歌词：

Once there was a giving tree

Who loved a little boy

And everyday the boy would come to play

Swinging from her branches

Sleeping in her shades

Laughing all the summer hours away

And so they loved, and oh the tree was happy

Oh, the tree was glad

But soon the boy grew older

And one day he came and said

Can you give me some money, tree

To buy some things I've found

I have no money, said the tree

Just apples, twigs and leaves

But you can take my apples, boy

And sell them in the town

And so he did, and oh the tree was happy

Oh, the tree was glad

Soon again the boy came back

And he said to the tree, I'm now a man

And I must have a house that's all my own

I can't give you a house, said the tree

The forest is my home

But you may cut my branches off

And build yourself a home

And so he did, and oh the tree was happy

Oh, the tree was glad

And time went by and the boy came back

With sadness in his eyes

My life has turned so cold, he said

And I need sunny days

I'm nothing buy my trunk, she said

But you may cut it down

And build yourself a boat and sail away

And so he did, and oh the tree was happy

Oh, the tree was glad

And after years, the boy came back

From both ends of the world

I really cannot help you

If you ask another gift

I'm nothing but an old stump now

I'm sorry, boy, she said

I'm sorry, but I've nothing more to give

I don't need very much now

ust a quiet place to rest

The boy, he whispered with a weary smile

Well, said the tree, an old stump is still as good for that

Come, boy, she said, sit down

Sit down and rest awhile

And so he did, and oh the tree was happy

Oh, the tree was glad

一则有关“索取”与“付出”的寓言，适合所有的年龄。特别值得向辛劳的爸爸妈妈们推荐。

一个男孩儿幸运地遇到了一棵因爱而给予，因给予而快乐的大树。大树用他全部的生命陪伴男孩儿一生，为他创造了一生。男孩儿曾因成长而离开，但他在生命的开始与结尾都和大树为伴，为此，大树幸福不已。理解这个故事的孩子会隐约地感受到自己与亲人的关系和男孩儿与大树的关系有相似之处。这是一本不分读者群的经典图画书，作者希尔弗斯坦是20世纪最伟大的绘本作家之一，绘图以简单利落的黑白线条勾勒形象，没有背景，留有很大的空白。文字简洁、明了，略含幽默、讽刺、忧伤的气息，在整体氛围上图文的配合非常融洽。希尔弗斯坦的其他作品如《失落的一角》也保持了同样的风格。

从前有一棵大树，它和一个男孩儿是好朋友。每天男孩儿都跑来和它一起玩，他们很快乐。可是随着时光流逝，男孩儿长大了。大树感到了孤寂。一天，孩子来看大树，"我需要一些钱。"于是大树把自己的苹果给了孩子。后来又一天，长大了的孩子来了，"我需要一幢房子。"于是大树把所有的树枝都给了孩子。又过了很长时间，孩子又回来了，"我需要一条船，驾着它到远方去。" 于是大树又把自己的树干给了孩子。又过了很久，已经变老了的孩子回来了。"非常抱歉，孩子，"大树说，"我现在只是个老树墩，没有什么可以给你的了。""我现在需要的实在不多，"孩子说，"我只想找个安静的地方坐坐，我太累了"。于是孩子坐下了。大树很快乐。

这是一个温馨、又略带哀伤的动人故事。希尔弗斯坦以简单俐落的线条，充满诗意又带有嘲讽幽默的文字，为各个年龄的读者创造了一则令人心醒动容的寓言--在施与受之间，也在爱与被爱之间。