text by Audrey Penn
illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
Tanglewood Press, 1993
30 pp.
Age: 2+
Interests: animals, family, raccoons, school, dealing with change, separation
Chester Raccoon is about to start school but he doesn’t want to go. He wants to stay home with his mother. She helps him cope with this big change by showing him “the kissing hand”. She kisses his palm and tells him whenever he’s troubled he just has to press his hand to his cheek and remember that she loves him.
A simple idea in a gentle, loving tale. A nice story of motherly love which could provide a coping mechanism for children dealing with separation from parents, starting school, camp or daycare, or just going through difficult times.
Rarest Kind of Best 