No matter how whimsical or fictitious, children's books tell human stories. It doesn't matter if the characters are all talking animals. Storytelling draws on our common experiences and should draw an emotional response.
Awhile back I wrote a blog post for my public library about books that make my son laugh. I thought I would write a companion on books the make me cry. Here are five.
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Suess
I have so many childhood memories attached to this story that it is not a surprise that this book conjures up emotions. It's a redemption story set at Christmas with sing-songy rhymes and a "love is the answer" message. Do we really get together and sing with all our neighbors at Christmas? No, but I think a lot of harried moms wish we would. Perhaps that longing for uncomplicated community adds to the appeal of this classic.
The passage that gets me:
"And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light ..."
"Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You" by Nancy Tillman
I think Nancy Tillman target audience is emotional moms. She's found her market. I pick this up at a book sale when I was pregnant with Liam and would read it "to him" when he was a baby. I was new to the whole motherhood thing, and the power of the attachment I felt for my child was raw and overwhelming. The illustrations are beautiful and fantastical. The message is simple, rhythmic and emotional. Queue ugly cry.
The passage that gets me:
"And if someday you’re lonely, or someday you’re sad,
or you strike out at baseball, or think you’ve been bad…
just lift up your face, feel the wind in your hair.
That’s me, my sweet baby, my love is right there.""The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper
One night before bed, I was reading this book to my children during a time of particularly horrendous violence in Aleppo, Syria. Stories of children trapped in a war zone were not far from my mind, and the helplessness of the dolls and toys trying to reach the other side of the mountain took on new meaning.
The passage that gets to me:
"Won't you please pull our train over the mountain? Our engine has broken down, and the good little boys and girls on the other side won't have any toys to play with or good food to eat unless you help us."
"Knuffle Bunny Free" by Mo Willems
This is the story of a child, Trixie, beginning to grow up and letting go of their favorite comfort toy, Knuffle Bunny. That storyline in and of itself is a bit melancholy. Then Mo Willems has to go and add "A Note to Trixie" on the final pages, and I just lose it.
The passage that gets me:
"Trixie, I hope to watch you grow up, fall in love, start a family, and be happy."
"Belly Button Book" by Sandra Boynton
OK, bear with me. Yes, this is a book about how cartoon hippos think belly buttons are wonderful. Yes, it has Boynton's usual fun rhyming and signature illustrations. It has fun with words, and I do sing parts of this when I'm reading it. But then, winter comes. I can't help equating the last page of this book to loss of innocence, childhood, joy -- you name it. I know I'm probably reading too much into this, but I still get misty-eyed.
The passage that gets me:
"We sing this song on summer nights,
or when it's hot outside.
But never in cold wintertime,
when belly buttons hide.
No, never in cold wintertime,
when belly buttons hide."
