Review of A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon

The sun has risen, which means it is time for Chester Raccoon to go to bed. But he is afraid to go to sleep, because that ray of sunshine looks like lots of scary things! Clouds and shadows amplify his fears. Mrs. Raccoon reassures him that there is nothing to fear from those rays of sunshine. She gives him a Kissing Hand to aid his sweet dreams and he is able to finally fall asleep.


This book, which is a part of the beloved Chester Raccoon series by Audrey Penn, is a cute way of letting young children know there is nothing to fear at bedtime. It's amusing how the rays of sun and shadows are just as scary to a raccoon as those moonlight beams and shadows are for kids. When reading this story, kids will exclaim, "Hey, the sun isn't scary!" As a response, adults can note how Chester wouldn't find that moonlight and starlight scary. It's the same thing.

This book is quite short and written in rhyme, which makes it perfect for the younger toddler and preschool readers. Older children who are looking for more lengthy adventures like in Chester's previous books may be a little disappointed with its simplicity. But this allows for younger readers to be introduced to Chester Raccoon and to have their own story to which they can relate. Illustrations are less vibrant than in previous stories, but are more appropriate with the simpler text.

A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon is a great book to read to a child before going to bed or before a nap. Include a Kissing Hand and you have your own nighty-night ritual in place with your little one.

I recieved a complimentary set of galleys from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my review of this book.

Review of A Color Game for Chester Raccoon

Audrey Penn's beloved Chester Raccoon returns in her latest picture book, A Color Game for Chester Raccoon. Unlike her previous books featuring the young forest creature, this book doesn't teach a life lesson. Instead, its goal is to simply teach colors by using familiar characters and fun, rhyming text.



Chester Raccoon has a fun game that he likes to play every day with his friends. It's a sort of "I Spy" that focuses on different colors. He plays this game with his younger brother, Ronny, his best friend Cassie (whose name has changed spellings in this book for some reason), the badger (who is no longer a bully) and his Owl Teacher.

The rhyming text makes it fun to read out loud to young children and will engage their attention. Color words are presented in boldface to make them stand out more from the text. I would have loved it if they could have been actually printed in that color, instead of all in black. Doing so allows children to better associate the color with its name.

At the end of the book, children are invited to go back through it and to play the Color Game with Chester. Adults who read it with young children could turn it into a game from the very first time they read it. Then, apply it to your every day life to help your child learn about colors in her environment.

I shared this book with younger children, as well as older children. The older children were disappointed by the lack of a storyline and less vibrant pictures than in the previous Chester Raccoon stories. Younger children, who may not be as familiar with those classic storybooks, still enjoyed this book. It makes for a good introduction to Chester Raccoon and his friends and is more geared toward that toddler and preschool age group, anyway. It would make a good addition to any early childhood library.



I received a complimentary set of galleys from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Review of Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories

In Audrey Penn's Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories, Chester is yet again learning a tough life lesson. At school, his Owl Teacher tells the students that Skiddil Squirrel had an accident and won't be coming back to school. He doesn't understand what this means. So, Mrs. Raccoon tries to explain to him what it means that Skiddil died. Chester understandably becomes very upset and wants to still play with his friend. Mrs. Raccoon recommends that he do something to create a memory of his lost friend. Because Skiddil liked butterflies and acorns, the two of them trek down to the butterfly pond with Chester's brother, Ronny, and his best friend, Cassy. More and more of their other animal friends join them along the way.

When they arrive at the pond, there are dozens of butterflies flitting about. Mrs. Raccoon asks Chester to share some of his favorite memories of Skiddil. One of those memories is about Skiddil burying a bunch of acorns near the pond, but forgetting where he had planted them. Mrs. Raccoon points out a small group of oak trees that are just starting to grow. Chester exclaims that the forest has made a Skiddil Squirrel memory. He finds an acorn lying on the ground near the trees and decides to take it home as a tangible memory of his beloved friend. Before leaving, he puts a Kissing Hand on each new tree trunk, thanking Skiddil for having been his friend.



This book brought tears to my eyes. Death is difficult to handle at any age. For children, though, it is even more difficult. It just doesn't make any sense to them. And the death of a child, from an accident or otherwise, is even more difficult for all to bear.

Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories is not written to tell parents how to explain death to their children. It isn't going to tell them how to answer all of their children's questions. But it does provide a great way for children to create and hold onto their memories of their lost friend. The idea could even work for children who have lost a beloved parent or grandparent. It is the memories of those who are lost that we will cherish together. And for children who are in a more concrete phase of thinking, attaching those memories to something tangible will help them to keep those memories alive. The book also indirectly recommends planting a tree in the deceased person's honor. This is a tradition carried out by the loved ones of many who have passed. Parents could easily do this with their child.

