Had not read this chidren's book until recently. Bittersweet to put it mildly, a story of unconditional love at the least and environmental warnings too. Probably tougher for the parents than the kids who just go along with the spare and pleasing illustrations.
The author and illustrator Shel Silverstein was quite a character and though a decade now since he passed away (May 10th 1999) The Giving Tree and his other books are full of real emotion. BTW he looks harder than a coffin nail too... not your typical children's writer. His other stealth claim to fame is penning the words to A Boy Named Sue for Johnny Cash. (Did you know Shel also penned a follow-up called Father of a Boy Named Sue? Now you do.)