If you were a lucky kid whose parents read you bedtime stories, or you’re now a parent awesome enough to read bedtime stories to your kids, then you’re probably quite familiar with Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw’s Love You Forever, a classic of little-kid-lit right up there with Dr. Seuss and Caps for Sale. Sure, it’s a little treacly, but sweet and sappy is more than okay when parent and kid are snuggling up over a book just before sleepy time.
Munsch’s inspiration for the book isn’t quite so happy. It’s a powerful and emotionally devastating tale of grief and turning something incredibly sad into an act of love.