After giving their children so much, the parent may rarely hear a “thank you” in reply, but they are still happy because they are able to provide for their children. The selflessness of the parent ends up destroying themselves in the long run. Often times, a parental figure gives so much to their children that they are left with nothing else to give. The tree would represent the parent and the boy would represent the child. Some people think that the book represents a relationship between a parent and their child. Throughout the book, there are multiple themes present. The elderly boy resting on the stump that was once the tree

The book ends with the tree saying that she is happy. The boy then wants a place to rest, so the tree gives him her stump so that he can rest. As the boy reaches old age, he visits the tree one last time and the tree tells him that she has nothing left to give him. At this point, the tree is left as a stump. He then wants a boat, so the tree gives him her trunk so that he could build a boat. After giving most of herself to the boy, the tree states that she is happy. He wants a house, so the tree gives him her branches to build a house. He wants money, so the tree gives him her apples to sell. As the boy gets older, he wants more and more from the tree. He wound swing on her branches, eat her apples, and as long as he did this, the tree was happy. When he was young, the boy would come and visit the tree every day. The book is about the relationship of a boy and a tree. The classic children’s book, The Giving Tree, was written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein.

The giving tree 1964