I've read this book to my daughter about 20 plus times over the course of her going from 2 to 3 years old. I've never once been able to get through it without tearing up. I won't stop reading it to her - as long as she'll listen, and I hope she reads it to her children just like my mom read it to me. Surely that's the point of a timeless and classic story like this. It'll echo forever. Buy it for yourself, buy it as a gift, just share it with anyone you love. It's beautiful.