The Kissing Hand

by Audrey Penn

Paperback, 2007

Status

Available

Local notes

EC stories for children

Publication

Tanglewood Press (2007), Edition: Book & CD, Paperback, 24 pages

Description

When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.

Awards

Original publication date

1993

User reviews

LibraryThing member lesliewright34
The Kissing Hand is a story about a tiny raccoon named Chester who is anxiously and fearfully preparing for his first day of school. He tells his mother he doesn't want to go, that he'd rather stay home with her and play. She reassures him by telling him about all the fun things that will happen at
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school. But her best reassurance comes from "a very old secret" called the kissing hand.

The Kissing Hand is a short tale with detailed colorful illustrations that enhance the heartwarming story. The sentences are simplistic and full of dialogue between mother and son. The author's choice of dialogue throughout the story enhances the emotions of fear and anxiety displayed by Chester and the love and reassurance his mother offers. It helps the reader develop a relationship with the characters.

This is a good children's story, with a believable conflict, and a happy ending. The characters in this story are raccoons. Even though the characters are animals portrayed with human characteristics, the choice of animals as the characters offers a less threatening way for children to empathize and relate. They see a cute, adorable character with experiences similar to their own which may help ease some of their own anxieties about school. Chester, the son, is dealing with school anxiety, an issue faced by many children. His mother offers parental reassurance in many ways, making Chester feel safe and secure.
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LibraryThing member mmesullivan
I kindergartin teacher recommended this book to children with separation anxiety. I read it to my own children and they found comfort in the story of Chester Raccoon. Chester doesn't want to go to school he is scared to leave Mother Racoon. Mother teachers Chester about the kissing hand which is a
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secret way to keep Mommy and Daddy's love with them all day.
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LibraryThing member champlin
Picture Book. This lovely little tale is about a mommy raccoon and her son. When he is hurt or sad she kisses his hands to make him feel better. One mommy raccoon has another baby. When the baby is hurt or sad the mommy raccoon kisses his hands too. The older brother raccoon gets jealous and says
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"Thats my kissing hand." The mommy tells him that it is just a different kissing hand. I loved this book because it shows children that people can have the love for more than one person. In the classroom this is a great book for the introduction of a new sibling.
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LibraryThing member hnnewton
This would be a great book to read to kindergarten or 1st grade students on their first day back to school. It will help them not be so nervous. There are many activities you could do with this book to send home to parents that first day.
LibraryThing member conuly
It's not a bad book, it's just not that interesting to me. And while the kissing hand concept is definitely useful for any child worrying about leaving their parents for the day, I thought it was presented in an excessively sentimental way. I always find too much sentimentality just encourages
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children to dwell on how upset they are, rather than comforting them.

But if it works for your kid, great.
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LibraryThing member beckyhill
Mrs. Raccoon comforts Chester Raccoon when he is afraid to leave for school for the first time. The animal characters are easy to feel compassion for and associate the same feelings with, especially for children in the same situation. The plot is simple for children to understand, and the setting
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is representative of a child's understanding of nature. The theme is one of having courage going into school and knowing your parents love you. The style is simple but artistic, and the watercolor illustrations are very descriptive of the story. I would include this in my collection as a resource for parents with young children going off to school for the first time, who share these feelings of insecurity.
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LibraryThing member rpetty
This is a story of a small raccoon and his mother on the young raccoon’s first night of school. The young raccoon is scared and does not want to go to school, so his mother tells him the story of the kissing hand. After she tells him the story, she takes his hand, kisses it, and tells him when he
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wants a kiss from his mother to put his hand to his cheek and he will feel the kiss. It comforts the young raccoon and he is able to attend school knowing his mother is always with him.

A few years ago, I was activated for a mission in Iraq. My wife read this story to me and my son the night before I left. We used this kissing hand to help us get through this time of separation.

I would have the students write a short story telling about an experience that they encountered during their lifetime. I would also ask them what sort of coping skill has a parent of some other member of the family shared with them to help them get over their fears or anxieties.
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LibraryThing member perihan
Chester do not want to go to school, instead he wants to be near his mother. Chester’s mother asks for Chester’s hand and she kisses it. She tells Chester that wherever Chester goes, his mother’s kiss will go with him and Chester will never feel alone. That is exactly how Chester feels when
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he starts school: He is with his mother.
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LibraryThing member bsturdevant06
Primary
This is a good example of fantasy because the raccoons are acting like people, although with a fee animal characteristics. The raccoons go to school but they go at nigh instead of during the day. The setting of this is some forrest but it is unclear where. This does not distract from the
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book and makes it easier to connect to.
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LibraryThing member jamie_tow
The "Kissing Hands" is a story of a boy Chester who is a young raccoon that does not want to leave his mother, toys, and his friends on the first day of school. Chester's mother whom is very loving shares a secret that help him cope with the new concept of going to school to learn about his new
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world.