I also liked how this book did not dwell on Skiddil Squirrel's death, nor any ideas as to the afterlife or other personal beliefs. Whether parents want to teach their children about Heaven or otherwise is best left up to each individual family. Reading this book is going to cause a lot of questions to be raised, so think about your own beliefs and what you wish to pass on prior to sharing it. I would not recommend reading it to an entire class of children.

Barbara L. Gibson has again captured the essence of young children in her illustrations of Chester Raccoon and the other raccoons in the story. I was particularly touched by the vibrant illustrations at the butterfly pond. The magical appearance of so many beautiful butterflies in the beloved play area of Skiddil Squirrel is a fitting tribute.



I received a complimentary set of galleys from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for this review.

Review of Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully

Bullying is a hot topic in the media these days as it seems to be on the rise in our schools and neighborhoods. Or, perhaps more people are just paying attention to it. Audrey Penn addressed the topic back in 2008, using her beloved character Chester Raccoon, famous from The Kissing Hand book, in her picture book Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully.

Chester, his younger brother Ronny, and their friend Cassy don't want to go to school anymore. When Mrs. Raccoon asks them why, they tell her about this horrible bully at school, whose description sounds more like a fanciful monster than a real [animal] child. But think about it – to children, a bully would resemble some kind of a monster in their minds. The bully is actually a badger who does all kinds of things to torture the children at school. He ruins their play time, causes a skunk to spray their friend, and hurts the other children. Even the teacher has a hard time controlling him. So, Mrs. Raccoon decides to gather the young ones and to tell them a story.

Mrs. Raccoon tells a tale about a stone that the other animals once found in the woods. It was a different color than any of the other ones, and was very rough around the edges. The animals work together to smooth out those rough edges, to bring out the stone's true beauty. Inspired by Mrs. Raccoon's tale, the children decide to be proactive with the badger. They ignore his volatile behavior and focus on being his friend, to help him change his ways.

What I love about this book is that it has lessons for both adults and children within it. Children who become bullies are often very insecure and do not know any other method of expressing themselves, beyond acting out in aggression. These are the children who need some extra love and attention. It isn't going to be as easy as it was in this picture book to change the bullying child's ways. But with teamwork and acceptance, eventually those difficult children's rough edges can be smoothed out. Children do not innately realize this and need adults to set a good example. And adults need to remember this lesson when they are feeling their most frustrated with the difficult child.

I shared this book with several young children. One of them, who is 8 years old, was extremely excited to see this book on my laptop, because she remembered hearing it at school. Her favorite part is Mrs. Raccoon's story about the stones. She had me read it over and over again before finishing the rest of the book. This repetition was a great way to implant the book's lessons into her being. Read it with young children in your life to open up discussion about bullying and being friends.

I received a set of galleys from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for this review.

Review of A Kiss Goodbye

Audrey Penn's beloved character Chester Raccoon has a new dilemma in A Kiss Goodbye. His family is moving away from the tree that he has known his entire life because the men are coming to cut it down. He has to leave behind his home, his friends and his school. Even his little brother, Ronny, doesn't want to move. When Mother tells him it is going to be an adventure, all he can think of are his misadventures that caused him pain and discomfort. He relives getting pine cones stuck in his tail when he climbed a pine tree and getting smacked by bats when exploring a cave. He wants to just stay put, even if his family leaves him. He realizes that he would be lost without his family, and they without him. So, he goes around his tree, creating sensory memories of it. He closes his eyes as he feels the bark and smells the scent of white oak in the walls. He even gives his tree a Kissing Hand.

Soon after moving into their new tree, Chester meets a new friend named Cassy who has also just moved to this woods. He decides it may not be so bad after all. He and his mother share a Kissing Hand and then he takes off to play with his new friend.

Audrey Penn yet again taps into the feelings of young children in a common situation. It is difficult for anyone to move, let alone young children who can't really understand the reasons. It is a scary thought to leave behind the comfort of familiarity. I like the ideas she gives for making a sensory memory of Chester's home, as that will stick with him forever.

Another interesting aspect of this book is the hint to the problems of deforestation. In a way, it brings a “face” to what happens to the residents of the woods as we continue to tear down their homes. Sure, forest creatures may not go to school, but they do have homes. When we take away their homes, we are disrupting their lives. This book could lay a subtle foundation for later conversation about this topic.

Barbara L. Gibson's illustrations are absolutely beautiful. She has a knack for capturing the personality of Chester Raccoon and the beauty of the forest.

