The Giving Tree 40th Anniversary Edition Book with CD

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Summary: An incredibly powerful and enlightening book for all ages
Review: This book is one of my favorite and most memorable books from my childhood and I am constantly reminded of it in everyday life. I would recommend it to every child who desires to become a more sensitive, kind, giving, and unselfish person. It demonstrates the two extremes of friendship: the tree represents the desire to give and give and only receive in return the vicarious joy that the recipient appreciates one's generosity. The book also demonstrates how selfish and inconsiderate the young boy is since he simply takes and takes from the tree without any thought to its intrisic value and needs. This type of relationship has many spiritual analogies, but most importantly, its memorable potrayal in this book gently teaches children how important it is to share with, to care for, and to respect people around them, especially those people whom they consider to be friends and family. _The Giving Tree_ is both simple and profound and I highly recommend it to young and old alike.

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Summary: The Giving Tree is simplistic, not complex.
Review: The Giving Tree is a story of love, not a story of weakness. I compare it to a story of best friends. To the boy, the tree was his best friend, but the boy was greedy. The lessons you learn from this book are about not taking advantage of others and about giving rather than taking. For those who don't like this book, I think you are reading into the story a lot more than was intended by Mr. Silverstein. I think this story would be great to read when students or children were taking advantage of each other. The tree shows us that like a friend, it's always there. The tree also shows us that if you take advantage of your friends, you can lose parts of them that will never come back.

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Summary: I find this one really scary!!!
Review: For me, this book is about being so incredibly selfish that you would kill a friend to get what you want. It also seems to be about giving until you're dead. I fervently disagree with both of these sentiments!! I'm a little worried by all the reviewers who gave this book a "10". What are we teaching our children by reading this book to them? Thank goodness my two childrens' response to this one was confusion, and then, a dislike for the boy who never says "thank you". I would not recommend this book to anyone and would go so far as to suggest to parents that they keep it away from their children. I have actually taken to calling spineless, wimpy people "trees" because of this book. We should be teaching our children respect for themselves and the world around them . . . not blatant disregard and abject selfishness.

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Summary: A Delightful Display of Selflessness and Unconditional Love.
Review: The Giving Tree is read too deeply by some people who want to make issues out of everything. When I read it for the first time- I was inspired and filled with love. I automatically wanted to become the tree. I wanted to center my life around giving, much like how Christ is always giving to me. I recommend this book to anyone-young or old, for it teaches the most valuable lesson of all- "...love your neighbor as you love yourself".

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Summary: Story of the story...
Review: I once heard that Mr. Silverstein was asked about his personal religious beliefs. As the story goes, "The Giving Tree" was produced as a response. I am well aware my account may be apocryphal. In any case, "The Giving Tree" is a wonderful metaphor describing the Christ's supreme love, a love without end.

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Summary: Read it at 12, then again at 20. I cried the second time.
Review: I re-discovered my childhood books while unpacking in my apartment. I read them all again. I was completely in awe of The Giving Tree. The meaning transcended from my child's mind into my developing adult mind. I believe I can read this until the day I die and feel differently each time. Beautifully written, simple in text, but so rich in meaning. I will love it forever.

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Summary: I wouldn't give it to a child
Review: If this book is supposed to be ironic (as some critics opine), it's a miserable failure, given the number of readers who take it literally and label it "inspiring." If it's not meant as irony, I find it frightening: real love means you give and give and give, even if the person you're giving to is thoroughly self-centered, takes your generosity for granted, never tries to see things from your point of view, and doesn't even bother to say "thank you." "Love your neighbor as yourself" implies that your love of others is grounded in respect for yourself. Neither the tree's behavior nor the boy's is worthy of emulation, and I would never give this book to a child.

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Summary: Loved this book!
Review: Having never truly experienced complete unconditional love as a child, I only hope I can be the tree for my children. Nothing would bring me more happiness.

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Summary: A must for kids of all ages (1-99!)
Review: The Giving Tree is simply put, a story of how giving is the only true way to be happy. In giving to others, we receive. I was given this book by a friend and read it to my children now. It's a good reminder that we should think of others first.

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Summary: Most Misunderstood Children's Book Ever Written
Review: I worked in a book store and was pained every time someone requested this book because I believe it is grossly misunderstood. Everyone focuses on the "giving" tree and fails to see what the author has indicated in numerous interviews he intended to show, as well, the selfish boy who only took. In fact, he took so much he eventually destroyed the tree. There is no account of the boy attempting to re-pay or give back to the tree by watering or fertilizing. True friendships require that both parties give, thereby, strengthening each other so that both will have more to give each other. Like much of Silverstein's works, this is irony folks, the meaning is much beyond the obvious.