Beautiful lines from children's books

From T.H. White's 'The Sword in the Stone':
"He did not like the grown-ups who talked down to him, but the ones who went on talking in their usual way, leaving him to leap along in their wake, jumping at meanings, guessing, clutching at known words, and chuckling at complicated jokes as they suddenly dawned. He had the glee of the porpoise then, pouring and leaping through strange seas."

Duck, Death & The Tulip is a must read and full of wisdom. It explains how death is nothing to fear and that it follows all of us, in a rather sad and lonely way

That sounds really shit I know but the book is amazing and a must read

This gets me every time x

HEAR and attend and listen; for this befell and behappened and became and was, O my Best Beloved, when the Tame animals were wild. The Dog was wild, and the Horse was wild, and the Cow was wild, and the Sheep was wild, and the Pig was wildas wild as wild could beand they walked in the Wet Wild Woods by their wild lones. But the wildest of all the wild animals was the Cat. He walked by himself, and all places were alike to him.

I love the Just So stories, and I can still hear my mother's voice when I read them.

The Big Ugly Monster and the Stone Rabbit . Is a beautiful , lovely book
Even seeing the front cover again makes me weepy .

The thoughtfox, I was going to quote that bit of The Velveteen Rabbit and say it was the best wedding reading I think I've ever heard... perhaps I was at yours...

Beth's death, Tolly singing, yes, yes. Of course my daddy, my daddy. Can't read the Oscar Wildes, too heart breaking.

In Towers in the Mist, the death of Giles, the brilliant oldest son, who suddenly looks as if he sees something pleasing, recognises it and dies.

Glad there's someone else who's read Understood Betsy.

The death of Jack the Bulldog in On the Shores of Silver Lake.

Cheating slightly with this but the ending of the little mermaid. We saw the show in Florida a few years ago when Dd's were 6 and three.
This bit made dh quite emotional and he's not like that at all. Now each time I see it I shed a little tear

Triton: She really does love him, doesn't she, Sebastian?

*Sebastian: Well, it's like I always say, Your Majesty. Children got to be free

to lead their own lives.

Triton: You - always say that? (sighs) Then I guess there's just one problem

left.

Sebastian: And what's that, Your Majesty?

Triton: How much I'm going to miss her*. (He turns her into a human and she goes

to meet Eric. They kiss which fades into kiss on wedding day. Everyone is

happy. Sebastion is attacked by Louis. He beats Louis up and returns to the

sea.)

Sebastion: Yes, Thank you, thank you. (Ariel and Triton hug.)

Ariel: I love you Daddy.

OK I read a lot to my 1 year old but haven't read him any of these books yet. However I'm pregnant and hormonal and Sat here in tears just at the quotes, so I don't think I'd be able to read them to him haha

Yes, classics is a must!

Please, oh please, can this thread be moved to classics MNHQ?

I'd never heard of the paper dolls, just looked it up on the internet, it's beautiful, definitely going to buy it!

Little women makes me weep every time with 'I was never like the rest of you, making plans about the great things I'd do, I never saw myself as anything much, just shy, stupid little Beth, who's only use was at home. Why does everyone want to go away? I love being home, but I don't like being left behind. Now I'm the one going ahead, No one can stop God if He wants me, But I'm afraid I shall be homesick for you... even in heaven'

I have no idea why but I love this from Alice In Wonderland

“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”

This is a really lovely and wonderful thread. I'm looking forward to bedtime stories with my little ones tonight now. Thank you OP, thinking of you.

My most proud mum moment so far, was on World Book Day last year. DS was Danny (complete with dog-toy pheasant and cardboard spanner) and had to stand at the front in assembly for having such a good costume.

bike mine too. I was slightly upset to have a nephew and a half brother called Daniel so I couldn't use it for my son. I love the description of a real smile being in the eyes.

Nancy, Danny is my favourite children's book in the whole world.

I'm at work, so don't have the book to hand, but the last few lines of Danny, The Champion of the World, where he's talking about he admires his Dad makes me howl. I can't get through it at all.

Ooh, thanks MuchBenham. We haven't listened to it, I'll look for that.

I always give a copy of Where the Wild Things Are as a new baby gift. It's perfect.

In The Young King by Oscar Wilde (what I remembered from the Ladybird book):

Near the end when the young king refused to wear his fine clothes (made by slave labour) to be crowned; he stepped onto the high altar, and the sunlight wove about him a robe much more beautiful than the gold robe which had been made for him, and the bishop said:

"One greater than I has crowned you."

Some of those ladybird books and tapes from the 1980s were really poignant, even though they were simplified for children, especially with the music. Snow White when the dwarves were mourning was a very powerful scene.

Wiping away tears here at the kitchen table.
Just wanted to reiterate Blueberry Girl. I cry every single time I read it. I am amazed the pages aren't all rippled and stick together really.
The Snail and the Whale also gets me, but I've never really understood why! 'She gazed and gazed and gazed at it all, and she said to the whale, "I feel so small." '
Also, obviously, Goodbye Mog. I cried as a teenager whilst just talking about that book with my Mum. 'Mog was tired. Mog was dead tired.' Waaaaaaah!

Charlotte's Web:

"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."
"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendous thing."

My friend quoted Charlotte's line when she gave her leaving speech at work, and loads of us were wiping away a tear. It's funny how a book you read as a child can still resonate years later.

And:
"Do you understand how there could be any writing in a spider's web?"
"Oh, no," said Dr. Dorian. "I don't understand it. But for that matter I don't understand how a spider learned to spin a web in the first place. When the words appeared, everyone said they were a miracle. But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle.
"What's miraculous about a spider's web?" said Mrs. Arable. "I don't see why you say I a web is a miracle - it's just a web."
"Ever try to spin one?" asked Dr. Dorian.

I use/paraphrase this one when I'm talking to the DSs about nature etc. Also use it at school and at Cubs when I'm meant to be doing a reflection with the kids. But I have to practise so that my voice doesn't crack. I don't know why it always gets me...

Yy to so many of the others mentioned. My boys just accept that I cry occasionally reading stories, I'm always a bit embarrassed though. I've cried in front of my sixth formers too. I teach tragedy and at the beginning of the year they have to bring in a reading or a clip of something they think is a tragedy, and loads of them make me choke up. I get my revenge by making them watch the beginning of Up! when we talk about catharsis.

oh god. i am in bits here. i agree with so many of these, and there are so many more that i wont get to read to mine because they are too grown up now. however my grandson is a year old next month so i may have to buy a few of them for him. my favourite, although its still a childrens book its for older children. happy potter, where snape and dumbledore are talking and snape produces lily's patronus. "after all this time?" "always". i have the quote in my living room on a lovely wooden block.