To be unable to read this book to my children?

[AudTheDeepMinded]

Took my 3 DSs to the museum today. Eldest is going to be learning about WWI soon and there was an exhibition about local soldiers. Bought a lovely book in the shop entitled 'Where the Poppies Now Grow' to share with them. Only I can't read it, I tear up on page one, my throat closes and I can't get the words out. It just makes me feel indescribably sad. I had the same problem with 'War Horse' and 'No Matter What'. Does anyone else have this problem or am I just very wet?

I choke up at Guess How Much I Love You? and The Paper Dolls.

Lost and Found ruins me. It’s not even that sad. It’s just that picture of them hugging at the end.

Goodbye Mog

I howled reading it and delegated reading it with the chilfren to OH

My mum bought my DC a book about a child going to school and leaving their bear at home. I couldnt read it at all without crying. My DC has had a very difficult childhood and his bear is everything to them. It is wierd how suddenly you are overwhelmed.

There’s this one book called “the memory tree” or something where a fox dies in a forest and all the other animals come and stand by his body and talk about how much they loved him, and from his body a tree grows. I was sobbing. The kids looked at me like I was nuts.

Also the song “I see the moon” makes me feel sad because it’s so sweet

Goodbye Mog, just the two words are enough to have me wiping my eyes.

I would love to see the War Horse puppet on stage, but I know I couldn’t cope with the play. I saw the first five minutes of the film by accident (the man next to me on a plane was watching it) and geared up. I was a helper when DD was in the Edinburgh Tattoo when the puppet was appearing. They kept him in character, even back stage, it was amazing. It would go up behind people and nuzzle them, just so like a real horse. They should make a play called “Happy Horse Frollics in the Peaceful Countryside” for people like me.

There's a book called Don't Let Go and DD has NEVER heard either of her parents read it all the way through. We just couldn't do it.

We had to summon a particularly hard-hearted childless friend round so she could hear how it ended.

I've brought that book for a LOT of people since! (DD nearly 17 now, so this was a while ago)

Where the wild things are is a sad book too

Not being physically able to read it is a pretty strong (extreme?) reaction, I would say. Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that. But I do think it's unusual.

Michael Rosen's Sad Book. Even just thinking about it is making my throat lumpy.

The Building Boy by Rob Montgomery - beautifully illustrated - made me cry and barely could get through it, lovely story though

Under the hawthorne tree and wildflower girl. WHY are they aimed at children!!

Paper fucking Dolls. Every time.

Oh, and ‘The Bear and the Piano’

I love dogger its one of my favourites but I'm with notthedutchess the places you go makes me cry.
I darent buy goodnight mog. If I don't read it it hasn't happened!
I sob at ET and the dc sit there with not even a sad face. They are made of stone!

Took me years to get past halfway in Testament of Youth.

I got to the point she receives the phone call to tell her Roland is dead and I couldn’t continue.

My DD when younger used to love the Hans Christian Anderson stories especially The Little Match Girl. Without fail I would blub - I'm sure that was why she liked it as I apparently pulled weird faces to try and stop the tears.

The Velveteen Rabbit is another her choker fest. I can barely get the words out.

Dogger I feel choked up but not too bad.

Bloody Dogger. My mum could never get through it and neither can I!
Paper Dolls, Goodnight Mr Tom, Goodbye Mog!

OMG, yes The Little Match Girl from the Han Christian Anderson book....I was in tears....so so so so sad...beyond words.

And 'No Matter What'

Scienceforthewin I agree about the James Herriot picture books- the one that sticks in my my memory is ‘Only one Woof’ - I remember reading it and crying my eyes out! I’m not sure why now as after googling it it seems like it may be quite an uplifting story but for some reason as a child it made me bawl and I’ve never dared to read it since!

Also to all the War Horse cryers I’m with you on that- saw the stage version and it nearly broke me! Haven’t dared the book yet as I find I’m often much more affected by books than the resulting film/ show.

I love buying books for my nieces as I was an avid reader as a child but this post has highlighted the fact I should maybe spare a thought for their parents when it comes to the choice 😳

Puff the Magic Dragon
"Dragons live forever, but not so little boys"

Once There Were Giants used to get me every time - DS is grown up now, so I haven't had to brave it for a while!

The Little Match Girl, The Happy Prince, The Velveteen Rabbit. As soon as I think of them I cry.

Another vote for the snail and the whale... And the Lorax! 😭😭
Mind you lm clearly an emotional wreck - started to tear up when my kids asked me to read a dedication plaque on a park bench the other day! 😂

The Happy Prince and The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde make me sob. The Snow Goose and The Small Miracle both by Paul Gallico have the same effect, nothing wrong with crying, been moving by someone sad or beautiful is good.