Favorite Children's Book

My favorite book as a child was "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

 

""I wish that I could give you something------ but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump." "I don't need very much now," said the boy. "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired." "Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy.

For some reason, I just loved it. Simple pictures and a simple message- I didn't have to work too hard to have that "aww" feeling that you usually get from children's books. No advanced rhyming or difficult and complex sentences.

Looking back on this, I wonder why I loved such a sad, solemn book. It's kind of in the same genre as "Love You Forever." I enjoyed nature and animals and personification as a child, so I think I imagined myself as the little boy, making friends with this old tree. I guess I was drawn to the realistic nature of the book, that people and trees alike, do at some point grow old. The happier endings seemed more of a fantasy to me: I could see right through them. I remember feeling sad for the tree that the boy cut down every part of her to attain these material things. I wanted them so badly to be friends again, and was happy that they were finally re-united! :)