6 Children’s Books That Will Definitely Make You Cry

The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein
As a kid, I got sad when the tree lost its trunk. As an adult, the tears start at the words, “But time went by,” and they never stop. Whenever my kids hand me this one to read, I wince, and then I dig into it like I’m Morgan Freeman and it’s the most important thing they’ll ever hear. They don’t understand it yet. I hope they do when they’re older and only visit me when they need something. (Sob.)

Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
Do you love your kids more than they love you? There’s no way to measure it, but that doesn’t stop Big Nutbrown Hare and his kid from getting into an “I love you this much” contest, with tear-inducing results. To paraphrase from the book: you think your tears can reach right up to the moon? Well, they’re about to reach right up to the moon—and back.

Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw
When my mom found this book at the school library she worked at, she brought it home and read it to me in bed, and we cried in each other’s arms. Oh, I should mention: I was 17. This book is a killer. It takes a common storybook premise—that parents love their kids forever and always—and stretches it out from the beginning to the bitter end. It must not be read in mascara. It must not be thought about in mascara. I’m glad I’m not wearing mascara as I type this.

Before You Were Mine, by Maribeth Boelts and David Walker
Where was your shelter dog before you adopted him? There’s virtually no way to answer that question without crying, but this book tries to do it anyway. It goes through a couple of heartbreaking scenarios, before concluding that it doesn’t really matter—your dog is home now. No wonder this book won the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award. Warning: before you start reading, you may want to plug the address of a no-kill shelter into your GPS.

The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams
Before Toy Story slayed all of us, there was this 1922 book about a toy that just wants to be loved—and then once he is, and he’s hugged through a long illness, the adults try to destroy him. (Are you tearing up yet? I am.) If, in your twisted mind, you want life to imitate art, I recommend this gift set, which includes the book and your own velveteen rabbit to love or neglect.

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst and Erik Blegvad
Finally, from the awesome author of the Alexander books, a story about a boy coping with the death of the family cat. So yeah, of course it’s on this list. If you have kids who need help understanding the death of a pet, then this is a great one to help them through it. But until then, hide it in the back of your closet and never let it out unless you’re prepared to run out of Kleenex.
What children’s book makes you cry the most?