The Giving Tree
Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein
Joanna Cook
The giving tree is one of my favorite books. It is about a boy and a “giving tree.” The boy uses the tree in many ways; as a child the tree provides him shade and apples. He carves a heart into the tree with “M.E. + T.” The tree was happy when the boy was happy. As the boy grows older, his needs become more. He tells the tree he needs money, so the tree lets him take its apples and sell them for money. This made the tree happy because the boy was happy. Soon the boy became a man and he needed a house so the tree gives the branches. Although the boy no longer plays in the tree, the tree is happy because the boy is happy. Again, the man needs something from the tree. He needs a boat, so the tree lets him take his trunk and make a boat. Soon, there was nothing left of the tree, just a stump. The man needed a place to sit, so he returns to the tree and sits on the stump and again, “the tree was happy.” This story is about taking advantage of things and sacrifices. I think it would be a wonderful book to read around Thanksgiving time. I think a good activity could be to make a card (a good way to practice writing) for someone who is special to you.
1 comment:
Joanna, The Giving Tree is one of my favorites too! I love the meaning behind the story. Shel Silverstein is very creative in representing his ideas. The tree just touches my heart and makes me upset with the man. The story definitely creates a lot of emotion in me. How true is it that we all take things for granite like the man did of the tree? I thought your idea about reading it around Thanksgiving is a great idea. The card idea is also a great idea. Maybe not just make the card out to someone that is special but to someone who they had taken advantage of and tell them how thankful they are of them. Great response and ideas!
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