I read this to my children both before AND after they were born, and I continue to read it to them to this day. It's an incredible story about the power and durability of unconditional love, and it should be on every child's bookshelf.

2-3 stars—Liked it, would recommend to certain people

Frankly, this book seriously creeped me out as a child. I probably had nightmares about old women breaking and entering and coming into my bedroom at night.

But as a mother, yes, this book is dear to me—at least the idea of it. When I'm cuddling my toddler close and already have forgotten how small he was as a baby, I cling a little harder and bite my lip to repress a sob. That's the feeling this book captures for so many mothers, and that's why it's treasured by so many women and given at so many baby showers and christenings.

Robert Munsch himself kind of creeps me out even as an adult, but when I learned that he wrote this as a song after his wife had a miscarriage, it moved me to want to give the man a side hug. Okay, maybe just a pat on the shoulder from an entire arm's length away.

Fuck this book

Reading this book as a parent is something so special. For a moment you realize the book is giving you your timeline with your kids. Then you realize that no matter how old they are, the true sentiment holds true. Whether they were able to take their first breath or not, even if all you heard was a heartbeat, your love for them lives as long as you do. The words hit differently when you've lost a child or miscarried. It feels like they're etched on your heart. I love this book and it is such a simple story but has such an emotional impact.

Memories of getting this read to me as a child! Love.

I will never forget when I read this book for the first time. I worked at Borders in the children’s department. As we put books on the shelves for the store’s opening, an employee made a face as they held up this book. A few days later, I stopped shelving to read the book and started sobbing.

I didn’t even have kids yet.

Now I do have kids. And I will love them forever. And it wouldn’t surprise me if Connor one day rocked his ancient and emaciated mother.

My friends and family call this "The Cry Book". We can never remember the actual title, but we know it by this title. I've never read it without crying. But it's the best cry. I doubt I'll be able to get through it after my parents pass.

Let us not forget the creepy crawling-in-the-window stalking bit. She may be old, but if she's spritely enough to climb up a ladder and through her grown son's window, she could take you out, too.

This is supposed to be a touching children’s story, a tale of family love that comes full circle in a bitter-sweet irony, but, frankly, I found it to be…creepy. I get what it was going for, but the sentimental effect is kind of lost when we go from loving mom of infant and toddler to weirdly obsessed stalker mom of teenager and adult. There's a great country song that communicates the idea this was going for (and failed to convey). I can't remember what it's called, but it's about a son who is guided by his father and then must guide his father in old age.

One note - a child may possibly find the whole rocking the older kid / teenager / adult thing funny rather than creepy, because of the incongruity. If it seemed aimed at funny, I might have thought it so; but it seemed aimed at touching, and so just came off disturbing.

My parents read this book to me every night when I was a child while they rocked me to sleep. Now when I read it, I cry every time because it brings up my most missed memories. This book is the best.