Book Recommendations 好書推薦

The Giving Tree

by Shel Silverstein

Recommended reading ages: 4-6 years
Lexile measure: 530L

The Giving Tree is a short children’s picture book by American writer Shel Silverstein. It tells a simple tale of the relationship between a tree and a boy. As the boy grows from childhood to old age, the tree selflessly gives up its apples, branches and trunk in order to make him happy. The themes of love, generosity and selflessness in Silverstein’s book have made it a classic children’s fable, teaching young readers about the joys of giving.

Why we recommended

With simple vocabulary, sentence structure and plot, young readers will find it easy to understand and enjoy Silverstein’s tale. The story is also accompanied by drawings on every page that help to convey the story and keep young readers’ interest.

The book also opens up a valuable discussion about generosity versus greediness. While younger children often enjoy the book as a sweet tale of selfless love, older readers can use their critical thinking skills to consider whether they believe the tree is right to give away all it has to the boy, and whether the boy takes the tree’s generosity for granted. Readers can also reflect on the different desires the boy has as he grows older and asks the tree for money, a house, a boat, and other material wants, and discuss which of these they think is most important. In this way The Giving Tree is appropriate both for a wide range of ages and can challenge readers to reflect on right and wrong in relationships with family and friends.

The Giving Tree Garden in Holon, Israel
source:wikipedia

Questions and activities for readers

Adapted from The Prindle Institute

1. Why does the tree love the boy?
   
2. Why does the boy love the tree in the beginning?
   
3. Why is the tree happy after giving the boy her apples?
   
4. Why is the tree not happy after giving the boy her trunk?
   
5. Do you think the boy is selfish? Why or why not?
   
6. In the story, the tree gives the boy many gifts. Would you give something you really need to someone you love if they really need it, too?
   
7. Have you ever done something just to make someone happy?
   
8. Which is your favorite drawing in the book? Can you describe it? What do you like about it?
   

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The article is written by Noa Shmueli

​About Noa
Graduated from Taipei European School, Noa is now majoring in English at Columbia University and Trinity College Dublin. An avid reader and writer, she was the Editor-in-Chief of the TES student magazine, PEAK, and have been editing textbooks and essays since 2016.