The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein's beautiful parable of selfless love and devotion was originally published in 1964, and is a classic picture book that adults love as much as children. Younger children will enjoy even if they don't fully understand nuances of story. Recommended for all ages from 4.

"Once there was a tree … and she loved a little boy." So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated.

Shel Silverstein writes and draws an intriguingly ambiguous classic, the meaning of which will probably always be debated. THE GIVING TREE tells the tale of a young boy and the tree who, literally piece by piece, gives her life for him. Throughout the story, the tree (which is referred to by female pronouns) never hesitates to give the boy whatever he asks of her. At first she provides shade, then her fruit for him to sell, next her branches as lumber for his house, and finally her entire trunk for him to fashion into a boat. Now the tree has been cut down to a stump right at the point he'd carved a heart and their initials, "M.E. + T.," when he was child. "And then the tree was happy…but not really." By the story's end, the little boy is an old man who, after many years away, returns to the tree to use her last remaining piece--her stump--as a place to sit and rest. "And the tree was happy."

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. Illustrated with Silverstein's signature black-and-white line drawings.

Author Biography

Although Shel Silverstein was a successful cartoonist, playwright, and singer/songwriter, he is probably best known for his children's books, which include several poetry collections as well as the classic picture book THE GIVING TREE. He began his career, however, when, as a member of the armed forces, he worked as a cartoonist for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. When Silverstein ended his military career, he began cartooning for Playboy magazine, and his work for that publication resulted in several published collections of his cartoons, including PLAYBOY'S TEEVEE JEEBIES. As a playwright, Silverstein was a frequent collaborator of screenwriter/novelist/playwright David Mamet and together they wrote the screenplay for the 1988 film THINGS CHANGE. As a songwriter, Silverstein wrote "A Boy Named Sue"--a song made famous by Johnny Cash. Silverstein's song "I'm Checkin' Out," which was performed by Meryl Streep in the 1991 film POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. Silverstein was encouraged to create works for children by his friend, illustrator Tomi Ungerer. Silverstein's collections of children's poetry (which include WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS and A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC), feature short, humorous poems accompanied by his own black-and-white line drawings. They are often considered to be among the most popular works of poetry for children.