Did you know that the tears shed from happiness or sorrow are chemically different from the tears caused by an irritant in the eye? A good cry is cathartic—a way to pour out emotions that may be stuffed down and ignored. Tears offer an avenue to express what our minds can't find words to articulate. These positive benefits are why some of us love a good tearjerker, and why Sonlight Curriculum includes books that move you to tears.
"Emotional tears, for instance, have been found to contain protein-based hormones including the neurotransmitter leucine enkephalin, a natural painkiller that is released when the body is under stress."
Here are 10 cry-alouds from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature PreK through J that may tug at your heartstrings. These titles below, unlike this earlier list of cry-alouds, don’t involve human or animal death. Nevertheless, they have the ability to touch you in a way that elicit strong emotion—even crying.
1. Horton Hatches the Egg
by Dr. Seuss
from Sonlight's Preschool Package
The end of this book is so perfect, so unexpectedly beautiful! It's a book to turn to when you need to remember that, in the end, good triumphs over evil. And that beautiful thought may move you to tears.
2. Understood Betsy
by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature B
This novel is a fantastic exploration of character development, as a timid waif learns compassion, strength, goodness, and peace.
3. The Little Riders
by Margaretha Shemin
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature C
This historical account of WW2 is a lovely depiction of the way that human kindness penetrates, even in the midst of war.
4. Red Sails to Capri
by Ann Weil
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature C
When an entire community remains mired in superstition and fear, who would have anticipated who would first choose to step forward in trust, coming to the side of a man she dislikes? Beautiful.
5. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature D
This book isn’t a tearjerker because so many ancillary characters die (though they do). This is a tearjerker because Mr. Bowditch shows perseverance to such an astonishing extent and uses his gifts to make the world a better place. You'll be inspired!
6. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature E
A Sonlight favorite, this novel is an honest portrayal of daily life in the South during the Jim Crow era. You'll consider how to maintain dignity and self-respect in the face of extreme prejudice.
7. The Horse and His Boy
by C. S. Lewis
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature F
This volume from The Chronicles of Narnia is one of the few books that will grow with you all your life. Need some soul healing? Find echoes of your story in these pages.
8. The Great and Terrible Quest
by Margaret Lovett
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature G
Gorgeous language, gorgeous story, gorgeous fairy-tale. What must be done can be done … though it seem impossible, hopeless, too desperate to even chance it … take the chance.
9. The Mozart Season
by Virginia Wolff
from Sonlight's History of Science
A beautiful book about art, coming-of-age, the hard work and the muse of music, doing one’s best, and stewarding pain.
10. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature H
In the midst of tired or clichéd retellings of the Christmas story, this surprising tale gives a new look on immigration, on the way the Church can be unwelcoming, and on the mystery the Incarnation. Don’t miss it.
If you love the idea of a curriculum that touches the heart as much as it teaches the mind, take a deeper look at Sonlight. We'd love to send you a free print catalog. Request one here.
Hi Sarina! This is Laura George, from Woodstock, Ga, and long-time lover of Sonlight's reading lists! Many years ago, John came to speak at our church about his book "Dating With Integrity" and my oldest daughter, Canaan, corresponded with your daughter, Amy, for a number of years. Canaan is about to be 45 and is a wonderful homeschooling mother of 5, who devoured hundreds of books (many from Sonlight lists) throughout her childhood. I would definitely add "Bridge to Terabithia" to that list of books that will make you cry. We ended up with eleven children so I read that one aloud three different times through the years and always had to hand it off near the end as I would cry too hard to finish it! Thanks for the effective work you and your family have done over the decades to equip homeschooling families with both the direction and the materials to help educate generations! God bless you!
"Are you crying again, Mom?!" That has been a frequent comment from my kids over the years. I've cried for sad parts & happy parts & God working parts. So many good stories we've read! I have a college sophomore, a high school senior & a 7th grader. I'm on my 3rd time through many of the books & I'm enjoying them all again (& crying again, too ).