I bought this book because my daughter bought one at her school for "us" when she was very young(separated because of divorce), it was lost in a move and it had sentimental value for both of us...it's not "the one" she bought, but it's just as good and in great condition.

The Kissing hand is a wonderful book that show's how strong the bond is between a mother and her child. We started reading this book to my daughter when she was two years old. She is now seven and we still do the "Kissing Hand". It is a sweet story that you will fall in love with and your children will ask for it for years to come. I would strongly recommend this book to everyone, especially to any parents who need to be seperated from their child for any length of time.
5 stars!!!

Sweetest book ever... had a real impact on my little ones starting to school. I am still kissing hands today! We all love it and now I am reading it to my grandchildren... just bought 2 new ones!

I was looking for a book to help prepare my daughter (and me) for the first day of preschool; The Kissing Hand was recommended by friends and family. I tried to find it at the library, but it was always checked out, so I decided to purchase it from Amazon and I am so happy I did, this is a wonderful addition to any home library. The story is so touching; both of my girls (ages three and two, just love it and so do I.) The book includes sticker, which I have used when dropping off my daughter at school. Highly recommend it to anyone getting ready for school.

Sweet story about a little one that doesn't want to leave mom to go to school. Very loving story. My daughter (4) really liked this book. They actually read it on the first day in her pre-school class. Great gift idea.

I think everyone should own this book. What a great message: Mom's love will always be there.

I bought this for my five year old to give to him before going to Kindergarten. He wasn't afraid to go, but he really enjoyed the story and the sweet sentiment. He made me a little Kissing Hand picture with the stickers in the back, and I made him a little Kissing Hand note with one of the stickers that he stuck in his pocket for the first few days of school. He even gives his little brothers kissing hands from time to time - very sweet book.

For young Chester Raccoon, the first day of school is scary indeed, and young children will be able to relate to the young raccoon who cries at the thought of being separated from his mother. But his wise mother sends him off with a wonderful secret to see him through and carry the memory and strength of her love with him always. The book's foreword says The Kissing Hand is "for the child within each of us who sometimes needs reassurance." Love is truly the bedrock that sustains and reassures us on our path through life, and this book reinforces the importance of loving relationship for us all. Beautifully told, the tale may give youngsters the confidence they need to cope with whatever comes their way. In an unusual move, the author has teamed up two acclaimed artists (one a descendant of Sir Christopher Wren) with distinctive styles that nonetheless blend beautifully. These are endearing, luminous illustrations - Chester Raccoon has got to be the cutest raccoon in all of children's literature.

On my sons first day of kindergarten, the parents were invited to attend with the child. His teacher started out the first class with a project and then had all the students help her read this book.

Since then my son has kissed my hand every day and not had one bout of sadness at all. This book is a great way for a child learn that its ok to spend some time away from mom and that it can be fun time. I'm glad his teacher read this book while the parents were there.

I recommend this book to anyone with a child in kindergarten that is having a hard time or a child just starting school after being home with mom.

I use this book at my open house for Kindergarten. I really like it because it is as much for the parents as it is for the students. I have to admit, I even get a little choked up while reading it. Sending a child to school for the first time can be very emotional, this is a good way to help families cope w/ this milestone. We even do a little craft and make a kissing hand for parents on the first day of school.

Would not have bought it if not for my 4 years olds pre-school summer reading . . cute and thoughtful books, she enjoyed it.

I bought this book after seeing severl postings and lesson plans by other teachers online. I read it to my first grade students on the first day of school last year. We then did a "folded/wrinkled heart" activity to go with it. It's easy, look it up and try it. It made an impression on my kids and we kept the heart up all year for everyone to see and we referred to it often. I'm thinking of reading it on the first day when we have parents too this coming year. It's a sweet story and it helps ease anxieties of little ones...and parents.

I cry every time I read this one. We love it.

This is the best book to read to little kids cause they will do the kissing hand for ever. My mother read this to me as long as i can remeber i guess i was 6 and we have been doing the kissing hand scene and im 13 years of age.HAHA! I love this book it is great!

Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

I'm a 24 year old soon-to-be married woman. When my parents moved me into my college dorm room, they left little presents wrapped up in all of the boxes I had to unpack. As you can imagine, once they left I was eager to get situated and began unpacking boxes and filling drawers one-by-one. One of the little presents I came across was this book. Of course, I wasted no time reading it, and soon found myself with tears streaming down my face. I was on my own for the first time, but I knew I knew I wasn't alone; nor was I ever far from my parent's love. It brings tears to my eyes just remembering how touched I was reading that for the first time. This is a fantasic book for everyone- whether you're 5 years old and starting kindergarten for the first time, or 18 and in college.

This is one of my favorite books. The story of little Chester the raccoon, his fear of going away to school, and how his mom gives him a kissing hand so he'll know her love is with him is a priceless story. I've read it to my son and daughter often over the last few years.

On Sunday afternoon my wife and I took our son to his first overnight camp. Three days away in the Carolina mountains at Camp Grier, a Presbyterian church camp. As we were about to leave the camp after dropping him off I called my son over and said "I have 3 things that I want you to remember while you're here.

Number 1 is to be respectful of your fellow campers and the camp counselors that are here.

Number 2 is to remember that if you get tired, or scared, or frustrated to say a prayer and God will be with you.

Number 3 is,"

I took his little hand in mine, kissed his palm, and closed his fingers over it,

"Whenever you feel like you're missing your mom, or your dad, or home. Hold this up to your cheek and remember that we love you and we'll be with you again soon."

We then sent him off to his cabin and his camp mates and he skipped joyfully away. We headed back to the car to leave and found that he had forgotten something. I quickly carried it to his cabin and found him talking with one of his counselors. As I handed him the item I asked him what he was going to do if he missed his mom and dad. He smiled a sheepish grin and held his fist up to his cheek.

I walked away knowing that for the next three days he was going to be fine.

I highly recommend "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn for you and a child that you love.

Kevin Decker

Chester is a character we can understand: one whose fear of going to school, and being away from the comfort of home, is counterbalaned by the loving and profound gesture of his mother. She truly is a heroine in children's literature, offering hope and solace in a time of need. Like Stillwater in Jon J. Muth's "Zen Shorts," and again like the trees in Nila J. Webster's "The Gift of You, The Gift of Me," the mother in "The Kissing Hand" is a loving wise figure and a friend for our journey. And like the characters in these other classics, Chester is deepened by this experience: he too seeks to give back, in this case to his own loving mother. This is a wonderful and truly caring story.

This sweet little book helps preschoolers with their fears of mommy leaving and not coming back. It gives them a tangible way to feel her presence when she's not at home. Our 3-year-old granddaughter even gives my hand a kiss, and I kiss hers, before she says goodbye. Highly recommended!

This has to be one of my very favorite children's books. Now my kids both want a "kissing hand" before they go to bed...and they give mommy a "kissing hand" too. I just love this one.

I read a book called The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. It won a Distinguished Achievement Award from Ed Press. The book is about a raccoon who does not want to go to school. He is afraid because his Mom won't be there. His Mom told him the secret of the kissing hand. She kissed his hand. When he wanted his Mom, he could put his hand on his cheek and feel the kiss. That made him happy and he went to school. I liked this book because I can remember my first day of school and it was a little scary. I think this is a good book to read before you go to school. I think it will help other kids not to be scared.