I was browsing children’s books at B&N today and I came across The Clown of God by Tomi dePaola. I remembered reading it many years ago and it making me cry. It still works.
I thought of getting it for my kids, but I don’t think they’re quite old enough yet for a bedtime story where the main character dies at the end, and their father bawls his eyes out every time he reads it.
But someday.
My dad got this book for Sadie a few years ago, it’s one of our favorites. And you’re right — it does the trick every time. If only more people would read this book…