The Kissing Hand

( 96 )

Overview

In this contemporary classic Chester Raccoon seeks love and reassurance from his mother as he ventures out into the world to attend his very first day of school.

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.

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More About This Book

Overview

In this contemporary classic Chester Raccoon seeks love and reassurance from his mother as he ventures out into the world to attend his very first day of school.

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.

Read More Show Less
  • The Kissing Hand
    The Kissing Hand  

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
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. (Mar.)
School Library Journal
PreS-K-When Chester Raccoon is reluctant to start school, his mother addresses his fears, then kisses his hand so he will have her love with him while they are apart. After this exchange, he gives her a ``Kissing Hand'' as well and scampers off happily to school. This bit of bibliotherapy comes with CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE emblazoned on the cover, a letter from the chairperson of this group, a page of stickers on the flyleaf, and an order form attached to the back cover. Now, all this marketing wouldn't be so bad if the book were better. Unfortunately, the didactic story is reminiscent of some of the sweet and soppy selections from the '50s, and the artwork is just a cut above greeting-card quality. There are so many better ``starting school'' offerings that this one is not even in the running.-JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA
Bobbie Combs
When it's time to send a child off to school for the very first time, it's hard to say who is the most anxious about it—the parent or the child. Both will appreciate the sweet and gentle message in The Kissing Hand, a softly illustrated picture book.
—Alternative Family Magazine
From the Publisher

"This gently reassuring tale by Audrey Penn has been used for many years by parents to prepare young children for new experiences." — School Library Journal
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781933718002
  • Publisher: Tanglewood Press IN
  • Publication date: 9/25/2006
  • Pages: 32
  • Sales rank: 518
  • Age range: 3 - 8 Years
  • Product dimensions: 8.20 (w) x 10.42 (h) x 0.38 (d)

Meet the Author


Audrey Penn is the author of the NY Times bestseller, The Kissing Hand, and its sequels, along with the Blackbeard series for middle readers. She takes her education program into schools, libraries, and children's hospitals, where she shapes and refines her story ideas in partnership with kids. She live in Durham, NC.

Ruth E. Harper was born in the tiny English town of Burnham-on-Crouch. She has lived and studied in Israel and Cyprus, as well as in England and the US. She has illustrated in a wide variety of styles, including technical drawings that were accepted by the U.S. Patent Office when she was 13 years old.

Maryland artist Nancy M. Leak is a specialist in printmaking. She works and exhibits with a group of seven women called Printmakers Plus, as well as with other local and national organizations. Her hand-pulled original etchings, many of them miniatures, have won recognition all over the U.S.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 96 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(79)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(6)

2 Star

(5)

1 Star

(2)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 96 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 14, 2012

    Love this book, but...

    We love the paper version of this book, but when I purchased it for our Nook I was really disappointed. The layout is terrible and the words are very small and not always matched with the right pictures.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 22, 2009

    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.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 29, 2010

    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.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 26, 2009

    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.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 23, 2009

    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.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 4, 2009

    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.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 22, 2012

    Wonderful story, Nook not a good venue!

    I was dissappointed since this is sucha a great story. But buy the book instead. Nook is too small to accomodate pictures consistently with the text. Perhaps a larger tablet would work fine, but Nook doesn't.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 23, 2011

    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.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 25, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    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.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 21, 2011

    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.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 21, 2011

    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.

    visit my blog at blogspot -> Beyond The Cover

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 30, 2006

    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!

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 28, 2012

    Amazing

    This book is so beatiful i remember my mother reading this to me this book is very dear to me read this to your children they will enjoy it

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 15, 2012

    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!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 4, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    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!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 4, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Llama Llama Holiday Drama

    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.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 13, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    The Very Hungry Caterpillar
    Jake The Snake And The Stupid Time-Out Chair
    The Runaway Bunny
    Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren (Junie B. Jones Series #7)
    Wemberly Worried

    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!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 13, 2009

    Love it

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

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 15, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    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.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 7, 2009

    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.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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