Review #2 -- The Giving Tree (Wishing it was a Kindle e-book. Maybe someday!)

Amazon.com Review To say that this particular apple tree is a "giving tree" is an understatement. I know! I know! It's been reviewed so many times before, but it's a classic that got me into children's books so much more than I ever had been before, and it's not on Kindle :( Wouldn't it be great if it was available on Kindle or in e-book form?! I love this book because its about a living tree that gives so much and never expects much in return except to be loved. It's such a simple story, but such a great story for kids. Shel Silverstein is one of great authors that gave me the inspiration to write and illustrate my first children's book. If you haven't read it... buy it and read it it might change the way you think about relationships and life! Some good stuff from Wikipedia taken from "The Giving Tree: A Symposium from FirstThings.com" Since publication, the book has generated controversy and opposing opinions for its interpreted messages, on whether the tree is self-sacrificing or merely selfless, and whether the boy is selfish or reasonable in his demands of the tree. The story clearly shows childhood as being a time of relative happiness in comparison to the sacrifice and responsibility of adulthood. Some academic readers describe the book as portraying a vicious, one-sided relationship between the tree and the boy; the tree is a selfless giver, and the boy as a greedy and insatiable entity that constantly receives, yet never gives anything back to the tree. The boy has a selfish love that could be misrepresented and imitated by its young readers. Indeed, some of these speakers single the tree out as an irresponsible parent whose self-sacrifice has left the boy ill-equipped. Other readers argue that the tree gives everything to the boy freely because it loves him, and its feelings are reciprocated by the boy when he returns to the tree for a rest. In this way, the relationship between the tree and the boy as he grows up could be viewed as similar to that between a parent and child; despite getting nothing in return for a long time, the tree puts the boy's needs foremost, because it wants him to be happy. Indeed, the only time the tree ever seems to be sad is when it feels that it has nothing left to give the boy and that the boy might never return.