The Giving Tree

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / General / Silverstein, Shel	4-week checkout	Due 04-26-2024
Traverwood Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / General / Silverstein, Shel	4-week checkout	Due 05-14-2024

Youth level.
A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

good submitted by sauerr on July 16, 2011, 4:03pm this book is a sad book for the tree. It is mainly about life. I recommend it

A classic submitted by Zekicmom on June 20, 2013, 9:17pm I can't imagine childhood without this book.

Classic Children's Book submitted by ks1287 on July 15, 2013, 12:44pm Definitely one of the great classic children's book. However, I found it more depressing reading it as an adult than I did as a kid.

My Least Favorite Classic Children's Book submitted by Jan Wolter on July 26, 2013, 6:55am If you want to teach your kids that love is all about giving and giving to people who never reciprocate until you utterly destroy yourself, then this is the book you should get them. When someone gave this to our kids, we made it disappear fast. Thanks, but no thanks.

A good book about trees submitted by Team_ROX on July 21, 2018, 6:40pm It really shows what trees can do for you

great submitted by jw on August 1, 2018, 12:05pm Definitely more on the depressing side

Deep submitted by majean on August 8, 2018, 7:06pm I loved this book as a child, but when I heard it read at a children's story time, it upset some of the younger children, so keep the child in mind when choosing to read this book.

Classic submitted by dd8 on August 16, 2018, 3:40pm I absolutely love this book!!!!

Great book submitted by maggie_aa on August 21, 2018, 11:46pm nice book with a very lovely story

Maybe not for kids submitted by keldan315 on August 25, 2018, 2:40pm This book is emotionally rough. I think its probably one of those children's books that are more for adults than children.

great! submitted by Kiyoteru Tsutsui on June 20, 2019, 10:10am This book is very emotional but loving. This is a very nice book.

Two possible takeaways submitted by kassafrass on June 21, 2019, 9:49am Whether you see this as a lesson on generosity, or a warning on unhealthy relationships, the book can still provide a strong takeaway. It's worth reading and then discussing with younger kids, I feel.

The Giving Tree submitted by lstorc on July 25, 2019, 10:32pm The Giving Tree is innocently meant to be about generosity. It's emotional and heartwarming.

The giving tree submitted by emilysuzanne on August 6, 2019, 3:43pm This book has a beautiful message. Must read.

must read book submitted by crp on August 25, 2019, 4:09pm one of the best shell silverstein books ever made; make sure to watch ali wong's comedic reference to this in her 2nd comedy show on netflix too

Sad submitted by JHermanowski on July 11, 2022, 8:07pm Sad story about the relationship between a tree and boy.

Moving submitted by suttonp on July 25, 2022, 1:09pm What a lovely lesson to teach a child, the beauty of giving.

Heartbreaking submitted by GSchne on July 27, 2022, 8:45am I don't see this story as a lesson on giving, though it's a perfectly reasonable perspective on this book. As an adult at least, I see this as about taking, respect or lack thereof, and relationships.

Classic book with a great message submitted by Bethybeth07 on July 29, 2022, 2:07pm All middle schoolers should read it

This book is a bummer submitted by alexdimitrijeski on August 3, 2022, 10:31pm That boy took advantage of the tree's selflessness, and the tree died because of it.

Precious submitted by courtneyhooper on August 15, 2022, 9:43pm People have their opinions on this, but have you ever HAD children? Yes, they learn to be unselfish. But you spend quite a great deal of your life giving and giving and giving to them. Why? Because it makes *you* (like the tree) happy.

still makes this adult cry submitted by leah karr on August 19, 2022, 1:04pm 41 years old and I still get teary reading this book to my kids

tell me why submitted by emaelshaikh on August 20, 2022, 7:49pm this still breaks my hearr

Sweet classic submitted by JennJenn on July 5, 2023, 6:38am This is a sweet story of giving for another but it always makes me sad.

Love lessons submitted by Dewi Lumban Toruan on July 21, 2023, 5:22am It's about a tree who loves this boy and gives everything to make him happy, even when he doesn't love the tree anymore.

An old story that keeps on giving submitted by bahr on July 29, 2023, 12:10am This story really hits you differently as you age, showing off different aspects of life through such a simple story.