Anybody's child have the book "Love you Forever" by Robert Munsch

[DVCLiz]

Thank you for the examples, DVCLiz -- that's exactly the type of thing I needed!

I wish my alma mater had offered children's literature classes in the English department. Instead, the only CL classes were in the education department -- and of course, I didn't recognize that I really feel called to be a teacher until this year, a couple of years after I graduated! Instead, I endured a lot of required classes on post-modern literature , which I did not enjoy. And of course, although I had courses on literary criticism, there was never a class on literary quality, which IMHO would've been equally or more useful than learning feminist theory, queery theory, deconstructive theory, etc.

I took a children's lit course at the community college where I now work, but it focused on the history of children's literature in the US -- nothing about quality, necessarily. I appreciate the info, DVCLiz, and I'll be reading a lot more about it now that I plan to get a second degree in education. Thanks! (I still find value in "I Love You Forever," though. )

You're welcome!! And I'm much calmer about this book, now. I got all of that out of my system and now I'm mellowing, because you are all real people with real children snuggled up next to you, and it's mean of me to beat up on your choice...even if I do think NO!! Don't go there!!!!!!

Plus, they hated on The Velveteen Rabbit, and THAT one was the sentimental favorite at my house.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I live in Kitchener, Ontario -- Robert Munsch lives just down the road in Guelph, Ontario. He's considered a "local" around here. As such, I have had the privilege of attending one of his readings at the local theatre. He doesn't read the books -- he tells the stories because he knows them.

His "readings" are very participatory with audience members being called up to take roles in the stories or to have a story told about them. Robert Munsch knows that his audience also knows his stories quite well and he encouraged us to recite the parts we know from memory.

"Love You Forever" was no different. There wasn't a dry eye in the house -- and the theatre was packed.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Here is the "official" website for the book -- http://robertmunsch.com/books.cfm?bookid=40 -- I don't care about whether it has won any awards or is a prime example of "literary quality". It's his story.

 

[DVCLiz]

Someone asked about the art qualifications of the Caldecott medal winners. I just did a quick search and the Caldecott is not an art award, per se. It's given to the artist of the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year, for the overall quality of the whole work, not just the art. I don't know but would suspect that members of the committee aren't really trained in art appreciation.

One year the Chair of the Caldecott Committee was a woman who was a professor in the Library Science department where I got my degree. Each year they produced a calendar of the artwork from the winning book, and a selection from other past winners, one picture for each month. She asked me to be on her committee, with another friend who was a school media specialist. That's as close as I ever got to being on a Caldecott or Newbery committee. And I know I didn't have any formal art training. I was just picking out already determined winners, though.

 

[Buckalew11]

Just had to post in favor of Junie B. Jones. I love those books. I have a sentimental attachment to them and collect them all. I am always checking at the store to see if a new one is out yet. DD has loved them through the years. I found them funny and creative. Junie B. would not be welcome to live with me but all her books will be well loved here!

 

[DVCLiz]

Here is the "official" website for the book -- http://robertmunsch.com/books.cfm?bookid=40 -- I don't care about whether it has won any awards or is a prime example of "literary quality". It's his story.

Yes, I looked at that yesterday. While I am deeply sorry for his family tragedy, it still reminded me more of motivational speaking than of quality writing for children. That's just my opinion, though.

 

[talulabelle]

You're welcome!! And I'm much calmer about this book, now. I got all of that out of my system and now I'm mellowing, because you are all real people with real children snuggled up next to you, and it's mean of me to beat up on your choice...even if I do think NO!! Don't go there!!!!!!

Plus, they hated on The Velveteen Rabbit, and THAT one was the sentimental favorite at my house.

oh no! not the Velveteen Rabbit! That is our all time favorite! The boy gets scarlett fever and the rabbit snuggles with him until he gets better! I love that story.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The first time I read this book was in the book store. I was shopping with a bunch of friends and next thing I know I am all teary sanding in the aisle. I didn't buy the book. A few years later a classmate gave the book to DS who was about 4. I had a very hard time getting through the book back then. Now DS is 11 and recently gave his copy to my friend's DD, and I can't get through reading it to her, either. Horrible book, really.

