Sherwood Gardens Park, Baltimore, MD
We have often shared the poems of SHEL SILVERSTEIN here.
He has been a favorite and though his poems and art and stories are meant mostly for the young,
they speak strongly to the young at heart who choose to open eyes, ears, hearts and minds.
THE GIVING TREE is a classic.
Published by Harper & Row in 1964, it initially garnered controversy and negative reviews
for the story told, and criticism for its simplistic art style.
As time passed, and many others praised and honored Silverstein's book,
it grew in popularity, was translated into more than thirty languages
and is often listed among "best children's books".
For indeed, THE GIVING TREE tells and teaches of responsibility
toward nature, of sharing, selflessness and always ~ giving.
It begins ~ "Once there was a tree ... and she loved a little boy."
And ends ~ "And the boy loved the tree ... very much. And the tree was happy."
If you've not read this wonderful story, we suggest adding it to
your list ~ and if there are young ones in your life, it is a beautiful
story for sharing with them.
And on this Arbor Day, and every day ~ make a tree happy!
I've read The Giving Tree years ago and I think maybe it's time to read it again. Happy Arbor Day!
ReplyDeleteTrees are great and good for the planet but we have also learned they are very messy and a lot of work. Still they are nice when they are being good trees and they give us shade in the summer.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent tree! I have many saplings that I have had to fence around to keep the deer from eating. Most neighbors have bare yards, sadly.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent tree!
ReplyDeleteI was saddened when last year we had to have a very tall pine tree cut down in our back yard. It was one that we had planted soon after moving in, in 1990. However, it was encroaching on our neighbour's yard and threatening to damage their roof. It was a very sad day. Where we live there is a law that requires you to plant another tree within a short period of time, and we did, but I doubt if it will ever have the magnificence of the pine. The new one is more like a bush and will never grow to such heights as our beloved pine. One might say, we have pined for our pine. We will remember it always.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a tree!
ReplyDeleteAm a tree hugger too!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read that story but it sounds lovely. We have a very big and old oak in the field near our bungalow. Some of the branches have grown low and Ivor wanted to cut them back because he was catching the tractor exhaust pipe on it. I told him point blank that he wasn't touching it. It was the boys tree, the one Flynn would climb right to the top scaring me half to death. Even Eric would climb part way up...and get stuck. The times I had to help him down. I later started to leave an old garden chair to hold up for him to jump down onto. No mean feat when you have 23 pounds landing in it!
ReplyDeleteEric stopped climbing it when he became unwell, but two days before he died he climbed higher than he ever had before and proudly stood on a branch surveying his domain. He got back down unaided too. I am convinced he knew his time on Earth was ending and he wanted a last look around the fields he loved and we used to walk together.
What a fabulous tree in the picture! I am most at home in a forest. I have not read the book, but will now place it on my "to be read" list.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool looking tree. We have lots of trees on our property. Sadly all our ash trees are dying and we are trying to take them down before they land on something valuable, like our house!
ReplyDeleteJune and Ann that is indeed a fine specimen of tree for Arbor day. The twist and turns of the trunk are amazing
ReplyDeleteHugs cecilia
dee mum hazza dis book! it wuz gifted to her by a then boyfurrendz brother after she took care ovva dee boyfurrend after he hadda accident on hiz bicycle.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story this must be, I've put it on my reading list!
ReplyDeletejuney chowder…that tree iz total lee epic lee pawsum ‼️‼️‼️💚🌴 we iz BIG time tree friendz heer…de gurl could sew livez ina forezt…like all de time 💚🪵🌲
ReplyDeleteWe are not familiar with this writer but we love trees. We have several huge oaks in our garden, and one smaller one that #1 saved from a field that was about to be hayed some years back. By the way, we LOVE that banner pic, June!
ReplyDeletePurrs,
The Chans
That is such a beautiful tree and a most beautiful message.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad story, The Giving Tree. XO
ReplyDeleteWhat a grand tree that is!!
ReplyDeleteWe've planted a few trees over the years to replace a lot of others that had to be cut down for some reason or other, some were rotting, others were a danger to our home and the neighbor's...we have some now big 'volunteer' oak trees as well. Last fall we planted 4 redbud trees and three are in bloom right now, The fourth is alive but has withheld blooming(!).
That is a perfect tree for climbing, and I would have spent many happy hours in it as a child. (I still might if it was nearby.) I will have to find that book and perhaps read it to our new neighbor children (there are 6 of them and they are all delightfully free of electronics)
ReplyDeleteJust purchased a used, copy of this book from Walmart.com and will have it next week. Can't wait to share it with the neighbor kids.
ReplyDeleteWe love our trees! Especially the oaks, magnolias and the crepe myrtles, all favorites.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a wonderful poem with a beautiful message. 💙
ReplyDeleteWhat an intricately branched tree!!! And oh yes, The Giving Tree was fantastic as was just about all that Shel Silverstein wrote
ReplyDeleteWoos - Misty and Timber
Java Bean: "Ayyy, I am totally behind any day that is related to trees! And not just because of the squirrels!"
ReplyDelete