The Kissing Hand
By Audrey Penn
Illustrated Nancy M. Leak
Review by: Sheila Morgan
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is the heartwarming story of a young raccoon’s fear of leaving his mother and beginning school. Mother raccoon lovingly reassures Chester by sharing a secret with him. The secret of The Kissing Hand! She kisses Chester’s palm and then teaches him that whenever he is lonely or scared all he needs to do is press his hand on his cheek and remember that his mommy loves him. With such assurances of love, Chester feels able to go off to school. However, being such a sensitive raccoon, he decides that his mother needs a Kissing Hand too!
This is a delightful story made even better by the wonderfully detailed illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak. From the single shining tear on little Chester’s cheek to the final picture of Chester and 12 other night creatures gathered to attend school with the wise old owl, this book is a visual wonder for children and adults alike.
This book is a treasure, especially for those children experiencing any form of separation anxiety! It is great for adults too. We could all use a Kissing Hand on a hard day! Read this story with your children and start a new family tradition!
