

However, as he ages, other pursuits and interests distract him. He carves his initials into the tree, plays in her branches and rests in her shade.

This gender distinction might matter quite a bit, as we delve deeper into the book’s backstory, so hold onto that thought.Īs the boy grows, he visits the tree often. ‘The Giving Tree’ begins when a young boy meets a tree, a female tree to be precise. The stories that we tell our children help them learn how to form healthy relationships, as well as form a picture of what to avoid.įor anyone who isn’t familiar with ‘The Giving Tree’, or hasn’t read it recently, here is a very rough paraphrasing of the story. If I seem to be picking a fight with a much loved children’s story, bear with me, because I think this is a crucial question. I really don’t like “The Giving Tree.” I’d even go so far as to say I hate it as a story.
