Adorable Children's Book Wedding Readings

When I began writing this post, the idea was 'ways to include children in your wedding ceremony'. Cute huh? But then, after reading some of these BEAUTIFUL verses and extracts, I came to the conclusion that, actually, anybody could read these at a wedding. In fact, the deliverance and understanding of these words as read by an adult may even have more gravitas than if they were read by a child.
Being for children they all have one thing in common, the simplicity of the message, a message of love. 

If you fall in love with these passages just as I have but you're not too sure how you coordinate it, why not hire a speech coach to make sure everything runs as lovely as you hoped. This is especially ideal if you do decide you would like children to read it! If this has also got you inspired about how to include children in other ways, we have the perfect blog post for you here all about how to do it. 

The Secret Garden

Francis Hodgson Burnett

“One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one’s head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one’s heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun—which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting though and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. The sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone’s eye.”

Your Personal Penguin 

Sandra Boynton

“I like you a lot. You’re funny and kind. So let me explain What I have in mind. I want to be Your Personal Penguin. I want to walk right by your side. I want to be Your Personal Penguin. I want to travel with you far and wide.” 

Now We Are Six

A.A Milne

Wherever I am, there’s always Pooh. There’s always Pooh and Me. Whatever I do, he wants to do."Where are you going today?" says Pooh. "Well, that’s very odd ‘cos I was too. Let’s go together," says Pooh, says he. "Let’s go together," says Pooh…

"Let’s look for dragons," I said to Pooh. "Yes, let’s," said Pooh to Me. We crossed the river and found a few. "Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh. "As soon as I saw their beaks I knew. That’s what they are," said Pooh, said he. "That’s what they are," said Pooh.

"Let’s frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh. "That’s right," said Pooh to Me. "I’m not afraid," I said to Pooh, and I held his paw and I shouted, "Shoo! Silly old dragons!" – and off they flew.

"I wasn’t afraid," said Pooh, said he, "I’m never afraid with you."

So wherever I am, there’s always Pooh. There’s always Pooh and Me. "What would I do?" I said to Pooh, "If it wasn’t for you," and Pooh said: "True, it isn’t much fun for one, but two can stick together," says Pooh, says he. "That’s how it is," says Pooh.

 

The Amber Spyglass

Philip Pullman

"I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again… I’ll be looking for you, every moment, every single moment. And when we do find each other again, we’ll cling together so tight that nothing and no one’ll ever tear us apart. Every atom of me and every atom of you… We’ll live in birds and flowers and dragonflies and pine trees and in clouds and in those little specks of light you see floating in sunbeams… And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me, we’ll be joined so tight.”

 

Winnie The Pooh

A.A Milne

“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

“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.” 

“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?" asked Piglet. 

"Even longer," Pooh answered. “If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.” 

 

The Little Yellow Leaf

Carin Berger

And then, high up on an icy branch, a scarlet flash. One more leaf holding tight. "You’re here?” called the Little Yellow Leaf. “I am,” said the Little Scarlet Leaf. “Like me!” said the Little Yellow Leaf. Neither spoke. Finally… “Will you?” asked the Little Scarlett Leaf. “I will!” said the Little Yellow Leaf. And one, two, three, they let go and soared.

 

Guess How Much I Love You

Sam McBratney

Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening.

"Guess how much I love you," he said.

"Oh, I don't think I could guess that," said Big Nutbrown Hare.

"This much," said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go.

Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. "But I love YOU this much," he said. 

Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you as high as I can reach." said Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you as high as I can reach," said Big Nutbrown Hare.

That is quite high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that.

Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet.

"I love you all the way up to my toes!" he said.

"And I love you all the way up to your toes," said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his head.

"I love you as high as I can HOP!" laughed Little Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down.

"But I love you as high as I can hop," smiled Big Nutbrown Hare - and he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above.

That's good hopping, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I could hop like that.

"I love you all the way down the lane as far as the river," cried Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you across the river and over the hills," said Big Nutbrown Hare.

That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think any more. Then he looked beyond the thorn bushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be further than the sky.

"I love you right up to the MOON," he said, and closed his eyes.

"Oh, that's far," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "That is very, very far."

Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night.

 

Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, "I love you right up to the moon - AND BACK."

 

What Colour Is Love?

Linda Strachan

“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey  “Could it be green?”

Said old wrinkly granddad “I’m not sure if that’s true the grass is green, so love might be blue”

“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be blue?”

Tiger turned over and rolled on his back “I don’t know little fellow but the sky is blue, maybe love could be yellow?”

“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be yellow?”

Lion looked up too tired to play, he yawned and then said “but this hot sun is yellow, isn’t love red?”

“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be red?”

Parrot looked down from his perch in the tree, “Red is for flowers, but love is so bright It’s really quite simple, love must be white!”

“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be white?”

But Zebra said, “Nooooooo  Love isn’t white, I think Love is so wonderful it must be pink!”

“What colour is love?” asked Small Smooth and Grey “Could it be pink?”

“Pink?” screeched flamingo “No that can’t be right, Love should be orange like the sunset at night.”

Tired and worn out at the end of the day,“I know who to ask” said Small Smooth and Grey.

He left the Flamingo with tall slender legs, and passed by the zebra by the old river bed.

Lion had gone from his rock in the sun, and Tiger  out hunting  set off for a run.

He went to the water and dipped in his toe, he said to his mother  “Does nobody know?

I’ve tried ALL of the colours; from the grass to the flowers, from the sky to the clouds ,to the sun up above,

But NO ONE could tell me the colour of love.”

“What colour is love?” I say little one; Its as dark as the night and as bright as the sun,

Imagine a colour and love is right there, Love’s every colour, everything, everywhere.

“What colour is love?  Every colour, all around… Because nothing else matters when it’s love that you’ve found.”

 

If you would like more advice or recommendations or advice on choosing readings why not ask a celebrant?