Rating: 
Summary: Heart Warming Story
Review: This heart felt story is about a little boy and a tree. The tree is so happy when the little boy is happy. When the little boy was little he desired shade and a place to play and the tree enjoyed watching the boy. When he got older and needed money the tree said to sell the apples to get money. The boy grew and wanted to build a house. The generous tree gave him her branches for wood so that he could build his house. When the boy got even older and was full of boredom and wanted to have a boat the tree gave him her trunk to carve out and make his boat. Finally when he was old and gray and just wanted and needed a place to rest the tree told him to sit on her stump which still had the carved heart at its base that read in a heart "Me + T" that was once carved by the boy. And again the tree was happy that her boy was happy.
Shel Silverstein has a amazing ability to make people fall in love with his simple words and sketching. This book I believe was trying to show that point that the act of giving to someone can be the best feeling in the world. Also, knowing that you can forever help a friend is a wonderful feeling. Also maybe in directly sort of representing a parent and how they are constantly giving there child everything but this makes them truly happy and satisfied to watch there own children happy.
I love this story and I will forever continue to love this book. I find the meaning remarkable and the story so well written. How could I have any bad things to say.
Rating: 
Summary: a good profile of codependency?
Review: I loved this book as a child -- it was read to my class by my favorite teacher. But upon reading it as an adult, I came to the conclusion I loved it because Miss Helms read it. The relationship between the tree and the boy is unhealthy for both, like far too many relationships I've seen. I would only read it to my children when they were at a level of understanding where they could analyze a bad relationship, maybe -- perhaps after they'd had a selfish taking friend who took advantage of them.
Rating:
Summary: Review
Review: This is the story of a boy that loves a tree. He always plays with the tree and carved his initials into the trunk and they are both happy. The boy begins to grow up and sees the tree less and less. Then the boy started to only come around once in a while when he needed things from the tree. The boy took the trees leaves; branches and trunk until it had nothing left. One day the boy come back and the tree said I have nothing left to give you and the boy, who was now an old man, just wanted a nice place to sit and relax and they were both happy.
This is a great book. It tells the tale of how some people give and give until they have nothing left to give just to make someone they care about happy. This tells how much the tree gave and the boy took and took until there was nothing left of him. This story is saying that friendship is a two way street and it took the boy his whole life to figure out that he couldn't just expect the tree to keep giving and giving, he had to make the tree happy too. This is a great tale. I think that this is a great book for children because some people really do take others for granted and this shows how you can't just expect everything all the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Opportunity to Teach
Review: I've read many of the points that people have made. A child who's been read this book won't suddenly turn into a selfish monster. A simple childs book doesn't have the power to do such things. There will be many other books in your childs future that you won't be able to hide away. Now's the time to teach your child how to analyze and question all things. The first thing my son realized was that the boy just took and took and we were able talk about that. This book could be used as a learning tool to open the doors of thought... or you could just read something more realistic like...Cinderella.
Rating:
Summary: great way to promote our self absorbed culture
Review: This book and the praise it has generated over the years has always bothered me. At first I thought it meant I was just too selfish. But the more I have had people praise it and then try to tell me why it is so great the more I understand that they are confused. The story of someone who takes everything that someone else has to offer without any thanks or anything to give back is NOT an example of love. It is an example of a truly warped relationship. Anybody out there who thinks that they are really in a relationship when the only thing happening is them giving to the other person(s) needs to build a little self esteem. I hate to break it to you but you are being used. Relationships are reciprocal. I would NEVER read this book to a child.
Rating: 
Summary: I Never Liked This Book
Review: As a mother, I felt honor-bound to read this book to my children, as it was presented to me by all the other moms I knew as an absolute MUST. Well...I hated it. And I hated it so strongly, I never did read it to my children.What exactly is the point of this story? That you give and give until you die while somebody else just takes and takes? That it's honorable and wonderful to give of yourself until you are nothing but a wounded stump, but the (male) person to whom you gave is happy so you are too? I have a truly visceral dislike of this book, and I have never recommended it to anybody. I know this is not the popular view. I have never heard anybody else do anything but praise this book to the skies, but again, I have to ask, WHY? What exactly is so wonderful about this message for children...and what exactly is the message? It is certainly praiseworthy to give of oneself...but in my mind, there is nothing praiseworthy about this "giving tree." I remain glad that I did not read this book to my young children, and my view of the book today, when they are both teens, is the same as it was when they were toddlers.
Rating:
Summary: A Lovely, Moving Book
Review: This popular children's book, a classic, is beautifully written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. It's simple drawings, and moving, poetic text, still gets me close to tears whenever I read it to my daughter, who also enjoys it. It's one of my personal favorite children's books, and the story inside will inspire young and old alike. Makes a great holiday or birthday present for those younger children (up to around age 8) that are hard to find presents for.
Rating:
Summary: Heart-warming and endearing book for all ages
Review: I'm writing this review not because I just recently read the book. I'm not even writing this review because I own it or reread it. I'm simply writing this review because I cannot forget it. I first read this book when I was about 6 or 7 and I kept thinking "I wish I had my own giving tree". A companion that will remain with me for all time. I thought of it as a happy story. Now that I'm older and have seen more of life, I sometimes think "I have been that tree". Then I realize what a sad and touching story it has become for me. The nice thing about this book, is that it is timeless. It will hold meaning no matter what your age. A reader may interpret the story one way or the other depending on how they've lived their lives. Have they been the tree or the boy? I would highly recommend reading and owning this book, for it captures the essence of living life, of giving and taking, of love.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book!
Review: This book should be required reading for every new reader out there. Such a beautiful concept, and so well done - illustrations and all. Quite a touching book - once you read it, it stays with you forever.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest Book
Review: What can I say besides Shel Silverstein is a master at his work!!
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