Rating: 
Summary: The Giving Tree
Review: I would give this book 5 apples. Because it was fantastic. It showed me friendship and being nice to each other. I love the giving tree.
Rating: 
Summary: Not necessarily negative on children
Review: When I was a child this was my favorite story. I can't remember why, looking back all these years. However, back then I never thought to view the book as negative. Today, I am still puzzled why some people feel "The Giving Tree" might be a negative influence on their children. Rereading it as an adult, I can interpret the book differently, then when I was a child. I can see where some people might consider this story as one about a very self centered little boy, who grows up only to retain that self centered stature, and throughout his life. However, looking upon the story in this light reveals our own cynicism. And we must remember that children have a great abundance of optomism, and look upon situations much differently than adults do. It seems the more learned we are, the more cynical we become. I believe this story can be a bright inspiration to children, which helps to teach the importance and value of giving and sharing, within limits. Did the tree give too much of herself to the boy? What would have happened if she refused a request? Rather than perpetuating our own cynicism upon our children, why not read them "The Giving Tree", and afterwards, have a discussion about it, and find out what your child learned from listening to it; let them make that decision for themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful, yet gentle.
Review: This book is amazing. I had this book as a kid and I loved it, and i still do. The message is powerful. It is kind of sad, but the tree is always happy. I should bring this book up in ethics class because we are talking about psychological egoism and that is that everyone does things for their own good, no one ever does things for the good of others just because. Every one does something for their own good. This book proves that theory wrong. The tree always loved to give to the boy. The tree provided everything the boy needed from the time they were both born up until they were both dead. It is awesome.
Rating:
Summary: the giving tree by shel silverstein
Review: i love this book is my favorite book of all times, i have been reading shel silverstein book's for 8 years now, and my favorite book is "the giving tree", because is a story of giving all that you can and still,when you dont have anything left still help out in the end. i think no home is complete with out this book or any of shel silverstein's books
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible, Depressing, Awful, Cruel
Review: I purchased this book thinking, "Hey, I'm a good parent who reads books to her child...I should get this 'classic' that everyone loves so much." Thankfully I read it myself before reading it to my 2 year old. I returned it immediately.
Rating:
Summary: Selfish, Heartless - Not for kids
Review: This book is about a selfish boy who takes advantage of the kindness of the tree. Needed to do some damage control with my 6 yr. old stepdaughter who was reading this book to make sure she understood what was wrong with the boy's behavior. Glad to report, stepdaughter said she would have brought the tree water and never cut it down. There are so many wonderful children books -- I can't believe this one is still in print. It's heartless.
Rating:
Summary: Silverstein at his best!
Review: As a Pre-K teacher in a daycare center for several years and an avid reader myself, I can honestly say this is one of my all-time favorite books. My class of 4 and 5 year-olds loved it too. I think the message is all about personal sacrifice for the one you love. After 10 years of reading it, it still gets me choked up at the end!
Rating:
Summary: Very Disturbing
Review: As a child I loved this story. As an adult woman I find it very disturbing. Society embraces this book because they think it teaches about selflessness and goodness. It really teaches that if you love someone you should sacrifice everthing for them. Everyone should have a point where they say "I love you, but you are asking too much of me". The depiciton of unconditional love that I found so attractive as a child now reminds me of my struggle to free myself from the expectation that a woman and mother should give everything of herself to her husband and her children without complaint and expect nothing in return. I now feel that this book presents a very thinly disguised version of a very ubalanced and sexist relationship. The woman, the tree, is good becuase she gives everthing of herself to the selfish and incosiderate little boy. It does not teach children, especially young girls, to have boundries, it teaches them to destroy themselves in the name of "goodness". I will read this book to my daughters (now 4 weeks and 2 years)some day and use it to teach them that behaviors that appear good on the surface and are lauded by society can be very self destructive.
Rating:
Summary: Touching, bittersweet story
Review: When I was a young child (I still am pretty young) my parents used to read this simple touching, bittersweet story about what I thought was friendship and giving. Now that I am older, I see that is actually much more about how much we give of ourselves, and that we can actually give too much, and spread ourselves too thin. (A pretty deep idea, really) On either level, the book is wonderful and I highly recommend it to anyone at any age level, any position in life. Read the Giving Tree and give back to yourself too.
Rating:
Summary: a sad and beautiful book about love
Review: I first read this book when I was 6 or 7 years old, and the story was so powerful it made me cry. I felt sadness and admiration for the tree, and though I never thought badly of the boy I could not help but feel a little guilty at seeing a part of myself in the boy. My feelings about the book have not changed, and it has been a favorite of mine for over 20 years.
| 
