There’s an interesting story on the BBC’s site on reading passages from children’s literature at weddings, with a particularly popular choice being (unsurprisingly) Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney.
Lucy Wallis, the author of this piece, says that, “It might seem saccharine stuff to a hardened cynic but many brides and grooms seem to feel differently.” And she quotes Hannah Larkin, who chose Guess How Much I Love You for her own wedding ceremony: “Although it’s a children’s book, it resonates with adult life because it’s about the infinite nature of genuine love”.
It’s an intriguing idea, and I can’t think of any reason at all against reading from a children’s book – in my experience, adult books are just as likely to be saccharine as children’s ones, and children’s books are often the ones for which he have the strongest and most meaningful memories.
We tend not to publish very much that might enter in to the right sort of territory for a wedding reading, and the only Nosy Crow title that we could think of that might be remotely suitable was Just Right for Two, written by Tracey Corderoy and illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw – a heartwarming, beautiful story about the importance of friendship. In particular, we thought of the spread illustrating the top of this post. Dog realises that the thing he has been looking for to complete his life is his new friend, Mouse, and is overjoyed:
“It’s you!” cried Dog, scooping up his friend.
“You’re the special something else I need!”
“Me?” wondered Mouse.
“But I’m nothing special.”
“You’re you!” smiled Dog.
“And that’s very special.”
Here’s a clearer look at the spread (click to enlarge):
And here’s a look inside the book from the beginning:
Order Just Right for Two online.
The scene is reminiscent to me of another pair of characters whose dialogues would not be out of place for a wedding reading:
Along with The Little Prince and The Velveteen Rabbit, Winnie-the-Pooh also featured highly in the BBC’s piece, and is the book that immediately came to my mind:
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”
And, of course, the following exchange:
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”
Would you ever choose a reading from a children’s book for a wedding ceremony? Which book would you want? Any why?
