This is going to be a controversial one because I know how much everyone loves this book.

Please don’t think I’m some kind of Robert Munsch hater. I’m not. He has plenty of books that I happily read to my children for years. We’ve even seen him do readings and he’s fantastic.

But this book is just creepy, and I will die on this hill.

At first blush, yes, it’s a tug-at-your-heartstrings story that might bring a tear to your eye. But if you read it enough, it starts to show its weird side, and it’s a little unsettling. Yes, I know, it’s supposed to be metaphorical, but I’m sorry (not really); it is simply downright creepy.

Before I get into the creepy, let’s confirm that the kid in the book is a menace and probably needs better parental supervision. It’s little wonder why the mother spends a great deal of the book complaining that he’s driving her crazy or that she’s going to send him to live in a zoo. Fine, whatever, if you have kids, you have bad days with kids. This kid though? Holy cow, get yourself a playpen and a therapist for when he’s older.

The beginning isn’t creepy. Mom rocks her newborn and tells him she’ll love him forever (although I can’t stand the repeated ‘like you for always’ despite its message). Very sweet. Very touching.

The next phase, still not creepy. Kid misbehaves, mom gets mad, at the end of the day all is forgiven and she rocks him to sleep with the ‘love you forever refrain’. Okay, yeah, fair.

Then all creepy hell breaks loose.

Sneaking into your teenage son’s bedroom so you can cuddle up to him at night while he’s sleeping and sing him this song? Lady, boundaries are a thing. Climbing a ladder to break into your grown son’s house so you can cuddle up and sing him a song? That’s it not only illegal, it’s pathological. You need help.

I’m sorry (not really) if you enjoy this book, but I just can’t. Get Munsch’s Mortimor. It’s more fun.

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Created Apr 05, 2024 at 3:19pm • Submit your own review...