The Giving Tree is a tale about a relationship between a young boy and a tree in a forest. The tree always provides the boy with what he wants: branches on which to swing, shade in which to sit, apples to eat, branches with which to build a home. As the boy grows older, his demands become more self-serving, and the tree happily obliges until she is nothing more than a stump. The book addresses themes of giving and love with a sadness permeating the story.