Have you ever read a book to your child and you’re the one who’s in tears at the end—not your kid?
This is actually a pretty common phenomenon. Lots of books may be written for children, but have adults in mind, and usually end with some kind of life lesson or message that resonates with those of us who are older.
Without further ado, here are some of the best, heart-tugging quotes from children’s books that will make any adult blubber like a baby.
-
Winnie the Pooh, by A. A. Milne
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
-
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
“It’s no use to go abck to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
-
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White
“’Why did you do all this for me?’ he asked. ‘I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.’ ‘You have been my friend,’ replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing.’”
-
The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo
“There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name.”
-
The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister
“The more he gave away, the more delighted he became.”
-
Mary Poppins, by P.L. Travers
“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and the job’s a game.”
-
A Light in The Attic, by Shel Silverstein
“How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ‘em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give ‘em.”
-
The Twits, by Roald Dahl
“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked chin and stick out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
-
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
“And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.”
-
Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae
“’We all can dance,’ he said, ‘if we find the music that we love.’”
-
The Lion and the Mouse, by AESOP
“No act of kindness no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
-
Horton Hears a Who!, by Dr. Seuss
“Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small! And you very small persons will not have to die. If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!”
-
A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket
“When someone is crying, of course, the noble thing to do is to comfort them. But if someone is trying to hide their tears, it may also be noble to pretend you do not notice them.”
-
The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
“Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.”
-
Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.”
-
Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine
“I wished she’d never stop squeezing me. I wished I could spend the rest of my life as a child, being slightly crushed by someone who loved me.”
-
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Braum
“The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.”
How lovely are these children’s book quotes? What’s your favorite children’s book that resonates with you?