Chester the Brave

Chester the Raccoon #6

by Audrey Penn, Barbara Leonard Gibson (Illustrations)

Little Chester Raccoon, the beloved character who has helped so many children with issues in their lives, learns the meaning of bravery and a method for overcoming his fears in this new Audrey Penn title. After sharing the story of a little bird who is afraid to have flying lessons in front of his friends, Mrs. Raccoon tells Chester that being brave doesn't mean being unafraid; being brave means not letting that fear stop him. Mrs. Raccoon teaches Chester an important Think-Tell-Do. When he thinks he is afraid, he tells himself he can do it, and then he just does it. Of course, getting a Kissing Hand helps a little too. This simple strategy can be helpful to children in many different situations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Family, School, Nature, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 14, 2012

Reviews

[Liz Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad to say that I did not enjoy this one by Audrey Penn. I felt that it started in the middle of the story without stating Chester's problem. The text was a bit heavy and wordy for my 6 year old...and for me. I felt the message of defining bravery and how to cope with being afraid could have been stated so much more simply.

[Alecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on being brave! Such a sweet sequel to the Kissing Hand book! Love the unique illustrations depicting the emotional struggle of being brave that my 3 year olds loved! Cute English vocabulary that inspired good vocab conversations with my children.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chester from The Kissing Hand (Chester the Raccoon is back and this time he and his mother are talking about bravery. I do like that Chester's mother finds a helpful strategy for him to use when he needs to be brave. Think - Tell - Do. "If I think I can't, I tell myself I can and do it!"

The text is long and heavy-handed, for children and adults alike. I also found the idea of Chester being scared about reciting lessons in front of other students to be a very dated concept.

[Tasia Sandlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a Chester the raccoon who is nervous about citing his lesson in front of the other animals at school. His mother reassures him with three little words, If you THINK you cant, TELL yourself you can and just DO it! I love this story so much because it can help young children with this type of issue and help them to be brave in any situation they come upon. This story can be used in the classroom to help students with self confidence and help students with any other problems they are facing.

[Tatiana Ensz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Levels
DRA: 20
Lexile: NC280L

Explanation of Star Rating: I gave this book four stars because of how cute and innocent this story is. This book is all about Chester who takes all of his mom's wisdom and tried to apply it to his own life. I think students will enjoy reading this book and enjoy thinking about their own mom during this book. Chester tries to be the bravest version of himself and I think he is a good role model for students at a young age.

Most standout trait(s): Ideas

[La Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, good likenesses of animals, emotional facial expressions — wonderful job,#BarbaraLGibson, illustrator!

Good lesson for young (& older) ones about trying new things, & definition of bravery. I can see why it a favorite of kindergarten teachers. I will send a copy to my grandchildren (who live too far away). And, I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

I borrowed this from someone who owns two copies, probably for grandchildren, or gifts.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can be bothered by something and afraid, but still, have the courage to try something. Think, Tell , Do. If you think you can't, tell yourself you can and do it! He still has the kissing hand to help.

The illustrations were not as rich as the first book and rather cartoony. The messaged was good.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chester is scared to talk in front of his class at school. His mom shares a story of a robin who did not think he was brave enough to fly. The robin finds the courage to share about flying in front of his class and takes off. Chester find the courage to speak at school too.

[Jennifer Moores]

My 7 and 5 year olds loved this book. I believe even if children don't completely understand (reading another reviewer's thoughts) like people stories come back to you when one is in an uncomfortable spot. I know the same works for me.

[Story · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately this one wasn't my favorite. We felt like it started in the middle of the story, with no context as to what Chester is afraid of. And although we understood what the story was trying to teach, we felt the execution was poor.

[Elizabeth Thigpen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story. This would be a really good book to talk about standing up for people who are being bullied as a broad topic.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this considerably more than the other Kissing Hand/Chester the Raccoon tales. A book that shows how taking a leap of faith and requiring a change of mind is necessary at times.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Blackwood 🦝 ❤️ 🌭 🥪 🦝

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating it 4 status for the message in the plot. But, it was too wordy for our SPED kids. Almost preachy to the reader. Not my favorite of the Chester Series.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book had really amazing illustrations. The detail way incredibly realistic, and it made the book so much better in my opinion. I thought the book might have been a little too long, I was reading it to a boy that is 4 yrs old and he definitely lost interest 1/4 of the way through the book. However it did have a good story about bravery, and I would reccommend it to first or second graders because of the book length, and because of how many words there are.

