The Giving Tree (Choice)

This classic book written by Shel Silverstein is about a young boy and a Tree. The boy comes to the tree and swings from its branches and rests in its trade, and the tree is very happy. As the boy grows older he begins to spend less time with the tree and eventually goes away. One day the boy comes back to the tree. He asks for money and the tree gives him all her apples and tells the boy to sell them to make money. The boy goes away again for a long time and then one day comes back. The boy needs a house and the tree gives him all her branches to build the house. The boy takes the branches and goes away for a long time. The boy comes back one day and needs a boat to go far far away. The tree gives the boy her trunk and he takes it and builds a boat and leaves once again for a long time. Then one day, the tree is very sad, the boy comes back, now as an old man, and the tree tells him she has nothing left to give. The boy tells the tree that he needs nothing but a place to sit and the tree is very happy.

I think that this book is a good book to show students. Not only is the message timeless but the illustrations are very unique and not what most students are used to. Silverstein uses only black outlining to create illustrations. I would want students to discuss why the illustrations might be this simple. I also would use this in the classroom by asking students to write a story from the Tree's perspective. I would want them to think about how the tree might feel and what they would have done if they were the Tree.