Once there was a tree . .... and she loved a little boy . And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest . He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples . And they would play hide - and - go - seek . And when he was tired , he would sleep in her shade . And the boy loved the tree . ...... very much . And the tree was happy . But time went by . And the boy grew older . And the tree was often alone . Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said " Come , Boy , come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy " " I am too big to climb and play ", said the boy . " I want to buy things and have fun . I want some money . Can you give me some money ? " " I ' m sorry , " said the tree , " but I have no money , I have only leaves and apples . Take my apples , Boy , and sell them in the city . Then you will have money and you will be happy . " And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away . And the tree was happy . But the boy stayed away for a long time . . and the tree was sad . And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said , " Come , Boy , climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy . " " I am too busy to climb trees , " said the boy . " I want a house to keep me warm , " he said . " I want a wife and I want children , and so I need a house . Can you give me a house ? " " I have no house , " said the tree . " The forest is my house , but you may cut off my branches and build a house . Then you will be happy . " And the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house . And the tree was happy . But the boy stayed away for a long time . And when he came back , the tree was so happy she could hardly speak . " Come , Boy , " she whispered , " come and play . " " I am too old and sad to play , " said the boy . " I want a boat that take me far away from here . Can you give me a boat ? " " Cut down my trunk and make a boat , " said the tree . " Then you can sail away . ..... and be happy . " And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away . And the tree was happy . ... but not really . And after a long time the boy came back again . " I am sorry , Boy , " said the tree , " but I have nothing left to give you ----" " My apples are gone . " " My teeth are too weak for apples , " said the boy . " My branches are gone , " said the tree . " You cannot swing on them ------" " I am too old to swing on branches , " said the boy . " My trunk is gone , " said the tree . " You cannot climb --------" " I am too tired to climb , " said the boy . " I am sorry , " sighed the tree . " 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 . Shel Silverstein SHEL SILVERSTEIN was born on September 25 , 1930 in Chicago , Illinois and began writing and drawing at a young age . He became a cartoonist , playwright , poet , performer , recording artist , and Grammy - winning , Oscar - nominated songwriter . Silverstein is best known as the author of iconic books of prose and poetry for young readers . His works include such modern classics as Lafcadio : The Lion Who Shot Back ( 1963 ) , The Giving Tree ( 1964 ) , A Giraffe and a Half ( 1964 ) , The Missing Piece ( 1976 ) , and The Missing Piece Meets the Big O ( 1981 ) . His immensely popular poetry collections are Where the Sidewalk Ends , a 1974 Michigan Young Readers Award winner ; A Light in the Attic , recipient of the School Library Journal Best Books Award in 1982 ; Falling Up ( 1996 ) ; and Dont Bump the Glump ! And Other Fantasies , which was originally published in 1963 and reissued in 2008 . Runny Babbit ( 2005 ) , a posthumous poetry collection of spoonerisms , was conceived and completed before his death . Silversteins books , which he also illustrated , are characterized by a deft mixing of the sly and the serious , the macabre , and the just plain silly . His unique imagination and bold brand of humor is beloved by countless adults and children throughout the world . He died in May 1999 . Visit www . ShelSilverstein . com , the official website for kids and winner of a Webby Honoree for Youth , to learn about Shel Silverstein ' s books , watch exclusive animations , play games , download fun activities , and more . Shel Silverstein ' s name and signature are trademarks of Evil Eye , LLC . All rights reserved . http : / / www . shelsilverstein . com / play . asphttp : / / kingscove . tripod . com / THE - GIVING - TREE