The Kissing Hand

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Summary: A Teacher's Opinion
Review: As a veteran teacher with over 20 years in kindergarten, I love the story of the Kissing Hand!!! The story and illustrations are beautiful! I have used it for several years at orientation to begin our school year. The plot is simple enough for young children to understand, and they certainly relate to being anxious about starting school. We read together, parents and children, and discuss why parents want their children to go to school, like Mama Racoon wanted Chester to go. When the time comes for parents to go, they exchange "kissing hands." The children are much calmer and reassured as their parents leave.

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Summary: We love The Kissing Hand!
Review: Audrey Penn has written truly a great book. Not only for children, but parents will be moved also. A tremendous read. The drawings also are outstanding. My six-year old daughter picked this book out at a school book fair. It had been read to her class that day in her Kindergarten class. I read it to her upon arriving home. So moved, I couldn't wait to share it with my wife. My daughter did an outstanding job picking out this book. Truly moving, & certainly a classic.

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Summary: A Mother Reviews The Kissing Hand
Review: Chester is about to start school and he's terribly nervous. In a single, calming gesture, his Mom helps him feel loved and secure by kissing the center of his hand. She reminds Chester that her love is always right there and if he should feel frightened or scared or lonely he should simply hold the hand to his cheek and he will feel her love.
We read it just before our son began kindergarten on September 5, 2001 for several days in a row. Although he had been attending Day Care since birth, this was still a new experience for him and he was naturally nervous. So now, each morning we kiss his palm and send him off on the bus. It's a wonderful new ritual.
September 11, 2001 began a tremendously difficult time in our country. Our children are 4 and 5, and we have been reading this nearly every night since then. A friend's daughter was having terrible nightmares and great fears about not seeing her Daddy (he's a Police Officer currently assigned to Ground Zero). We lent them the book to read to her. Her Mom now tells me she is sleeping soundly as long as she has been kissed in the palm of her hand.
Sweet Dreams, America and the world.

Rating:
Summary: Review of The Kissing Hand
Review: Chester Racoon and his mother prepare for Chester's first "night" at school. He is a little apprehensive, and, of course, he wants to stay home with his mom. Mrs. Racoon shares a secret with Chester called the Kissing Hand. She kisses Chester's palm and tells him to put it to his cheek when he begins to feel lonely at school. This book makes a great gift for a child entering school or going to camp for the first time, or for any occasion where a child will be temporarily separated from home and loved ones. It can also be used to help a child through the death of a parent or special loved one, and for children placed in foster families and residential facilities. For teachers, this book would be super to read the first day of school. It could also lead up to wonderful science, social studies, and reading/writing activities.

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Summary: school help
Review: I will ever be grateful to my son's kindergarten teacher for reading this book to her class. My son was having a hard time being away from home for the first time, as with most children. He came home one day with his scholastic book order in hand and asked me to buy him The Kissing Hand. That was it he wanted nothing else. After we read the book together and I started giving him his own kissing hand he felt better about going out on his own. Still to this day even though he is in second grade now I sometimes give him a kiss on the hand as he get out of the car, especially on those days when I am having a hard time going to school myself. This book is, in short, a perfect picture of a mother's love

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest!
Review: My 5yr. got to take home a raccon (stuffed)named Robbie last year for a project at school. Well with it he got to take this book home to read and then tell the class about his day with Robbie. Well I fell in love with this book! It is awsome. My son is always like oh thats for girls when something is mushy like this book but he loved it. Now we have just purchased the second one Pocket full of Kisses. Great as well. Especially if there is a younger brother or sister in the family and the older child is having a hard time coping. These are definitly must own kind of books.

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Summary: Perfect for all Pre-Schoolers
Review: Poor little Chester, the racoon, it's time for him to go off to school and he doesn't want to leave his mother. Mother knows that Chester will love school once he gets there. There'll be new friends to meet, new toys to play with, new books to read and even a new swing to swing on. So she tells him a special secret about the "kissing hand". She takes his little hand, spreads the fingers and places a kiss right in the middle of his palm. Now when he feels lonely and needs a little love from home, he can press his hand against his cheek and know his mother's love will be with him. And, before he scampers off to school, he gives his mother the kissing hand too, so that she won't miss him too much, while he's away..... Audrey Penn has written a sweet, endearing story to help little ones face those scary feelings on their first days of separation. Her gentle text is complimented by expressive, detailed illustrations and together will let youngsters know that they're not alone out there in the world. The Kissing Hand is the perfect bedtime story, pre-schoolers will want to read again and again and makes a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

Rating:
Summary: My girls (ages 2 and 4) love this book!
Review: This book is so wonderful. Shows children that even when you are not with them, your love will always be there. I love this book, highly recommend!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for both Child and Parent
Review: this book not only helped my son with his anxiety, but it helped me also..wonderful story and the pictures are awsome.. My son kept saying that he and the little Racoon were alike in their feelings about school, he really enjoyed the book.. I also have to say, I was in tears..lol..Im sure some Moms will understand what I am saying..

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Summary: For Moms or Dads Who Travel....
Review: This simple and beautifully illustrated book by Audrey Penn has become a staple in my goodnight routine with my three-year-old daughter. I travel for work a great deal throughout the year and she is too big now to go along. When I first found this book I cried! Now, whenever we read The Kissing Hand I remind her how much I love her and that I will never be far away since we each have our "kissing hands." A recent business trip abroad found me thinking of her little kisses in my hand and knowing she and Daddy were reading it each night. Pick this one up! If ever you have traveled and heart wrenchingly missed your child...this book will be as comforting to you as it will be to the little soul waiting at home...Enjoy!