Alternate ending to The Giving Tree

[JPie]

Despite the fact that it’s a classic, Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree always bothered me. The boy was a user and the tree was a pushover.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who felt that way! Someone did something about it.

The Giving Tree- Alternate Ending

Read The Giving Tree as usual, then when the Boy comes hustling for a house, switch to this.

www.topherpayne.com

 

[bludiva]

Love this. The Giving Tree is so bleak, even as an adult I feel a little bit ill after reading it.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Despite the fact that it’s a classic, Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree always bothered me. The boy was a user and the tree was a pushover.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who felt that way! Someone did something about it.

The Giving Tree- Alternate Ending

Read The Giving Tree as usual, then when the Boy comes hustling for a house, switch to this.

www.topherpayne.com

I don't care if they're teens, I'm reading this to them next time they leave their room holes.

 

[JPie]

I don't care if they're teens, I'm reading this to them next time they leave their room holes.

“Room holes”

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Wonderful !

 

[monarch64]

I saw this on Facebook early this morning. My mother loved this book; I always hated the dude and never understood why the tree was ok with giving him absolutely everything.

 

[yennyfire]

I don't care if they're teens, I'm reading this to them next time they leave their room holes.

YES! We will be reading this as a family tonight!

 

[elle_71125]

I thought I was the only one who hated this book. This alternate ending is a thousand times better (and hits all the feels).

 

[YadaYadaYada]

The boy was never happy in the original story, always asking for more until the tree was a stump, he was miserable and the tree was probably too. For a book for children it certainly was depressing.

This outcome is so much better, thanks for sharing!

 

[minousbijoux]

I am SO relieved to say that I am not familiar with the original. Were I to have known, I would have carried around ill will for years! Instead, I love this ending - and yeah, I'm absolutely sure I'm not the only one who teared up reading it.

 

[Polabowla]

Oh much better!
Why teach kids to give & give until they have nothing left for themselves? Otherwise they're "selfish"

Did anyone else hate rainbow fish for the same reason- he had to give away all his sparkly rainbow scales to all the other fish to enjoy too?
Despised that book.

 

[bludiva]

Oh much better!
Why teach kids to give & give until they have nothing left for themselves? Otherwise they're "selfish"

Did anyone else hate rainbow fish for the same reason- he had to give away all his sparkly rainbow scales to all the other fish to enjoy too?
Despised that book.

I thought it was meant to be a cautionary tale, not a lesson. Oh that makes it even bleaker...

 

[Rfisher]

Yes!
Thank you for sharing. I love it.
This and the Chris McCandless story always made my eye twitch. Hate is a strong word, but........

I should share alternate ending with my child. Any time I point out how she speaks to me lately, her response is now ‘not everything is about you’.
So I fully expect to see her story on r/raised by narcissists

 

[GoldenTouch]

Love it. Shared it with other people at the school I work at.

 

[missy]

I never read this book but agree with you @JPie that this is a much better ending given what you shared here.