Hmm, interesting discussion going on here, I might have to drop a few of my own opinions. But first, to address the topic:
I'm not particularly "up" on "touching" books, because most books I enjoy are bitter, cynical, philosophical, and witty, which don't always fit in with "touching". The closest book I can think of to touching would be
Little Fuzzy, by H. Beam Piper. Now, it may be written by a man stuck in the fifties, and it may be filled with characters who drink too much, smoke too much, and shoot each other more than necessary, but the story could not be better. The characters are great, very endearing. I won't provide you with a full review, but I'd encourage you to look it up. I love the story, and I've read it probably eight or nine times. You just have to get past the fact that it's not exactly socially progressive. It's not actively regressive, it just came from an unenlightened age. However, it is rather critical of monopolistic corporations, which should appeal to your cynical side.
As for just plain GOOD books, I have to make my obligatory recommendation:
Just a Couple of Days by Tony Vigorito. This is an amazing book, unabashedly philosophical, hilariously funny, and probably a work of genius. I don't even have the words to describe it, so just go see for yourself:
http://www.justacoupleofdays.com