The Giving Tree

Silverstein, S. (1964). The Giving Tree. New York: Harper & Row.

Lexile Score: 530L

Summary: This story starts off with presenting a young boy and his friend, a giving tree. As the boy gets older, he asks for more and more things from the tree and the tree provides him with it without asking for anything in return. It’s a cute story about giving.  

Evaluation: It’s a lovely story for young kids to learn about giving. I loved it as a child! However, as I read and analyze it now, I feel as if this story just teaches children that it’s okay to ask for something and not give back. There aren’t various conflicts for children to explore and the boy never gives anything to the tree showing that it’s okay. The “good” character would be the tree and the tree only has one background as he’s aging along with the boy, which doesn’t give young children a variety.

There’s also no cultural groups represented whatsoever. The story does depict the tree as being a girl, which arises some stereotypes. For example, with age comes lack of ability and strength. The boy takes from the girl and boys climb on trees.

The theme and lesson is obviously to give. There is one setting and that is just around the tree. There is absolutely no diversity represented at all. However, this story will encourage a lot of discussions about sharing and giving. This will then promote understanding of our society and what it means to give to one another and care for one another.

Literary Elements: Illustrations- The pictures are black and white to show the simplicity of the boy and the tree, but it’s just enough.

Theme- The virtue of giving is emphasized

Dialogue- the dialogue between the tree and boy is what gives the theme away. It’s extremely important to the story.

Mini lesson: Have your class each illustrate their own tree that represents them by having different colored leaves in their tree. At the bottom of the tree have them make a key that shows what each color signifies. Explain that every tree will be different on how important it is to be unique. One leaf could even signify that that student is a giving person.

Target audience: 1^st grade+ because even as a college student, it’s fun to read and understand the theme. It teaches children even at a young age the importance of giving.