The Giving Tree

★★★★★

A Bittersweet Tale of Love

​I remember reading this book in school and liking it, but I never understood why.

The story is as the title implies, a tree that gives of itself to bring happiness to someone else, in this case a little boy.  

It is still somewhat difficult to explain in more detail the synopsis of this short children’s book. As I read it to my little ones, it hit me why I liked this book so much when I was younger; I could now relate to the tree. The tree reminded me of my mother, playing with us and giving us what we needed and what I now do with my little ones. It always makes me cry as well by the end of the book because the love the tree has for that little boy is like my own and at the same time the sadness she feels because she doesn’t get to see him as much when he grows up.  

I did always wonder why the boy seemed so selfish, not coming back unless he needed something from the tree. I realized though that this is part of life; not the selfish, barely coming around part, but children growing up. Children grow up and leave their parents, they come back for help and the parents are always happy to see them, help them and hear from them, even if for just a little while. 

It is a simple story about life that tugs at the heart and is bittersweet, nothing more, nothing less.