The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Genre: Fiction
Publishing Info: Harpercollins Childrens Books; 64 pages
Awards or honors received: none

Summary: A boy plays with a tree. The tree loves the boy. In the beginning the boy swings on the branches.and plays hide in seek with the tree. The boy begins to grow up and leaves the tree alone because he is becoming interested in girls. One day the boy comes back to the tree and is sad because he needs money. The tree offers his apples to sell. This made the tree happy that the boy was back and needed him. The boy stayed gone for along time once again. When the boy finally returns he is sad wanting more and the tree gives all he has. The story continues as the boy is wanting more and the tree gives to him. Finally all that is left of the tree is a stump and he offers the tree stump to the now an old man as a seat for him to rest on.

Personal rating: ****Great! A wonderful story of how a tree gives to a boy. Students will love this story!

Reading level: 2.6
Interest level: K-to adulthood!

Possible uses of the text:
Science: A great book to reading during Earth Day. Discuss how the tree gives to the boy and how trees give to people on earth.

Art/Reading: Give student a large outline of a tree. Have student draw the things the tree gave the boy. Color

Math: Have a tree with removable leaves. Use tree as a manipulative during subtraction stories.

Potential Problems: none