Module 1 - The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Summary - The Giving Tree is the heartwarming tale of a tree and her relationship with a boy. Beginning when the boy is very young, the book moves through the changes in his relationship with the tree as he ages and moves on to new phases in life. Throughout every transition, the tree continues to support and 'give' to the boy/man, until she can give no more. In the bittersweet ending, the boy returns to take from the tree the only thing it has left to give - itself.

Impressions - The Giving Tree is a book about relationships, growth, unconditional love, and sacrifice. It teaches children, and adults, the power of love and the process of aging - that while their needs and wants may change over time, those that love them with no bounds (in this case, the tree stands as a wonderful representation of a parent or to push the bounds further, the God-head) will assist them in any way they can. While the boy seems to simply take from the tree, the expression that the tree is always "happy" with giving helps children to understand that while it may seem like they are giving/have nothing to give back to those who care for them, the simple act itself of the giving is enough for the guardian figure. The message of The Giving Tree is very powerful for both children and adults (who, I feel, have to release their belief in/need for reciprocity on the offset of reading the book in order to fully assimilate it) largely because of its simplicity.

Reviews - In a New York Times book review from Sept 9, 1973 by William Cole (1), Cole comes very close to missing the point of the narrative of the tree and her boy through his disdain for the "dum-dum of a tree" and her "ungrateful" boy, but in a redemptive manner mentions his wife comparison of the tree to "a mother" - clearly evidencing the vast differences in interpretations of this work (this is also very apparent when reading any review postings for the book on sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads.com, etc.).

Use - The Giving Tree is a fabulous book to read for pleasure to young children in the pre-K or K age range. It is also a wonderful tool for reading to and with older elementary-age students to preface discussions on the nature of love and growth. An alternate use could also be in CCD or religious school classes to assist in discussions of the meaning of unconditional love.

(1) Cole, W. (1973, September 9). About Alice, a rabbit, a tree... New York Times, Unk.