The Giving Tree
By Shel Silverstein
Narrators 1-11, Boy, Tree
Narrator 1: Once there was a tree……
Narrator 2: And she loved a little boy.
Narrator 3: And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them
into crowns and play king of the forest.
Narrator 4: He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and when he was tired, he
would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree…..very much.
Narrator 5: And the tree was happy. But time went by, and the boy grew older. And the tree was
often alone.
Narrator 6: Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said:
Tree: Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and
play in my shade and be happy.
Boy: I am too big to climb and play
Narrator 7: said the boy.
Boy: I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?”
Tree: I’m sorry
Narrator 8: said the tree,
Tree: but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
city. Then you will have money and you’ll be happy.
Narrator 9: And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away.
And the tree was happy…
Narrator 10: But the boy stayed away for a long time…… and the tree was sad.
Narrator 11: And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy, and she said:
