Audrey Penn

My Opinion: This was such a sad yet poignant little book. For everyone who has ever been asked what being dead means from a child who has lost a friend or loved one, you know how hard it is to answer that question. I thought Audrey Penn did a phenomenal job with it. When Chester Raccoon's friend Skiddel Squirrel has an accident and his teacher tells the class he will not be returning ever again, he wants to know what happened and why. His mother tells him just like old Mr. Beaver, "His heart show more quit beating and his body didn't work any more." Chester now understands, and "his insides felt jumbled and he was very sad." I think that's a wonderful way to describe this feeling in language a child would understand.

When Chester is still upset, Mrs. Raccoon suggests that they make a memory of Skiddil Squirrel, "that way you'll never forget him." She explains what that means and they set out to go to one of Skiddil Squirrels favorite places to play, and along the way they pick up a whole slew of friends who want to make a memory of him as well.

As usual, Audrey Penn takes a very difficult subject down to a child's level, not telling too much or too little, and makes it easier to understand. Also as usual, Barbara Leonard Gibson's illustrations are spot on and adorable to boot.

I highly recommend this book to parents who are trying to help their little one understand and deal with death and give it a special 5 stars :D show less

***This book was reviewed for Netgalley***

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, is a beautifully illustrated children's book telling the tale of Chester Racoon on his first day of school. Young Chester is scared, and doesn't want to go. (Who would?) His mother shares with him the secret of the Kissing Hand. She takes his tiny paw and places a kiss in the center of it, telling him to press his hand to his cheek if he’s scared or sad, and it will remind him that she loves him. At the very end, show more just before Chester goes to school, he leaves his ma with her own Kissing Hand. Soo sweet!

I like the attention to detail regarding when racoons wake and sleep! Brava! This story offers a great way for any parent to offer reassurances to a child in need. Teaches lesson that You are Loved. Also that what may seem strange and scary at first can quickly become familiar. We just need to give it a chance.

My cubs, if all ages, love this book. I bought a copy many moons ago, when the eldest were just wee ones. I have plans to buy a copy for my nephew. I hope he loves it as much as they do.

Reading this book again, alone, made me cry. It brought back memories of my grandmother, gone a decade now. My grandparents raised me during my most formative years, and my grandmother is the person I always sought comfort from.

🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻 Highly recommended for children of all ages. show less

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn was one of my favorite childhood books growing up. It was a joy to reread it now as an adult. The story is about sweet young Chester being quite fearful of going to school, his mother reassures him and passes down her little secret. She kisses his hand, so he is able to keep her love with him as he begins something new.
This story provides a sweet way of communicating a reassurance to children. It touches on a theme of separation and possibly provides a way show more for grown-ups to reassure their child that they will be okay. Working with pre-k students, many miss there parents and the comfort of their own home, and it seems nothing we do can help them fully through that anxiety. Through the story we see Chester grow out of that fear and even provides reassurance and love to his mother, instilling confidence in not only his mother but in himself! show less

This is a new addition to the Kissing Hand series. When Chester Raccoon is invited to an "overday" (spending the day at his friend's home) at his friend Pepper Opossum's tree, he will be away from mother raccoon for the full day. She kisses his hand and closes it on her kiss as he is leaving. Chester joins all his friends for a day full of fun games and activities. When they all get tired, they go to Pepper's tree and curl up in her hollow. All his friends fall asleep except for Chester. He show more remembers his mother's Kissing Hand, but he still feels homesick and a tear escapes from his eye. When Pepper's mom notices how sad he is, she enlists the help of Mrs. Rabbit to take Chester home. Once home and in his mother's arms, he has not problem falling asleep across the hollow from his brother. Chester learns that it okay to be nervous when you experience new things and not to be afraid to ask for help. This is a great book to read to young children who might be nervous or scared about a new activity or to be leaving mom whether to go to a friend or relative's house or even to school. The illustrations are adorable and the animals are so cute. I especially liked Sassafrass the skunk who kept "stinky puffing" when she was nervous, tired or giggling. This is also a good book about teaching tolerance for friends and those who might be different. A great book for families of young children as well as for kindergarten and early primary classrooms. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. show less