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| The Giving Tree | 
 enlarge | Creator: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy Used: $2.75
You Save: $14.24 (84%)
New (78) Used (107) Collectible (10) from $2.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  607 reviews
Sales Rank: 507
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 64
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 10.1 x 7.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 0060256656
UPC: 000060256652
EAN: 9780060256654
ASIN: 0060256656
Publication Date: October 7, 1992
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
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
Product Description
'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.' So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return. Ages 10+
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| Customer Reviews: Read 602 more reviews...
 Great for all ages. November 19, 2008
The tree that keeps giving, wanting nothing in return but to please the little boy.
It's a wonderful story and teaches a lesson, at any age. I found myself feeling like the giving tree lately, while part of a non-profit organization. When I verbalized the analogy, I realized that many people had never heard of the book. It's on top of my gift list this year.
 I can't believe this book was in the Childrens section October 31, 2008
My little girl is four years old. I was strolling around the book store looking for simple books to read. I picked this book up after only reading the first few pages. With the simple syntax and simple line drawings, I thought this would be a book we could read at bed time. Toward the end of the book, I shut it and picked another bedtime book to read her. This story may be representative of real life, the aging of a relationship, we all grow old and pass away, or maybe it is a metaphor for some co-dependent relationship, what ever. I will not be reading it to my daughter again. I'll put it high on the shelf and let her find it later in life. This book did not belong in the small childrens section. The book was not placed there by mistake as there was an entire stack of them. I thought the story was excellent, and I had mixed emotions when I finished reading it but it is not for young sensitive children. My daughter is part of a diviorced family and I think it would have a negative impact on her little mind as she is trying to figure her own life out as things already exist.
Definitely not for small children!
great message!! October 30, 2008
Also donated to a local charity--they are collecting books for a holiday raffle this year...
It is one of childrens' favorites!
not so controversial actually...... October 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
i'm a child psychology major. anyone who says this is bad for a child is obviously reading way too much into the book, and does not realize children are not capable of doing the same. this is actually a very good book for children. shame on you people and your awful thoughts.
Its a great book, with a great philosophy. Read between the lines. October 1, 2008
The moral of the story is touching, its a great gift to give a parent.
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