"The Giving Tree" book -- what am I supposed to make of this?

[Anonymous]

My DS has become infatuated with "The Giving Tree" and wants me to read it to him before naps and bed. It's a pretty depressing book, and I'm not even really sure what to make of the "meaning." Am I supposed to take away the message that all that's really important is togetherness (i.e. the boy comes back to the tree at the end, and both are happy), or that the tree gave too much, or the boy was too greedy and selfish (even though he never seems to realize this)?

I guess it doesn't matter too much, and my 3-year-old probably just likes the simplicity of the idea of a friendship between a tree and a boy, but I feel like I should be guiding him somehow on understanding that what's going on isn't exactly "right"... Not trying to make more of this than there is, but when you read the book 30 times again and again, you start to either feel really depressed or really hope there's another way to look at the meaning!

[Anonymous]

Dude- it's like one of the most controversial books in children's literature. Lots of different interpretations. I'm of the opinion that Children are by nature narcissists, so why feed into that ? If you take a religious view - it's gods unconditional love. Or it's parent /child. Or it's how we shittily treat the environment. Pick one.
It's lovely that your child loves to be read to. That likely out weighs the messages in this particular story. He'll tire of it soon enough.

[Anonymous]

He doesn't have to make meaning of the book at 3 years old. If he likes the story then read it to him. That is for him to ponder and interpret when he is old enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dude- it's like one of the most controversial books in children's literature. Lots of different interpretations. I'm of the opinion that Children are by nature narcissists, so why feed into that ? If you take a religious view - it's gods unconditional love. Or it's parent /child. Or it's how we shittily treat the environment. Pick one.
It's lovely that your child loves to be read to. That likely out weighs the messages in this particular story. He'll tire of it soon enough.

Really?

When I was little, I liked it because the tree was always there for him.

As a teen, I cried reading it because the tree was always alone and just waiting for him to return.

Now that I am older, I think the boy/man is a total selfish prick.

I am sure your three year old just likes the b&w drawings.

[Anonymous]

I hate The Giving Tree. I would put the book in a time-out (that turned out to be a permanent one). In future, go through all of books before you read them to your son, and take out the ones you really object to.

[Anonymous]

I had to hide this book from my kids because I would sob in the bathroom every damn time after reading it.

The old tree giving selflessly, the man coming back to die, I can't even. It kills me.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a brilliant book.

Adults read it 50 times and still ponder it.

[Anonymous]

To me it's the parent/child relationship. It's sad, but that's over kids' heads.

[Anonymous]

Try reading "The missing piece meets the big O". That shit will blow your mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try reading "The missing piece meets the big O". That shit will blow your mind.

I remembered it as a happy book.

[Anonymous]

I can tell you this now because I've come to terms with my limitations. But I've always wanted to write "The Taking Stream," wherein the little boy swims and fishes in the stream, then eventually builds a factory next to his beloved stream, then the factory spills sludge into the stream, and finally the stream gets sick of it all and floods the factory and drowns the boy.

[Anonymous]

That book makes me cry, And that's what i tell DD when she asks for it more than every once in awhile. When i read it now i think parent/child and I'm seriously weeping by the end

[Anonymous]

The picture of Shel Silverstein on the back is terrifying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try reading "The missing piece meets the big O". That shit will blow your mind.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you this now because I've come to terms with my limitations. But I've always wanted to write "The Taking Stream," wherein the little boy swims and fishes in the stream, then eventually builds a factory next to his beloved stream, then the factory spills sludge into the stream, and finally the stream gets sick of it all and floods the factory and drowns the boy.

I would read that book.