Customer Rating: 
Summary: an endearing read
Comment: I don't usually write book reviews, but this book has a special place in my heart and I wanted to share my love for it. Let me also preface by saying that my husband HATES this book. It is very sentimental and sappy. You have to be able to appreciate allegory, to suspend disbelief.
Obviously it is creepy if a mom actually drives across town and climbs into her grown son's window so she can rock him to sleep... but reading this book with such an unimaginitive outlook misses the essence. And I think that many readers underestimate their preschooler's ability to "get it". In fact, given the fantastical quality of a little old lady rocking a grown man, I think preschoolers are more capable than most adults of suspending disbelief and appreciating the message of love.
I was fist introduced to this book when my little brother -- 17 years younger than me -- took a liking to it. Truth be told, my mother loved it, and inspired his love for it with her enthusiasm. She liked to comment on how much the little boy in the story favored my brother. It made the story even more sentimental for them.
My mother unexpectedly passed away 9 months ago, and I have been unable to read this book since then. I have the old tattered copy that my mother read to my little brother, now 19. She gave it to me when my first daughter was a toddler. I now have three daughters -- 6, 3 and 8 months.
I have read this book to my own daughters in the past, and like other readers, I was often moved to tears. Today the story strikes me in such a visceral way that it is painful. I hope to be able to return to it someday -- with my own little girls and if the fates are willing, my grandchildren.
This is NOT a story about a creepy over-involved, over-protective mother. It's the story of all mothers. All parents. Your children grow. You grow old. We all change over time. But you never stop loving your children. You never stop worrying about them. You never lose the desire to embrace them and show them your love.
So, for those who have given this book a low rating... perhaps you aren't as easily turned to mush by the words of a book as some of us. If you don't remember ever being emotionally moved by a book, then you should probably heed the advice of these reviewers.
But if you can remember books that have made you tear up, struck a particular cord with you, then you may find this book as special as myself and many others.
Finally, I'll say that while I wish everyone was as open to interpretive story lines for young children, I understand that not everyone finds the appeal. The most important thing is really to read every day to your childen and to convey your love of reading. If you love the book, that makes it a lot easier.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: I'm glad my parents give me my privacy
Comment: As someone who loves both her parents very much, I agree with the people who find this book to be rather far-fetched. I would find it very disturbing if my parents were to drive across town and climb through my window at night. Fortunately, they prefer to use the door when they visit and they would never do so at some ungodly hour when I'm trying to sleep.
Something I found really odd was that the grown man at the end of the book ended up with a baby of his own. Although his wife was never mentioned I can only assume that he had one, yet I had a lot of trouble believing that someone like him would ever get around to marrying and having children. Besides the fact that he was such a Mama's Boy, I doubt any woman would stick with him for very long once she found out that his mother was liable to show up at ANY time and ALWAYS at night. Ick!
Customer Rating:
Summary: WOW
Comment: We were given this book by two different friends (both parents of boys). I actually thought it was some kind of wierd joke the first time I read it. It is sweet in an odd way, but way to creepy. It's worth a read (at the library), for a good laugh.
Customer Rating:
Summary: My favorite book
Comment: My first baby is about to have his first baby, as long as I'm living my baby he'll be. I just ordered him his own copy, since I still have his original, that I read many times to him and his brothers. I still cry everytime I read it... I think it is absolutely beautiful and sweet.
A Mother's love is for forever and always.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a new classic
Comment: I bought this to donate to a local charity for their raffle and I think it is appropriate for any child!!
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