The Kissing Hand

Beautifully Illustrated!

A wonderful message for children facing separation from a parent, especially those just starting school. This book is reassuring in stating that love continues even when a child is apart from a mother. There's also an element of learning in that the story brings out information about nocturnal animals. It was a delight to read to four and five year olds.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Touching Story

An absolutely delightful book to share with toddlers. Such a good way to ease the difficulty of saying good-bye, even for just a short time. My grandchildren, ages 7 and 5,occasionally still ask for that kiss on the hand when leaving. I now give this book as a baby gift to all new mothers, so they too can share it with their little one.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

1st day off to pre-k

This book is very helpful for both the parent and the child. It lets your child know that while away from mommy/daddy that they are close at heart. It's sort of from my heart to yours we will always be together. Think of me and I'm there close to your heart, just a kiss away. No need to be scared because I am always with you, in your thoughts and in your heart. It was great for me and my 4 year old. I love it and read it to her over and over.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Touching book for pre-schoolers

A wonderful book to introduce the concept of leaving home for school to your little ones. My 3-year-old wanted me to read it to her over and over again.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Kissing Hand

I like to buy this book to give as gifts. It is a wonderful book to illustrate about caring for others. My grandchildren love it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Tell me more!!!!!!!

I am ten and love this book! My mom used to read this to me all the time and I loved it so much it is one of my favorite books!!!!!I would buy it but I don't have enough money on my gift card!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK Highly Rated

This is one of the most touching stories to help your child going to
nursey, pre-school or school. I personally knew about this book several years before my first Grandaughter was even born. It should go to every child in every home.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Perfect Reassurance Book

Throughout the years all of my children have been read or have read on their own this book. It is a book that has been a "staple" in our home. I get the pleasure of now reading it to my littlest one, like a handed down tradition.

This book, as most of you know, has been used in schools and for introducing new situations. I will admit that it is perfect for the "First Day of School Jitters", but I have shared it with my kids because it is a wonderful book all on its own.

The kids have always loved the pictures and they could not resist a baby racoon. All my kids were able to relate to how Chester was feeling, which in turn allowed them to see that it was normal.

The thing I love most about this book is the simple way that it teaches kids about feeling anxiety. The way it is written and the pictures allow all ages to be drawn into the story.

This book is such a sensation that you can easily do a search to come up with extra activities to do with your children while you read the book. This allows for more sharing and teaching about feelings. (I will post a few of those links to activities at the end of this post)

I have only read to my littlest a few times, but he does not fidgit during the story. I think even he is loving the pictures that go with the experience that Chester and his mother goes through.

I recommend this book for every household. It really is a classic and a perfect example of a "tradition" to hand down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Just for Toddlers! Great for Those Going Off to College.

I got this book for my daughter who was going away to college. I helped her set up her room and snuck it under her pillow before I left. She called me later that night when she found it and LOVED IT.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

my son kissed my palm, so cute

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
This story is about a little raccoon that has a fear of going to school until his mother fills him in on an old family secret "the kissing hand". This book is applicable to all the things children may fear at one point or another; school, camp, sleeping at a friend's house. It has beautiful pictures that sparked my children's interest and kept it until the end of the book. They wanted to talk about what they saw. When the book was done my son opened my hand and kissed my palm, so adorable!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

From a Child's Heart to a Mother's Soul

The Kissing Hand
By Audrey Penn
Illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
Age Range: 4 to 8
Tanglewood Press IN, 2006 (32 pp, $12.95, paperback)

Rating 5/5

Audrey Penn's simple, but powerful text would touch anyone's heart. A young raccoon, who is having doubts about the first day of school, decides he would much rather stay home with his mother. Unfortunately, staying home is usually not an option and Mrs. Raccoon shares a "wonderful secret" to help him feel safe while at school. A simple kiss on a hand and a touch on a cheek is all that takes for this young Raccoon, Chester, to take a leap into his first journey alone.

Although this book is listed for children ages 4 to 8, I believe any person who has a child within themselves would appreciate the warm feeling you get after reading The Kissing Hand. The illustrations are simple. To some, that might affect how a child reacts to a book however, the purpose of the book and the illustrations match flawlessly. The simplest action, like kissing a hand, can have the everlasting feeling of comfort and love. Through this secret and heartwarming reassurance, Penn captures the doubt in a child's mind and the heartache of mothers letting go for the first time.

I highly recommend this book to parents who want to reassure their children, and even themselves, the love that will always be with them even away from home. The Kissing Hand would be an excellent classic to add to a library in any home or classroom.

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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

So cute

This book is so cute, my mom read it to me when I was 5.But anyway it was one of my favorite books then. I recamond it for ages 4-7.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Classic!!!

The Kissing Hand is such a touching and sentimental story. A true classic and a great read for parents and children who are getting ready for the first day of Kindergarten, the first day of preschool, or the first separation. My kids absolutely love this book and so do I!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Love it

I love this book! I read it to my kids all of the time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

repeat purchase

I purchased The Kissing Hand several years ago for my own children after my daughter's kindergarten teacher read it to her and she fell in love with getting the stickers. I recently purchased it again for my grandson ( and his parents) It is a very sweet story of parental love. A classic.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Kissing Hand

I was struggling with telling my son about seperating with my husband/posible devorce and this book helped too not only with school issuses but other life problems as well. this is a great book. A kiss can go a long way in a childs eyes and heart.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Great Book For Young Kids

This book is great for little kids! It helped me feel better about starting preschool. When my mom first read it to me, it helped me stop crying and realize that her love follows me to school and everywhere I go.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great for day care and pre-scholers as well

This book was great for my son when he had any kind of separation anxiety, whether it be school, a babysitter or whatever.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OMG! i love this book!

O my go this is the best book to read to little kids cause they will do the kissing hand for ever. My mother read this to me as long as i can remeber i guess i was 6 and we have been doing the kissing hand scene and im 13 years of age.HAHA! I love this book it is great!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The kissing hand

This book was awsome because it teaches u a lesson. I loved it .The book was about a racoon who wants to stay home with his mommy , but has to go to school. His mommy kisses his hand which brings back memories about his mommy. Who ever the author is this is a beautiful story. The illustrater worked very hard.