Thanks Giving Tree

Hard to believe that it was 50 years ago that Shel Silverstein published The Giving Tree.  Not only is it one of my favorite books, but I’m honestly hard-pressed to think of a book from which I’ve learned more.  If it has been years since you read it -- or read it to your child, as I had the pleasure of doing last night -- please do yourself and loved ones the favor sooner than later.

And in the immediate, perhaps you should take a moment to watch the movie?

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Now, I’m going to go out on a limb here (pardon the pun), and argue that The Giving Tree Movie is yet another case in point to the old adage that the book is always better than the movie.

Why is that?

Like all WonderLab Mentor Guides, my job is to ask questions rather than answer them, but in this case I’ll make an exception and offer one of many answers:  movies often leave little to the viewers’ imagination.  In a way, we make the movie in our heads as we read, while movies provide insight into one filmmaker’s imagination.

So we thought it would be a fun challenge to make a movie that did WonderLab justice (and by “movie,” I of course mean “two minute video”).  Rather than leave little to the viewers’ imagination, however, our objective was for viewers to imagine the infinite possibilities at WonderLab.

So if you are like me — one of the many fortunate people on the planet who can genuinely say that you love learning — perhaps the people, places, and ideas that brought that to fruition should be at the top of your thank you note list this Thanksgiving?  

And if like me you want nothing more than to raise children who genuinely love learning, perhaps you should consider reading them plenty of Shel Silverstein and giving the gift of wonder(lab) this holiday season?!

Thank you, happy Thanksgiving, and thanks Giving Tree,

Temp