September 2010 Guest Editor Simon Bartram: 'The Giving Tree' is a simple and beautiful book. It tells the tale of the long relationship between a boy and a tree. In the beginning the boy's youthful exuberance is matched by the luscious tree that offers itself up as a wonderful playground, perfect for climbing, swinging and exploring. As the boy grows up however, the tree begins to help him in other ways and their lives remain entwined until time catches up with both of them. This is a charming tale about unconditional friendship and growing old. Shel Silverstein's simple black and white illustrations tell the story perfectly.
Once there was a little tree ...and she loved a little boy. So begins a
story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated
by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the boy would
come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide
down her trunk ...and the tree was happy.
But as the boy grew
older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave
and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with
consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers
of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of
giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.