Feathered Quill Book Reviews
Chester Raccoon has been around before to help children feel better and teach them valuable lessons about growing up. Chester is one of those characters, actually, that are as entertaining and valuable as Curious George or the big, red Marmaduke used to be for this (once) young mind. In this newest Chester tale, we have a lesson about bravery, courage, and having the strength to stand up and do something even when your heart may be very afraid to do it - which is a lesson that not only children need to learn but, at times, parents as well.
Chester has a lesson that he needs to speak about in front of his class and, boy, is that scary. Think about it. Remember when all eyes were on you; your fingers began to shake and you palms began to sweat, your face got so red you felt like you were in an oven, and your knees felt like they were going to give out underneath you. You spoke as fast as you could - a little too fast - in order to say what you had to say and then sit down as fast as possible. There was nothing scarier than that!
Well, Chester’s Mom tells him a tale about a small robin who had to fly from his nest. Everybody else was taking their turn but the little robin was petrified. I mean…jumping out of a tree and simply gliding on the breeze? That’s some scary stuff. So what did the little robin do? He listened to a tale told by his father who said flying had nothing to do with bravery - you just had to be ‘not bothered’ by flying…just like the little robin wasn’t bothered by eating worms or singing. (Of course, Chester thinks worms are gross so a big ‘ick’ came from that one.) But the robin, even though he was afraid, gave it his all - and that’s what Chester has to do.
“Think - Tell - Do” is a powerful lesson for kids and for Chester. If you think you can’t, tell yourself you can and then do it! Of course, Chester has an extra little good luck charm that no one but he and his mom know about. He has a loving kiss held in the palm of his hand that’s all about comfort, and with that charm and that lesson, Chester has the chance to get through what needs to be done.
Yet again, from the creators of Chester, comes a truly lovely story that will help children in all aspects of their lives. And the illustrations of Chester and his friends are unforgettable!
Quill Says: A lovely book and a great character that children will bond with!

[Amy-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about being brave. It shows children that when they put their minds to do something that they need to say they can do it and do it. The students will enjoy seeing Chester Go through the motions of stopping himself from being fearful. They may even understand the lesson and be rewarded after the accomplish their fear like Chester. This book would be great to read within the first few weeks of school.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must be the only person in the world who doesn't really love the kissing hand and this one, by the same author, is in the same vein. The little raccoon is being told a story by his mother about a little robin who has to be brave. The raccoon instantly learns his lesson and is able to apply it to an entirely different circumstance. I don't know. It didn't do anything for me.

[Whitney Bledsoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chester the Brave is the perfect book to teach about bravery. The teacher can help explain what bravery is and how its a great quality to have. Bravery can coincide with writing or with life in general. Students should never be to scared to try new things while writing, bravery will help students try new things and to think outside the box.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Audrey Penn Kissing Hand books. This is the story of Chester and the robin. The robin has to learn how to be brave and learn to fly. Chester also worries that he is not brave because he doesn't want to recite things at school. But once he learns that the robin could do it, he feels much better.

[Kristina Bulluck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audrey Penn grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. She started off as a ballerina dancer, dancing for the New York City Ballet. Penn's first book was Happy Apple Told Me in 1980. She wrote that book after she found out she had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis wan was too ill to continue dancing. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two children.

[Charlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, Charlie rated it ** 1/2


2.5 stars. The illustrations are amazing, its just the story is not really focused on Chester. To me, its more focused on the story of the little red bird that was too afraid to fly. But its kind of good that Audrey put the story of the bird in because Chester has a very similar problem too. I like the book, but I can't give it 2 or 3. So 2.5 works.

[Sally Bruce · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. The Kissing Hand is one of my favorites and this one just doesn't compare. The illustrations also ruined the book for me. The characters we much less realistic than The Kissing Hand and actually looked ridiculous.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

overcoming fears

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a sweet lesson about being brave. I might save it for a kindergartner or first grader with a longer attention span.

[Brenda at MyShelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

For ages 9 and up. It's very inspirational lesson on bravery. Grown ups could take a lesson from it as well.

[Starr Elementary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Up to the same great standards of the Kissing Hand.

[pati · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for those kids who are always a bit anxious, it helps them learn a coping mechanism for getting through an anxiety filled situation!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Up to the same great standards of the Kissing Hand.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

non-fiction, stage fright/talking in front of the class, what is brave?

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute!