Picture Book Reflection: The Giving Tree

     

     

Silverstein, S. (1964). The giving tree. New York: HarperCollins. 

“Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.” Shel Silverstein begins his story with such a simple sentence; however, this picture book written in 1964 carries a much deeper meaning within its sixty-four pages.  Through the use of black and white realistic art,  Silverstein tells a short story of a little boy who interacts with an apple tree. This unnamed child climbs branches, gathers leaves to make crowns, and eats apples.  As “Boy” grows older, he begins to ask for more of the tree and because she loves him, she fulfills his requests.   While the illustrations are simple black lines, Silverstein made a dramatic artistic choice to create doublespreads, spilling the pictures across two facing pages to show openness, movement and passage of time. 

When I read this story as a child, I always thought about the sweet, simple message of being unselfish and giving to others.  Arguably, The Giving Tree is suitable for children 6-8 years as just an engaging picture book; however, older children could discuss more complex themes found within the illustrations and poetic text. Moreover, this book is an example of personification because the tree speaks to the boy and behaves as a human throughout the story. Even the illustration on the dustjacket gives the impression of the tree’s humanlike qualities as she bends forward to drop an apple into the boy’s outstretched arms.  



Big Questions: What would you be willing to give to someone in need? What do the words “selfish” and “selfless” mean to you?  Why did the tree continue to give to the boy without asking for anything in return?

KCAS Connections: RL6.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.    RL6.5  Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.