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Original poster

The Snail and the Whale... sniff

182 replies

BlueRaincoat1 · 03/03/2020 20:06

I have a 4 yr old and a 19 month old. DH bought the Snail and the Whale in the supermarket the other day, we have a few Julia Donaldson books but I'd never read this one before.
Was busy reading it to the 19 month old, I was liking the nice flowing rhymes, when it got to the bit about the Snail saving the Whale- I had to stop for about 30 seconds to compose myself. Wtf? And then I stayed pretty choked up til the end. And the exact same thing happened when I read it again.
Please tell me I'm not alone - does anyone else find this book emotional? It's taken me very by surprise, the Gruffalo and A Squash and a Squeeze don't have this affect!

OP posts:
TheincredibleBookEatingManchot · 03/03/2020 21:40

Where the Wild Things Are

When he comes home to find his dinner "and it was still hot." And the symmetry between Max saying to his mum "I'll eat you up" and the wild things saying to Max "we'll eat you up, we love you so."

MrsPaulSmith · 03/03/2020 21:42

Snail and the Whale was a favourite here. Tabby McTat also made me sob.

kiki22 · 03/03/2020 21:42

Another don't try paper dolls it's so sad.

We also have a book ds got from family who visited New Orleans called Bob Cat Bob and his Bourbon Street band theres a line that says it's like lightning mixed with lemonade and for some reason that part gets me.

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1 year olds 4 year olds Children's books
VenusClapTrap · 03/03/2020 21:45

The Giving Tree. Christ! I read that in Waterstones while the dc were browsing and had tears streaming down my face.

We had a lovely picture book of Puff the Magic Dragon that used to choke me up when I got to the line “Dragons live forever, but not so little boys”. Aaaaargh.

Pokkadots · 03/03/2020 21:45

No Matter What and Guess How Much I Love You are 2 books that make me cry still.

VenusClapTrap · 03/03/2020 21:47

Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs had me going too, when he calls out their names.

I must have been very hormonal when the dc were little...

Amummyatlast · 03/03/2020 21:48

Love the Snail and the Whale.

We have book called ‘I am small’ given to us as a freebie by our HV and it still makes me cry, even though DD is too big for it now (we will keep it for ever). This baby penguin is comparing itself to lots of big things, e.g. ‘The ocean is deep and I am small’ and then at the end, snuggled up to its parent, it says ‘I may be small but I can see, the biggest thing to you...is me”. Makes me weep.

tarkawithaparka · 03/03/2020 21:49

Oh my...Paper Dolls was a surprise. I bought the Julia Donaldson bag on books, my dd chose it (I'd never heard of it) started reading with gusto and I don't think I could finish it.

StubbleTurnips · 03/03/2020 21:50

Fuck me tabby Mctat is a heart breaker, works out well for him though. We love Snail and the Whale, all the animated versions are truly beautiful. Tiddler is our favourite.

Have to say - Gruffalos child makes my pulse raise every time I read it, it also terrifies DD1 who has huge fear of being lost.

kiki22 · 03/03/2020 21:54

Oh where the wild things are "...and it was still hot" I loved that. I'm getting blubbery.

We have the I am Small book @Amummyatlast it's very sweet

Elsa8 · 03/03/2020 21:55

I come over all emotional when everyone’s rushing to save the whale! Totally get this!

mcmooberry · 03/03/2020 21:58

I'm glad it's not just me!! Get choked up every time I read The Snail and the Whale!! Another one is Mole and Baby Bird (not a well known one), the kids won't let me read it as they get fed up with my voice going all funny!

maryberryslayers · 03/03/2020 22:03

Yes! I sobbed when I read the book and even more at the film! Toddler DS laughed at me.

MissisBee · 03/03/2020 22:03

The snail and the whale is a favourite in our house, and I have been known to sob a little when reading it. I blubbed lots when we watched the BBC version at Christmas, as it was so beautifully done, and it was amazing seeing DS so enthralled by it. It's a daily feature now, but hasn't lost its charm.
Stick man has sad bits, but I don't feel as much of an emotional connection with it for some reason.
Paper Dolls has been banished to the back of the cupboard, far too traumatic!!

bookworm14 · 03/03/2020 22:04

Yes to The Paper Dolls- I can’t get through it without weeping. Also Once There Were Giants, about a girl growing from a baby into a woman and having a baby of her own.

The real killer is the end of Winnie the Pooh, though:

“"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred." Pooh thought for a little. "How old shall I be then?" "Ninety-nine." Pooh nodded. "I promise," he said. Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt Pooh's paw. "Pooh," said Christopher Robin earnestly, "if Iif I'm not quite" he stopped and tried again-- "Pooh, whatever happens, you will understand, won't you?" "Understand what?" "Oh, nothing." He laughed and jumped to his feet. "Come on!" "Where?" said Pooh. "Anywhere." said Christopher Robin.

So, they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”

Waaaaaah!

FreezerBird · 03/03/2020 22:05

yy to the Snail and the Whale - but also Toddler:

"I was lost, I was scared, but a story led me home again"

Sniffle

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 03/03/2020 22:05

On this topic, I suggest a stiff brandy before reading “A Dot in the Snow”.

Very similar by the sounds of it to the recommendation above from @Amummyatlast

amazedmummy · 03/03/2020 22:06

My mum gave me "the night you were born" as a new baby present. I cried and cried. I couldn't even read it to DS properly for crying!

LegoLady95 · 03/03/2020 22:09

Moon rabbit. When white rabbit gets homesick and brown rabbit desperately tries to get her to stay with him in the park.

Also Owl Babies - the emotional rollercoaster of thinking their mum is gone to realising she is back. Bill 'I want my mum'.

Marsis · 03/03/2020 22:12

I thought the Snalil and the Whale was just me, it’s always made me tear up and I’m not sure why. Paper Dolls too but that’s more ‘obviously’ sad. I can bring myself to read ‘Goodbye Mog’.

The Girls is one that makes me cry too lovely story though.

The Snail and the Whale... sniff
ActualAl · 03/03/2020 22:12

DD got "oh my darling, my little one" in a bookbug bag I think and it's the one that makes me dissolve. The line as the mother duck drops off her chick at school to go to work. “oh my baby, little one, the hardest thing I do is hold you tight, then let you go and walk away from you.” Welling up just remembering!

BillywilliamV · 03/03/2020 22:13

Moominland in Winter, when Moomintroll sneezes and his mummy wakes up at last. I'm filling up just remembering it. Snail and the Whale always gets me too

BighouseLittlemouse · 03/03/2020 22:13

I’m another one that gets choked up at the snail and the whale - and it particularly weird as I’m not a massive Julia Donaldson fan.

The other one that gets me is the last page of giraffes can’t dance ‘everyone can dance when they find music that they love’ I think it goes - used to have tears every time I read it to my eldest!

trulyconfuseddotcom · 03/03/2020 22:15

'Nothing' by Mick Inkpen used to get me every single time. Love it.

purpleme12 · 03/03/2020 22:17

The Snail and the Whale is not one of my favourites and it's never made me emotional. I liked the film of it better but again it didn't make me emotional from what I remember

But yes Paper Dolls makes me cry