in thinking that the Robert Munsch book "Love You Forever" is...

[SchrodingersSexKitten]

...not just the saddest children's book ever, but simply the saddest book ever?

Just read it with DD for the first time and had tears streaming down my face and her asking, "what's happened to your eyes, Mummy?"

Bloody book should carry a health warning!

A good freind bought it for me when DS1 was born. I blubbed when I frist read it, but now we've all read it so much, I've toughened up.

DS one knows I will drive across town when he's a grown up, and climb in through his bedroom window.

I too have become somewhat hardened to the book, tho when we first got it DH and I used to play a game to see who could read the furthest without crying. I always won, he's such a softie.

My Dd loves this story, for ages I had to say the rhyme every time I put her to bed!

But I think the saddest book Ive read is "The next place" describes what (possibly) happens when we die. Beautifully written.....
Although, not sure if it is sad, I read it the first time whilst at the childrens hospice where my niece had been taken for her last hours so though sad, I find it comforting too.

Sorry I think it is uber creepy and horrid!

I remember reading it to one of the boys I nannied for years ago and thinking 'what the hell was that all about?!'

Michael Rosen's Sad Book is beautiful, if anyone is dealing with bereavement.

Another one who thinks it's a bit creepy and wonders about the potential DIL thread.

gosh, i think it's awful. and i speak as the woman who cannot make it through peepo withouth crying.

When I bought it I read the reviews on Amazon, one review gave it one star, saying her mil bought it for her dh on their wedding day ....

oh god, what a mil that would be.

I didn't love it (just listened to it.) Do any of you have Once There Were Giants, by Martin Waddell? That one never ever fails to make me howl - and it's not even that sad!

I love Once There Were Giants - never read it without tears.

I love you Forever. Sometimes it makes me cry . Sometimes freaks me out. The mum crawling across the floor makes me think of the fly catching bloke scuttling about in Dracula.

I always liked When the Teddy Bears Came by Martin Waddell and "Can't You Sleep Little Bear"

I guess it depends on your perspective. I had never seen it before ds died so no idea how I would have felt otherwise.

Anyone's children got "no matter what"? You might prefer that- "love like starlight never dies"

I first read this book for twins I was au pair for in America 18 years ago. I had no idea how the book went when I started it and I couldn't finish it for crying. I was sobbing so much I just couldn't get the words out.

The twins reaction was very much like your dd OP, like 'what's up?' !! I tried to act as normal as I could and carry on reading but in the end I just couldn't.

So, yes it is very moving and no YANBU.

YUCK! I was expecting an alternative ending where the kid flips out and transforms into Norman Bates - now Mother is stuffed and in the cellar yet in his head she's stillllllllll singing that song.

OMG solidBrass that's exactly how it should end.
It's so BLEUGH!

Is the mother coming in through the window meant to be literal, though? That she actually crawls into his marital bedroom? I thought it was more sort of representational of her continued love for him, than that she was actually a night creeping loon.

Am willing to be corrected. Have only read it online. Made me howl though. And just describing it to my mother made her howl. But then we are nutters who love a good carthartic weep and nashing of teeth. Anyone for a bottle of red and "Who Will Love My Children?"

OMG Georgimamma - Who will love my children?!!! I used to blub watching it as a teenager, I have only managed it once since I had children and was nearly hysterical!! That scene where they all appear at the window....

Another vote here for Once there were giants - I bought it when DD was born and can never get to the end without crying.