The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein

I don’t actually buy very many new books for us to keep on our shelves, in fact I’m sure I buy more books for other people’s children than I do my own. As I have said we make use of our local library and we also buy second-hand for lifestyle and environmental reasons. However, I made an exception for ‘The Giving Tree‘ and gifted it to my kids last Christmas.

Why?

‘The Giving Tree’ is one of those great children’s books that is a sweet story for the very young or the first time reader, but as you read it again and again you gain a deeper understanding of the lessons being taught. To me it is a great way of helping my kids understand how much I love them and what I would be willing to do for their happiness and success.

Without giving too much away, ‘The Giving Tree’ is a tale, or even a parable, of an ordinary boy and his friend, the tree. The boy and the tree share special times together, but as the years go by their interactions become less frequent and slightly imbalanced. The tree wants the boy to be happy and gives her all for this to happen.

The story of ‘The Giving Tree‘ is so important for my children to understand that I wanted a copy in the house for whenever I want to read it to them. By having it in the house the kids can also ask for it whenever they want it. It means that as they grow and their ability to understand matures they will have easy access to a reminder of the way their mother loves them.  

NB. The author, Shel Silverstein was a prolific American author, poet and cartoonist. At the website: http://www.shelsilverstein.com you can find loads more about him and all his other wonderful works. For teachers and parents there is also free downloadable learning resources.