Dad's 'Dr. Seuss' graduation gift takes 13 years to complete

Brenna Martin's "priceless" graduation gift from her father - which technically cost less than $20 - has attracted the attention of over 11 million people.

Following her high school graduation, Brenna learned that her father, Bryan Martin, had spent the last 13 years slipping a copy of the Dr. Seuss classic Oh the Places You'll Go to her teachers, coaches and principals.

When he handed the book to his 18-year-old daughter, she initially judged the book by its cover.

"At first I just smiled and said that it meant a lot and that I loved that book," she wrote in her imgur post about the present.

"But then he told me 'No, open it up.'"

What Brenna found inside were pages and pages of hand-written notes from her mentors, beginning with a message from her kindergarten teacher.

As the North Carolina teen realized she was reading through a kind of time capsule, the present had the intended effect.

"I burst out in tears," wrote Brenna. "There are encouraging and sweet words from every teacher I love and remember through my years in this small town."

The pages of the book chronicled her growth from "pigtails and giggles" to "wit and sharp thinking." Her humour and love for life were reoccurring themes.

But what struck Brenna most was how long her father had been planning for her special day.

"He managed to keep this book a secret for 13 years, and apparently everyone else in my life knew about it!" she said.

The graduate was so moved by her present that she gushed about it online, where it has gone viral since she uploaded the image two weeks ago.

"It is astounding to receive something this moving, touching, nostalgic, and thoughtful," said Brenna, who also described the book as "priceless."

"I can't express how much I love my Dad for this labour of love."

What's the most thoughtful gift you've heard of? Do you know of another graduation gift that was years in the making? Let us know in the comments below.