The Giving Tree
"Once There Was A Tree...And She Loved A Little Boy".
Synopsis
Who knew a tree could love so much? Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree is a timeless tale of a tenacious bond between a tree and a young boy. If the boy wasn’t swinging from her branches, he was eating her apples or sliding down her trunk- and this made the tree very happy. As time passes, the aging boy’s visits become scarce; he only comes around when he is in need of something. The tree will sacrifice anything in order to fill the void in the boy’s life, even if that means giving up part of herself. Will her selflessness reach a limit or will her unconditional love provide the boy with everything he asks for?
Adding to the Classroom
- Kids can share nice things they do for one another
- Good for positive reinforcement
Meet the Author: Shel Silverstein
- Cartoonist, Author, Poet, Songwriter, and Playwright
- Many notable works including Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue"
- Passed away at the age of 68 because of a major heart attack
The Giving Tree
- Published on October 7th, 1964
- Silverstein wrote and published The Giving Tree
- Some parents approve of this story while others do not, depending on their interpretation
- Silverstein's best seller to date
My Inspiration
- Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk ends was my favorite childhood book!
- Collection of Silverstein's poems and illustrations
To Get you thinking?
- Has anyone read this story before?
- Would you incorporate this story into your classroom in the future? Why or why not?