The Giving Tree
written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein
Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.
Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk…and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave.
Shel Silverstein created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.
This book has always been a favorite of mine. My Mom had a favorite tree in her yard. She worked with a horticulturist to save it from all kinds of pests. It was perfectly shaped with leaves that contrasted with the crimson and sugar maples in her yard. She used special fertilizer, just for this tree each year to strengthen it's roots. Mom gave her tree a lot of attention and the tree thrived for many years, but this past spring, amid the world-wide COVID-19 quarantine, the tree didn't bare any leaves. It had to be taken down. They did leave a stump just the right height for my Mom to sit on as she took breaks while working in her gardens. The tree still gives to my Mom. This book always reminded me of Mom's tree. So, this is my way of showing the tree how much my Mom and I loved it. Cache on!
FTF Awards are extended to CanisMinor who braved the 35* temps and frosty grasses to earn the honors!