I was helping children paint pictures of tree in honour of the Jewish Holiday that is coming soon called Tu Beshvat. Tu Beshvat honours trees by celebrating their birthday each year. Trees are wonderful. And all these little artists, painting stain plastic windows, potrayed them from every season and size. I brought out books, from my collection, that depicted trees well. The Gruffalo has terrific forest scenes. Where the Wild Things has interesting island trees. More by Emma Chichester Clark has wonderfully imaginative trees. When I pulled out The Giving Tree many of the nine year olds around the table recognized it.
"I know that book," said one.
"I don't like that book," said another.
Suddenly a sixteen year old boy rounded the corner and said, "That book has a terrible message."
A conversation ensued. The consensus was in agreement with the boy.
Shel Silverstein was a clever writer and by all accounts, a spiritual man. What really was his message? Was it really for parents? Was he reminding parents that they are the trees and their children will take advantage of them to the end if they provide endlessly for their kids without asking for anything in return? Did he write the book so that parents can explain to their children that they should not be greedy and take advantage of their parents? Is the book too subtle? Too complex? Too obvious? I don't know.
I like ents. Patient for a really long time, but then they beat the crap out of everybody.
Posted by: erich schlaikjer | January 24, 2012 at 07:43 PM