The Giving Tree

It was RD that first introduced me to the book, The Giving Tree. He had brought home a drawing from school when he was five.

Their teacher had read them the story of The Giving Tree at school and had asked them to make a drawing about the book. I was amused by his drawing which had the boy and the tree, and there was a heart drawn at the base of the tree. I tried to get the story out of him but one can only get so much from a preschooler.

The sketchy details he offered were enough to intrigue me. I decided to check the book our for myself.

The Giving Tree is a story that spans one person's lifetime. The boy found love and friendship where he least expected it. The love he'd found was a special kind of love. It was love that was freely given with nothing expected in exchange. It was selfless love.


The friendship between the boy and the tree was unique. And although the story revolves around the tree giving much to the boy, it was very apparent that the love and friendship between the two made such giving and receiving almost natural. And in the end, when the boy became an old man and there was nothing more than a stump left, the two were perfectly happy to be with each other.

A wonderful book for young and old alike. In its simplicity there is depth. Definitely a keeper.