What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that Silverstein's story really hits an
emotional button; readers seem to either love this book or hate
it. Some see selfless love as beautiful, even if it's taken to
an extreme. It is easy to imagine the tree as a mature, patient
mother dependably being there for her child throughout his
life. Or is the tree a masochistic female who doesn't know how
to set limits? Or could this be a warning about greedily using
Mother Nature's resources? But there's little concern that the
youngest readers will grasp much negative meaning from this
sensitive parable.
Families can talk about the meaning they got from the story. Do you like what the tree does for the boy? Do you think the boy asks too much? Do you feel for the tree? Do you think the boy took her for granted?
Common Sense Media Review
The spare text and the expressive line drawings add to the
beauty and solemnity of the story, focusing its power.
Silverstein gives a thoughtful look at the cycle of life of the
boy. Many images will give readers an ache in their heart: the
boy embracing the tree with his chubby arms, the adolescent
leaning against the sheltering tree lost in thought. The tree
too, goes through stages: from leafy to ripe with fruit to
branchless and, finally, stumpy.
A classroom of 7-year-olds was unusually silent after reading it. The silence didn't last long, but an impression had been made. Silverstein challenges readers of all ages to think about how they sometimes take loved ones for granted.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
