I chose three books that I believe share a common theme of selfless love. These three books share with the reader how kindness, sharing, persistence, and a caring heart can have a significant impact in the life of another character that has gone astray. The Giving Tree and Love You Forever are perfect read aloud books for children in pre-school through the second grade and Shiloh is a great independent reading book for students between the third and up until the fifth grade. These books will highlight for students how to develop positive lifelong relationships with others as well. In each of these books there is a character that displays unconditional compassion for another character in the story. Despite any of the mischievous behaviors the troublesome characters get into, the caregivers still find it in their hearts to do anything in their power to protect, nurture, and love the misled individuals. The caretakers are very faithful characters that stay firm in his or her beliefs throughout the stories.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a classic fable about giving generously and taking without thinking and thus resulting in profound negative consequences (Lewis, 2009). This story shows the life of a young boy and his dependence on a tree to provide him with immediate satisfaction. Throughout the boy’s life, the tree continuously provides for him in whatever way it can, without ever asking for anything in return. For example, when the boy asks for a house, the tree offers up its branches to the boy in order for him to fulfill his needs. As the years pass, the tree loses its bountiful fruits, branches, and finally ends its life as a stump yet always remains dependable and loyal to the boy. Despite all of the challenges the tree faces as it loses parts of its beauty, as long as the boy remains happy the tree remains happy.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is a lovely story about a mother and her persistent love for her baby boy. The story follows the life of the boy from a mischievous two year old, to a messy nine year old, into his rebellious teenage years, and all the way until he is an adult. Despite the boy’s tendency to get into trouble, each night the mother always will sneak into his room and sing him the same lullaby promising to always love her baby as long as she lives. Even when the boy leaves home and goes off to college, she would occasionally come and visit and still sing him to sleep. It isn’t until she is very old and can no longer take care of her baby boy that the roles are reversed and the son finds that it is his turn to provide for his mother. Eventually the book ends with the son going home to his own daughter, singing a similar lullaby that his own mother once sang to him, and promising to love his child forever and always.
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is about an eleven year old boy, named Marty that befriends an abused hunting dog named Shiloh. Marty has to make a huge moral decision whether or not to return the dog to his abusive owner or to protect Shiloh from future harm. Marty continuously tries throughout the story to keep Shiloh’s trust and his faith in him as a loyal guardian. For example, he tries to protect and provide shelter for Shiloh by hiding him in the woods from his parents and especially from Shiloh’s abusive owner, Judd. Marty does everything in his power to protect Shiloh from returning to his abusive master. Marty even makes a deal with Judd to work rigorous hours for him on his farm in exchange for keeping Shiloh. This book is an excellent demonstration for how children have the power to provide for others as long as they are faithful, compassionate, and committed to their goals.
Lewis, P. (2009). “The Giving Tree”. Common Sense Media. Retrieved at http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Giving-Tree.html/details#whats-the-story.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a classic fable about giving generously and taking without thinking and thus resulting in profound negative consequences (Lewis, 2009). This story shows the life of a young boy and his dependence on a tree to provide him with immediate satisfaction. Throughout the boy’s life, the tree continuously provides for him in whatever way it can, without ever asking for anything in return. For example, when the boy asks for a house, the tree offers up its branches to the boy in order for him to fulfill his needs. As the years pass, the tree loses its bountiful fruits, branches, and finally ends its life as a stump yet always remains dependable and loyal to the boy. Despite all of the challenges the tree faces as it loses parts of its beauty, as long as the boy remains happy the tree remains happy.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is a lovely story about a mother and her persistent love for her baby boy. The story follows the life of the boy from a mischievous two year old, to a messy nine year old, into his rebellious teenage years, and all the way until he is an adult. Despite the boy’s tendency to get into trouble, each night the mother always will sneak into his room and sing him the same lullaby promising to always love her baby as long as she lives. Even when the boy leaves home and goes off to college, she would occasionally come and visit and still sing him to sleep. It isn’t until she is very old and can no longer take care of her baby boy that the roles are reversed and the son finds that it is his turn to provide for his mother. Eventually the book ends with the son going home to his own daughter, singing a similar lullaby that his own mother once sang to him, and promising to love his child forever and always.
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is about an eleven year old boy, named Marty that befriends an abused hunting dog named Shiloh. Marty has to make a huge moral decision whether or not to return the dog to his abusive owner or to protect Shiloh from future harm. Marty continuously tries throughout the story to keep Shiloh’s trust and his faith in him as a loyal guardian. For example, he tries to protect and provide shelter for Shiloh by hiding him in the woods from his parents and especially from Shiloh’s abusive owner, Judd. Marty does everything in his power to protect Shiloh from returning to his abusive master. Marty even makes a deal with Judd to work rigorous hours for him on his farm in exchange for keeping Shiloh. This book is an excellent demonstration for how children have the power to provide for others as long as they are faithful, compassionate, and committed to their goals.
Lewis, P. (2009). “The Giving Tree”. Common Sense Media. Retrieved at http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Giving-Tree.html/details#whats-the-story.
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