The Tree Who Set Healthy Boundaries

Topher Fixed It

by Topher Payne

An alternate parody-ending to Shel Silversteen's The Giving Tree, part of the Topher Fixed It series for young people.

Per the Author:
Just read "The Giving Tree" as usual, right up to the point where the Boy comes hustling for a house. Then feel free to print these pages (available on the author's site) and read as an alternative to everything that follows.

​The alternate endings are available for you to print for free. If you enjoy them, I happily accept tips via PayPal, which helps keep the site going. (I'm a writer. I'm poor. But happy.)

​And I hope you'll learn more about The Atlanta Artist Relief Fund, which is providing crucial assistance to my colleagues during the COVID crisis.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Comedy, Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Contemporary

52 pages, Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my childhood, I had read Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree and I remember having mixed feelings about it. I felt sorry for the tree who didn't get anything in return after doing so much for that ungrateful boy. Of course, you can look at the story as a fable of selfless love but as the years have passed, I have come to believe more and more that selfless love isn't possible without self-love. One must learn to set healthy boundaries even in close relationships if one has to stay mentally satisfied and not drained out.

That's where this book comes in. The basic concept is the same as in the original book. But from a particular point , the story transitions into one where the tree speaks for itself and sets a clear limit. This, it does without being rude. it speaks to the boy (now man) in a firm way that one needs to have an empathetic relationship with fellow beings.

If you have had the same issues as I did with the Shel Silverstein book, do give the Topher Payne version a try. In today's selfish world, it is this version that we need to teach our kids to ensure that they don't let everyone else walk over them.

The best part is that Topher Payne himself did a selfless service in writing this alternate version. He has put up the changed copy on his website where it is available to download and print for free. You can check it out here: https://www.topherpayne.com/giving-tree

The minor downside? You need to have a copy of the original over which you can superimpose these new pages.

This parody version gets a full 5 stars from me for its message.

(I've read this ages ago. Just didn't realise that it would be on Goodreads.😊)

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[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars - I remember reading this as a child. It hits differently as an adult.

[Najeefa Nasreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more appropriate approach take towards nature along with a better and positive ending to the story that is needed for children to get inspired from.

I wholeheartedly thank my GR friend RoshReviews for bringing this book to my notice.

[Jokoloyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this alternate ending better than the original story. With healthy boundaries the human and tree can live respecting each other.

[Irou Li Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Χτες λοιπόν εκεί που καθόμουν ήρεμα και ωραία, μαθαίνω τα ευχάριστα. Ο κύριος Topher Payne ξαναέγραψε "το δέντρο που έδινε"!!!

Στο λαιμό μου είχε κάτσει εκείνο το βιβλίο..Αντιλαμβάνομαι πλήρως το δίδαγμα της άνευ όρων δοτικότητας και της ανιδιοτελούς προσφοράς και αγάπης (παρόλο που δεν πιστεύω ότι υπάρχουν γύρω μας στο μέγεθος που παρουσιάζονται) και μάλιστα επικροτώ την σκέψη και την εκτέλεση, καθώς μπορεί να αποτελέσει έναυσμα για προβληματισμό και συζήτηση.

Όμως μέσα μου κάτι φώναζε πάντα: "καμόν δέντρο! κοίτα λίγο και τον εαυτό σου! δηλαδή κάπου φτάνει!"

Και έτσι τώρα έρχεται το "The tree who set healthy boundaries" και διορθώνει την αδικία, το κρίμα και το άδικο μια για πάντα!

Θα σας παραθέσω ένα απόσπασμα εδώ:

“And while we’re on the subject,” the tree said, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. “I recognize friendships evolve over time, and we may not see each other as often because you don’t have time for your tree friends. But we used to be real tight. Now it feels like I only see you when you need something. How do you think that makes me feel?”

The Boy took a long breath. He felt a sour rumble in his stomach. Because he realized he hadn’t considered his friend’s feelings. “I bet it makes you feel bad,” said the Boy.

Τέλειο??? Ε ναι! Ας μιλήσουμε λίγο και για υγιή όρια και λίγο για ενσυναίσθηση.

[misvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

piękna, ale mnie wzięło na książki dla dzieci

4,5/5

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Topher Payne gives Shel Silverstein's 'The Giving Tree' a more wholistic [my word] ending, one that teaches about the setting and respecting of boundaries, and to learn to give as much as you take and/or are blessed to be able to.

"The alternate endings are available for you to print for free. If you enjoy them, I hope you'll consider a donation to The Atlanta Artist Relief Fund, which is providing crucial assistance to my colleagues during the COVID crisis." https://www.topherpayne.com/giving-tree

The alternate ending for Marcus Pfister's 'The Rainbow Fish' -- retitled 'The Rainbow Fish Keeps His Scales' (also a 4-star read) can be read, downloaded, or printed from here: https://www.topherpayne.com/rainbow-fish

[Amanda G · Rating 5 out of 5]

You set those boundaries tree!

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Giving Tree" is one of the children's books I find problematic (and most of the others this same author actually fixes as well). The original is Shel Silversteinand he can be a bit of a creep so he probably never intended there to be the lesson people attribute to it. However, the fact that so many glean a lesson from the original is an issue and I think this alternate ending does a good job to show how the relationship could have been much more healthy. The writing style is maybe not quite as poetic as the original, but it is quite good still as a parody of the style.

[Arthur Zey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific alternative to the ethical dumpster fire that is The Giving Tree. Instead of glorifying the nobility of self-sacrifice, this alternative ending gives a great indication of why self-protective boundaries ultimately lead to win-win situations, and the alternative is lose-lose.

I would have given 5 stars, but I didn't care for the altruistic premises that the author still smuggled in at the end, when saying that boundaries are important because they lead to more effective giving. I would have liked a more unequivocal, unapologetic stand in favor of the tree's own rights and interests, where the Boy's (and others') interests were subordinate to the tree's--from her perspective.

While the alternative ending did a good job illustrating how everybody's genuine interests are harmonious and that win-win approaches lead to much better outcomes for all involved than an alleged win-lose (showing, even, how win-lose is really lose-lose), it would have been more consistent and coherent if it defended it consistently on egoistic grounds, rather than altruistic grounds.

[Mark Will Never Cry · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are three different ways the tree can be interpreted (in my opinion) (if we ignore that it is a tree), it can be seen either as a parent, the nature and the traditional wife, at least that is the way it is in the original. This alternative ending clearly positions the tree as a friend of the boy and does not really play into other interpretations. I think that this is a story with a better message than the original one, however, it deviates a bit from being a children’s book, at least in my opinion, that is largely based on the joke about the tree taking online lessons. However, it could also be seen as a nod to the parents in order for them to have some fun too. The alternative ending is way more denser on text than the original and there are fewer illustrations, the combination of two making it a less enjoyable experience as compared to the original, however, this one has a pretty great message, which makes me quite confident in rating it above the original.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always hated The Giving Tree. This is MUCH improved.

Of course whole-hearted giving is noble, and some children will learn to emulate your generous example, however, enabling a taker who never matures and eventually bleeds you dry, is counterproductive for everyone. The child never learns, and eventually, you have nothing left to give. That is nothing to celebrate.

This re-write however is BRILLIANT! A little discomfort on everyone’s part, so clear communication, growth, and everyone is better off.

Thank you Topher. I’ll have to look up your other re-writes. Have you done The Rainbow Fish maybe?

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

much better version than original for today's society of takers who haven't learned how to give as much as they take from the world. Highly recommend going to the link and printing out the alternate ending to place over the original pages in the book.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm incredibly happy that this exists and wish it were more widely known. I hate to think I might have never happened to discover and experience it. Also; free download for the win! Even if you do need the original to pair with it for the complete story.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meu deus. Conseguiu ser pior.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book to help children understand there needs to be rules and boundaries.

[Becca Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahaha

[Courtney Kleefeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep, much better.

[Yassaf]

It was really good but it made me sad. I do have to say though, if a book is able to make you sad, then the author has done a really good job telling the story.

[Michael Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better ending than the original, but a bit wordy. Probably not actually completely suitable for the target audience.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Payne completely misses the point and subtlety of the original and gives us an overly online message that didn't need to be said.

[saracha ⋆☕︎ ˖ (goodbye.) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better alternate ending to The Giving Tree <3

[Pam Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please make this a book!