The Kissing Hand
by Audrey Penn
Published by Tanglewood Books
This week I am reviewing a book that I have loved for a long time.Since school is beginning and there are a lot of kids going to school and leaving their parents for the first time I thought it was appropriate. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is used on the first day of school for kindergarteners all over the country. The book was originally published in 1993 and although I would have been too old for it, I have some vague memories of my sister having it and reading it with her as she went off to school for the first time.
In full disclosure, I am not one to tear up at each milestone my children hits, but this book makes me tear up every time I read it. It is a sweet story of a little raccoon who does not want to leave his mom and go to school. His mother, to ease her child’s fears, tells him a secret that has been passed down through her family for generations, The Kissing Hand. As her child happily and confidently heads off to school knowing he has a little piece of his mother with him always, he returns the secret and leaves a little piece of him with his mother. (tears are flowing as I read this)
The beautiful story is as much for the parent as it is for the child. The Kissing Hand or another special handshake or words are a great way for parents to remind their child that they are with them and part of them all day, even when they are not at school with them. If you think you or your child might have trouble with separation as the school year begins, I would recommend this book. (If you tend to tear up like me I would suggest reading it a few times through before you read it to your children.) Everything about this book is beautiful from the worlds to the images. And a testament to its beauty is that you can still find it on the children’s best sellers table 24 years after it was first printed.
You can find all of our book reviews in the Book Review Guide.
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