REVIEWS+

The Taking Tree

A Selfish Parody
by Shrill Travesty
48p. 978-1-44240-763-3.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—In this parody of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree (HarperCollins, 1964), the relationship between the tree and the boy is not as loving this time around. The boy is "a real jerk" whom the tree detests. He pokes his sister with twigs, throws acorns at old people, and takes leaves from the tree and sets them on fire. Each time the kid goes away—usually to jail—the tree is happy. And it is not so willing to sacrifice itself for someone who, as he grows older, is never satisfied. "Are you out of your mind?" it asks. "You took everything you could take. And I can't take it anymore!" While ultimately the tree fares no better, those who were disturbed by the original version will appreciate that the boy's outcome is equally grim. Charcoal illustrations evoke Silverstein's style, with watercolor accents to brighten the pages. While adults are the typical audience for parodies, children who enjoy stories a bit off-kilter will find this one intriguing. As fans of Roald Dahl know, seeing the truly evil get their comeuppance makes for a satisfying book.—Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR
There's exactly one funny moment in this parody of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree: "He carved things in the tree... / ...that he almost instantly regretted" faces a tree etched with "McCain Palin '08." The plot concerns a mean boy who, like a horror movie stalker, has it in for the tree. The skimpy art tries too hard to look kidlike.
Reviewed by Suzanne Myers Harold , Nov 01, 2010

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?