Kissing Hand (Paperback with CD)

In her foreword to Penn's sugary tale about Chester, a young raccoon who would rather stay at home than go to school, Jean Kennedy Smith notes that the story is "for any child who confronts a difficult situation, and for the child within each of us who sometimes needs reassurance." Its obvious message is delivered by Mrs. Raccoon, who tells her son that "I know a wonderful secret that will make your nights at school seem as warm and cozy as your days at home." She then kisses his palm, and Chester feels the kiss "rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart." Whenever he gets lonely, she advises, he is to press his hand to his cheek and "that very kiss will jump to your face and fill you with toasty warm thoughts." As it may for youngsters in comparable situations, this "secret" works for Chester, who in turn kisses his mother's palm so that she, too, will be reassured. Sprinkled with hearts and flowers, Harper and Leak's paintings of the raccoons and their woodland habitat are pleasant if sentimental. Ages 3-8.

Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Tanglewood Press; Book & CD edition (August 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• 
  

Chester Racoon and his mother prepare for Chester's first "night" at school. He is a little apprehensive, and, of course, he wants to stay home with his mom. Mrs. Racoon shares a secret with Chester called the Kissing Hand. She kisses Chester's palm and tells him to put it to his cheek when he begins to feel lonely at school. This book makes a great gift for a child entering school or going to camp for the first time, or for any occasion where a child will be temporarily separated from home and loved ones. It can also be used to help a child through the death of a parent or special loved one, and for children placed in foster families and residential facilities. For teachers, this book would be super to read the first day of school. It could also lead up to wonderful science, social studies, and reading/writing activities.

I read this book to my oldest sons the days they left for college. They were "too cool" as they listened, but after I finished, the younger one reached up and kissed my hand. I can tell you, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. A memory I will always cherish. I am ordering the book for my sister who is sending her first child to Kindergarten next week. I highly recommend this to be added to your family traditions.

I will ever be grateful to my son's kindergarten teacher for reading this book to her class. My son was having a hard time being away from home for the first time, as with most children. He came home one day with his scholastic book order in hand and asked me to buy him The Kissing Hand. That was it he wanted nothing else. After we read the book together and I started giving him his own kissing hand he felt better about going out on his own. Still to this day even though he is in second grade now I sometimes give him a kiss on the hand as he get out of the car, especially on those days when I am having a hard time going to school myself. This book is, in short, a perfect picture of a mother's love.