The Kissing Hand is the story of a young raccoon named Chester who is scared to start school. His mother shows him an old secret that when she kisses his hand her love with stay with him even when they are apart. This is a great story for families to read together especially before a new school year begins.
This story is a picture book great for preschool and young school aged children. The illustrations are done by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak. The pictures are created by dark colors done in watercolor.
Activities:
On the first day of school have students write down how they feel. Is it sad, happy, scared, or excited. Then have them write down a few things they want to learn this year. Next use paint to cover their hand and have them place their palm on the paper. After their hand print dries have them draw a heart in the center to show the love that they will have throughout the year. Hang all the pictures up in the classroom.
Next have them make something to take home for their parents. At the end of the first week of school have them go home with a certificate that they can sign their name on to show their parents. They will be excited to say they made it through the first week.
Reader Response Questions:
Have you ever felt sad to leave your mom or dad when coming to school?
Do you think Chester will be more confident at school knowing he has a kissing hand?
This story was written by Audrey Penn who has written many other children's books with Chester the raccoon.
More books from Penn:
A Pocket Full of Kisses
A Kiss Goodbye
Chester the Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully
Penn, A. (1993). The kissing hand. Indianapolis, IN: Tanglewood Press.
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ReplyDeleteMoria, you have a fantastic blog, but this is one of my favorite posts of yours. This would be a great story for parents and or teachers to read with their children and prepare them for school or anything that makes them scared or nervous. The activities you suggested for this reading are great. A post-reading activity I would recommend for this story is to have students sit in a circle and talk about what makes them feel better when they are nervous about something. Another activity I think could go with this story is to Have students draw and decorate a heart on a piece of construction paper of their choosing, then have them cut out the heart. Prior to having the children start this activity, explain to them that this heart will be a special symbol of their parent’s love, but to activate the heart, they have to take the heart home and have their parents touch or kiss it, this will then fill the heart with an everlasting amount of their parents love and Whenever the child gets scared or nervous they can look at the heart and their parents love will be with them no matter where they go.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vanessa J.