anymore. It makes me cry every time.
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becky posted a review at 2011-09-17 12:29:27.
(Language: English)
loved the symbolism of the little stories
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-18 07:16:47.
(Language: English)
I really hate this book and like it at the same time. I admire that S Silverstein writes challenging and sometimes unsavory stories that make people think (well some people I guess,) because life isn't freaking milk and cookies. At the same time I found this story to be unfinished in the way that there seems to be no true justice for one of the characters. Still the presentation of one character using the other until the end is very realistic and kind of dark. The other character being simple and willing to be used smacks of enablement. The psychology of the tale feels very real while the telling of the tale is simple. I think the fact that this short children's book ability to disturb me makes me respect it highly.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-07 11:05:07.
(Language: English)
Not just about the giving tree...(she learned reading as an adult)...also about the taking boy.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-30 06:46:40.
(Language: English)
This has got to be one of my favorite books!! I read it to my middle school students every year and tried to get the lesson across to them of all that the tree had given up for the boy, which was every thing. I tried to make the correlation about how our parents do the same thing for us and how others in our lives do the same. Many would bring up that Jesus had done the same thing for us and I would have to agree and be very careful about the discussion as I taught in a public school.I also have read this book to each of my fourteen grandchildren and they love it too!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-28 12:28:29.
(Language: English)
Okay, I know this is one of those classic children's books that everyone loves. Am I the only one who finds it disturbing? Is the message that if you love someone you should demonstrate said love by submitting to their greed,self-centeredness and general disregard until you have nothing left? Reading it just pisses me off and makes me want to give the greedy little boy/man a piece of my mind. Creepy.
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Hannah posted a review at 2011-05-16 02:15:55.
(Language: English)
one of my favorite books as a kid! love the author
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-06-25 05:25:15.
(Language: English)
One of my favorite books of all time, and I give it to my friends as a one-year anniversary present. At different times of life you should read it again and get more out of it. My question to you is this- Is the tree codependent?
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Chantelle posted a review at 2011-07-11 11:04:43.
(Language: English)
Childhood classic.
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Sarah posted a review at 2012-03-28 10:42:25.
(Language: English)
One of my favorite children's books ever!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-12 02:28:55.
(Language: English)
It's fascinating to me how, as a child, I enjoyed this book for the purity of the storytelling, and not for one second did I pause to question the negative implications suggested by other reviewers. As children, we tend to be blissfully ignorant of the prejudices adults would have us infer within the pages of our classic tomes. However, now that I read the book to my young daughter, I can see where people might take offense - if they so chose - at the characterization of the self-centered boy, or the enabling attitude of the tree, and my response to those critics would be something in the vein of "shut up!". The power of literature is that any well-crafted story has value, whether it be the direct value of a good story well told, or the challenging value of a finely crafted piece of negative propaganda. In the case of the latter, we can dive into the pages and bathe luxuriant in the words and imagery of the craftsmen committed to lifting our souls through prose. In the case of the latter, we have the opportunity to begin to see into the soul of those whose minds we cannot comprehend. We are able, through our control of the written words relation to us, the readers, to dissect and analyze, render powerless yet extract deeper knowledge from those words and opinions, and thereby empower ourselves in the process. Film is a conventionally linear and forward moving experience. You sit in a theater and are hurtled forward. Although DVD and DVRs have changed that dynamic artificially, the moviemaker is rarely a ruminative individual. They seek to tell a story, and even the flashback moves things forward. With a book, we control the pace, the order, the experience as a whole. We hold in our hands a device that invites us to pause, turn back, revisit, and thereby revise repeatedly our perceptions of the story as presented. Shel Silverstein's story falls magically between the two poles I mention above: It is neither a harmless tale of fluffy bunnies frolicking in the meadow, nor a dark tale of witchcraft and demons. It is an opportunity for parents to introduce their children to the way people really think and feel, with all their weaknesses and selfish desires. One parent may see nothing more than a selfish boy and a weak enabling tree, but another might see a lost little boy, always in search of that which was always available. By introducing "The Giving Tree" to my daughter as a tale of simplicity and fulfillment through purity of intent, I hope to help prepare her for the inevitable moments in her life when she will have to decide between simple joys and complex pleasures. I hope that she will implicitly understand what "the grass is greener..." really means, BEFORE she feels compelled to chase fantasies of self-indulgence, rather than enrich herself by realizing dreams of happiness. Simply put, I want for my daughter what the old man in this story finally realizes he needs more than anything else. A place where one can feel at peace, fulfilled, at rest, supported, and content. It should not matter whether that place has 2 rooms and a potbelly stove, or 12 rooms and a 4 car garage...
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