Chester Raccoon's stories are always well-received by my preschool and kindergarten students. Older elementary students have fond memories of reading these books when they were younger. They are always a great addition to any picture book collection. A Kiss Goodbye is no exception.

I received a complimentary set of galleys from NetGalley in exchange for this review.

Review of A Pocket Full of Kisses

A Pocket Full of Kisses is the sequel to the phenomenal hit The Kissing Hand. Chester Raccoon now has a baby brother named Ronny. While Ronny was kind of fun for a while, now he keeps getting into all of Chester's things. Chester wants to give him back, but Mommy wants to keep him. To make matters worse, Mom gives Ronny the Kissing Hand. Chester is convinced that his mom doesn't really love him anymore. She reassures him that each of them have their very own Kissing Hand and that she loves both of them the same. Chester fears that she will run out, now that they are doubled. She tells him that just as the sky will never run out of stars, she will never run out of Kissing Hands. For added measure, she gives him an extra one that he can put into his pocket.

Children can relate to this book, especially if they have younger siblings. Those babies sure are cute when they first arrive. But then they start taking attention away and later get into the older one's things. Older siblings start to feel like they are less loved because now they need to share Mom and Dad's affection and time. Parents need to reassure children that they are still loved, even if there are more children. In fact, there is even more love in the family now, because there are more people to share it.

Parents can read A Pocket Full of Kisses with their children and then follow up with discussion about how much they love all of their kids. They can even create or reinforce their own Kissing Hand routines.

Children love the Chester Raccoon character, and will also often go for this book at the library or in the classroom. As I was reviewing the galleys I received from the publisher via my association with NetGalley, even children ages 8 and 10 were excited to see their beloved Chester Raccoon. They had fond memories of reading him when they were younger and still enjoy him. The children ages 3-6 in my classroom chose this book from our school library to add to our classroom bookshelf. It is often being enjoyed by a young child sitting in a rocking chair. It is a great addition to anyone's library.

Review of The Kissing Hand

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a classic children's picture book that has been around now for several years. Chester Raccoon is scared to go to school. He would rather stay home with his mother, play with his friends and use his own things. Mrs. Raccoon does what she can to reassure him that he will make new friends and find new toys. And then she teaches him an old secret known as “The Kissing Hand.” Mom opens his left hand and spreads his fingers into a fan. She kisses him in the middle of his palm and then wraps his fingers around it. She tells him that any time he feels sad and misses Mommy, he can touch his hand to his cheek and feel her love. He takes the time to think about it. Then before he leaves for school that night, he asks for his mother's hand. He gives her a kiss in the middle of her palm and folds her fingers around it. That way she can feel his love while he is at school.

As an early childhood educator, I see this story being used time and time again. Mommies kiss their children's hands as they walk into the classroom. Children feel sad during the day and press their hands against their cheeks. They truly believe in the power of the Kissing Hand and it comforts them.

This book is a perennial favorite in the classroom. Children sit in a rocking chair and read it over and over again. Many of them also have it at home.

Reading it with your child does not guarantee that there will be no tears when going to school. But it can help you start a new tradition that you both will cherish forever.

I received a complimentary set of galleys from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for this review.

Kids Books A to Z: C is for Chester Raccoon

Chester Raccoon is the adorable character created by Audrey Penn. You probably know him best as the little raccoon who missed his mommy when he went to school. So, she gave him a special way to think of her during the day as she gave him The Kissing Hand. Mommies all over use this technique with their young ones.


Chester has even more stories for young readers, though. The first sequel that stars our beloved raccoon is A Pocket Full of Kisses. Chester now has to share his mommy with his little brother. He is afraid that she won't have enough Kissing Hands to share with both of her boys.


In A Kiss Goodbye, Chester has to learn how to say goodbye to the only home he has ever known when his family decides to move.


Chester learns how to say goodbye to one of his good friends in Chester Raccoon and an Acorn Full of Memories. This book was written to help children who must attend a funeral.


Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully teaches kids that those who pick on you the most are probably the most in need of some loving attention. Mama Raccoon weaves a magical tale that teaches Chester and his friends how to deal with the bully at school.



A Kissing Hand is also the perfect thing to calm a little raccoon who is scared of the dark and is having nightmares. Calm children's fears by reading A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon.



And finally, children can go on a color scavenger hunt with Chester Raccoon in his newest book, A Color Game for Chester Raccoon.




I have shared all of these books with my students, who truly love the character. Even older kids who look at the books have fond memories of his stories. I will be detailing the books more closely in some upcoming posts, based on galleys I have received from NetGalley as a reviewer. Until then, feel free to click on any book cover for more information!