+ + + + + The Kissing Hand
Author:  Audrey Penn
Illustrators:  Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tanglewood Press (July 25, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933718072
ISBN-13: 978-1933718071

Book description: Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school–he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he’ll love school–with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that’s been in the family for years–the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son’s hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm–smack dab in the middle: “Chester felt his mother’s kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart.”

Book review: As a mother I was very touched by “The Kissing Hand.”  This is an idea mothers can share with their little ones and easily implement creating both confident kiddos and childhood memories to treasure.

Here’s the breakdown:

Characters: Chester and his mother quickly resonate with the young reader especially in their dialog where Mother Raccoon is soothing and reassuring, wise and nurturing.

Events / Story Line: It’s Chester’s first ‘night’ of school and he’s nervous and wants to stay home with mother where everything is comforting and familiar.  Mrs. Raccoon shows him a special way to keep ‘in touch’ with her throughout the night by teaching him about the kissing hand.

Illustrations: The illustrations are wonderful and remind me of the old Golden Books.  Filling the page, detailed and comforting, they underscore the warmth of the narration.

Reader relevance: This is the perfect gift for a child starting school!  Little one’s will relate to Chester’s feelings and love the concept of the kissing hand.

Reader Excitability / Overall Presentation: Moms will absolutely be touched.  Little ones will immediately take to the idea of a kissing hand – if they haven’t already been doing this at home.