 

[declansdad]

Man, some of you read way too much in to this simple story about the love of a mother for her son.


eta: munsch books are not supposed to have a deep meaning. They are a light-hearted look at some pleasant family values/situations

 

[DVCLiz]

oh no! not the Velveteen Rabbit! That is our all time favorite! The boy gets scarlett fever and the rabbit snuggles with him until he gets better! I love that story.

Yep - and then they are going to burn him to death, because he's all germy, except he's not real, but wait - he talks so maybe he is real, so how gruesome is that for a little kid? And then...WHEW!!!!!!!! He is really real!!!!

 

[MainStMandy]

Back in 2001 I heard Wally Amos read this at a conference. Amazing speaker and amazing story!!

 

[Tinijocaro]

Anyone know teh name of this book? It's a children's book (meant to make mthers cry) where the mother says "If I had known that was going to be the last time you held my hand in public, I would have cherished that moment" "If I had known that was going to be the last time you ran up to me and jumped into my arms, I would have held on forever".....stuff like that. We always celebrate our children's firsts, but the lasts just kind of come and go unnoticed. I sobbed in media play reading that one, but can't recall the title.

 

[talulabelle]

Anyone know teh name of this book? It's a children's book (meant to make mthers cry) where the mother says "If I had known that was going to be the last time you held my hand in public, I would have cherished that moment" "If I had known that was going to be the last time you ran up to me and jumped into my arms, I would have held on forever".....stuff like that. We always celebrate our children's firsts, but the lasts just kind of come and go unnoticed. I sobbed in media play reading that one, but can't recall the title.

Oh, I am crying just thinking of that and I have never seen the book! I never thought about that, but I wonder when the last time was that I held DS's hand in public? Or snuggled up to him in his bed to read him a book at night.... I am still doing it with younger ones, but I just didn't notice when it stopped with DS12, I was busy celebrating that he was becoming independent, and growing into a healthy young man, and I just turned around and the little boy was gone. When was the last time I could even lift him up and have him wrap his arms around my neck to give me a bear hug? Wouldn't you think I would remember that? The last time he needed help tieing his shoe? The last time he broke into a huge smile when he saw me waiting for him outside of school and he yelled "Mommy!" The last time he flashed his teeth at me after brushing them to show me how bright and shiny he got them? The last dandelion he picked for me in the yard?

OK I'm sobbing now, and I just posted on the crying in public thread that I'm not a crier. Maybe I need to go retake the pregnancy test.....
I think I am just realizing his little boydom is gone and I have been having a hard time with it, and this just hit me hard.

Ok, I have to go hug all of my kids right now and tell each one I love them.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I'm glad you got the sentimentality of that book, didn't mean to make you cry! I have a 5 year old who still holds my hand, and I do cherish every minute of it. When she asks me to pick her up, I do it, even though my other three children didn't get picked up much past the age of 4. I don't know how I'll handle it when that stuff ends. I guess that's why the youngest often gets babied in a family. Hard to let go.

 

[punkin]

I'm glad you got the sentimentality of that book, didn't mean to make you cry! I have a 5 year old who still holds my hand, and I do cherish every minute of it. When she asks me to pick her up, I do it, even though my other three children didn't get picked up much past the age of 4. I don't know how I'll handle it when that stuff ends. I guess that's why the youngest often gets babied in a family. Hard to let go.

My 9 yr old won't let me kiss her in public. She doesn't initiate hugs anymore either. Luckily my 15 yo, still clings to me and hugs me and kisses me. Sometimes it's not the youngest who gets babied.

 

[NancyK]

I think the book is lovely. I think if you think it's "creepy," you're taking it too literally. It's meant to convey the circle of life and undying love. It's a bit outlandish at times, but it's a shame people have to ruin the innocent intent of the message.

My thoughts exactly! People here take things way too seriously. I find nothing creepy about it. We read this book to our sons when they were little. I was thrilled when my oldest DS, 24, gave me a copy of the book for my birthday last month. It's all about undying love (and trust me, I won't be breaking into his house to rock him )

 

[ASFCurly]

Can I just say, I am honestly offended that someone would say that reading a book to a child that YOU think is bad is the same as giving a child something harmful like the aqua dot things with the GHB,