The Kissing Hand is a story for any child who confronts a difficult situation such as goin to school for the first time. The first day of school is certainly scary for most children. This book is excellent tool to address these fears. Every new school year as a teacher I face children with these fears, that is why every year the first week of school I read this book and do activities along the lines of The Kissing Hands so that my new children can cope with the difficult situation such as going to school for the first time.
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LibraryThing member jgabica
This fantasy book is a heartwarming story between a mother raccoon and her son. The story is very sweet, but is fantasy because raccoons can not actually talk, nor do they go to school. The plot of the story does like this: Chester doesn't want to go to school, so his mom helps him overcome his
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sadness by sending with him a kiss in his hand to remember her love, and then he gladly attends school and they both are content knowing they are loved although apart. Media:Acrylic paint
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LibraryThing member aengle
K-1. Can help with students first day of school. A lot of students, when they are younger, have a hard time leaving their mothers adn fathers or whomever they might live with but sooner or later they find out that they have to do things that may seem scary at first but it's a part of growing up.
LibraryThing member rfinch
This is a favorite book in my family. Last year I read this book to my kindergarten the day before he started school. It was a perfect book and tool to ease my son's anxiety about starting school. I would kiss his palm every morning before school and he would give me a kiss back in my palm. It was
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our special time together to say goodbye. Thank you Audrey Penn for sharing this precious book with us!
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LibraryThing member ahauze
Such a perfect first day of school/kindergarten story for both children and their families. A cute story of a raccoon who is afraid to leave his mother for his first night of school. His fear is alleviated when his mother gives him a kiss in the middle of his palm, letting him know that she and her
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love are always with him.
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LibraryThing member TonyaJordan
This book is about a little raccoon who was starting school and was very afraid to be away from his mother. Chester was his name, and all he wanted to do is to play with his toys, and swing on his swing, and be at home with his mommy. Chesters mother, Mrs.Raccoon had fo find a way for him not to be
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scared of school and being away from her, so she explained to him that even when she is not there with him, she is always in his heart. She told him a secret that she learned from her mother called the "The Kissing Hand". After his mother explained the secret to him, he was no longer afraid because he always felt the warmth of his mothers love right there in the palm of his hand.

I have read this book countless times and I never get tired of it. I think it sends a great message to young children, who are begining school, or to those who just have the jitters about going back to school after the summer. The pictures in this book are very colorful and detailed so it keeps the childs attention. I have not found a child yet who did not enjoy this book.
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LibraryThing member mrsstone
This book shows how love can be carried all around with us. It's not the worst or best book that I've ever read. I may use it on the first day of school or encourage parents to read it before they bring their child to school.
LibraryThing member vnwender
The kissing hand is a book about a raccoon who is scared to go to school on the first day. He does not want to leave his toys or his friends. His mother told him about the "kissing hand." It was something that her mother told her about. He can have her love where ever he goes in the palm of his
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hand. This is a great book for parents to read to their children when they are about to start school and it is also a great book for teachers to read to her class on the first day of school.
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LibraryThing member alisiap
The Kissing Hand is one of the most touching stories you'll ever read. It's the story of Chester Raccoon, a young raccoon who's nervous to go to his first night of school despite his mother's words of reassurance. She ends up taking him to school and leaving him with a kiss in his hand, which she
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says if he holds close, he'll feel her kissing him. This is a great book for helping children to overcome issues of separation anxiety prior to going to school. Share this book with any lower elementary class at the beginning of the school year, and they're sure to enjoy it. Just make sure they don't see you cry!
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LibraryThing member ericha.anderson
Picture Book
A fabulous story about a mother raccoon who helps her son overcome his fears about starting school. Chester is nervous about going to school and he wants to stay home with his mother where everything is familiar. She tells him the story of "The Kissing Hand". She kisses the palm of his
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hand and tells him to rub it on his cheek whenever he is feeling scared or insecure at school. He will feel his mother's love and gain confidence. Chester is no longer afraid and he enjoys school knowing that he has his mother's love right there with him.
This is one of my all time favorite books. I read it to my children on the night before school starts each year and I read it to my students on the first day of school. Then each student draws their own kissing hand to take home to their parents.
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LibraryThing member SaraLukaszewicz
This is the story about Chester the raccoon. Chester is starting school but he's really nervous about leaving his mom and his home. His mother gives him a special present to take with him to school. Chester's mother kisses his palm so that whenever he is lonely or scared, he can look down at his
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palm and know that his mother is always there with him.
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LibraryThing member tracystewart
This is one of my favorite books to read with my sweet little kindergarteners! They miss their moms and this book let's them know that their mommy is sad about them leaving for school, too!
LibraryThing member ktextor
This book is so cute for beginning students starting school in either kindergarten or the 1st grade. It's about a little raccoon who is afraid of starting school and leaving his mother. His mom tells him that he doesn't need to be scared and she kisses his palm letting him know that any time he
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feels scared he can put his palm to his face and that's him mom giving him kisses and love. The little raccoon is ready for school but before he leaves he turns to his mom and gives her a kiss on her palm so that way in case she ever misses him she can put her palm to her face and it's her son giving her kisses. An extremely cute book for beginners at school!
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LibraryThing member kidlit9
When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.
LibraryThing member mlboliver
Audrey Penn's "The Kissing Hand" is a touching story about Chester Raccoon adjusting to going to school for the first time. He doesn't want to go without his Mother. Chester's mother helps him cope with going to school by starting a tradition of kissing Chester's hand before he leaves and telling
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him when he starts to miss her he can look at his hand and be reminded that his mother loves him. Chester then realizes that his mother is going to miss him also when he leaves to school, so he kisses her hand to so that when she misses him she can look at her hand and know that he loves her too.

This story is very touching and heart-felt. After reading this book to little ones, you can see that they love the idea that Momma raccoon created for Chester's situation. Also, as an adult, one can read this book and cope with the fear of sending their little ones off into the world.

This book could be read to young students on their first day of school. Also, this book could be read to the class geared to those students that don't live with both of their parents or geared to students who have family that live far away, or even military families.
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LibraryThing member blindexpression1
This is a favorite of mine and I used it on my daughters first day of Kindergarten. Chester isn't too sure about starting Kindergarten and leaving his mother. His mother shares a secret that helps Chester feel okay about his first day...as they discuss all the reasons he will love school. At the
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end, even his mother receives a special gift. It also may be used to spike kid’s interest in science for nocturnal animals.
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Rating

(628 ratings; 4.4)
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