Who Wrote The Giving Tree, and Who Published It?
Shel Silverstein wrote and illustrated The Giving Tree. Harper & Row published it on 7 October 1964, after he had struggled for several years to find a publisher.
Today the book is published by HarperCollins.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author and illustrator | Shel Silverstein |
| Publisher | Harper & Row (now HarperCollins) |
| Published | 7 October 1964 |
| Editor | Ursula Nordstrom |
| First printing | Small, about 5,000 to 7,500 copies |
Who was Shel Silverstein?
Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) was an American cartoonist, songwriter and author. Before writing for children he drew cartoons for Playboy, and he later wrote the song A Boy Named Sue. He is also known for poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends. He illustrated The Giving Tree himself, in spare black-and-white line drawings.
↑ Back to the topWhy was it hard to publish?
Silverstein had trouble placing the book. An editor at Simon & Schuster turned it down, reportedly saying it was too sad for children and too simple for adults. The editor, William Cole, later admitted the mistake in print.
The cartoonist Tomi Ungerer encouraged Silverstein to approach Ursula Nordstrom, a publisher at Harper & Row, who took the book.
↑ Back to the topHow did it come out?
Harper & Row published a small first edition in 1964. An editor there reportedly felt Silverstein's first drawings were too scratchy, like his cartoons, and he redrew them in a plainer, softer style. The book went on to sell millions of copies and has been translated into many languages.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Giving Tree
This guide covers the 1964 picture book. Page counts vary by edition and by how unnumbered pages are counted.