چستر راکون و بوسه‌ی خداحافظی

Chester the Raccoon #3

by Audrey Penn, شهلا انتظاريان (translator)

Chester Raccoon, whom readers have come to know and love through The Kissing Hand and its sequel, A Pocket Full of Kisses, is facing another dilemma common to the lives of many children: he and his family are moving.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Family, School, Fiction, Environment

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2007

Reviews

[Rana Heshmati · Rating 4 out of 5]

چقدر دركش می‌کردم.
دل كندن از خونه، رفتن به خونه جديد.. اون نخواستنه.

[Tayebe Ej · Rating 4 out of 5]

مناسب برای مواجهه ی بچه‌ها با اسباب‌کشی، خونه‌ی جدید و مدرسه‌ی جدید

[Deborah Previte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pages: 32

Ages: Children of all ages

Dear Chester is having a difficult time because he is faced with the sad happening that children all over our United States (and the world) have to come to terms with these days: he has to move away from the security of the home he knows and loves. He also has to move away from his familiar friends and school. Many today have to move away from daddys or mommys or grandparents, too.

While his mother does all she can to reassure Chester, he is still sad. Fortunately, he knows how to express his feelings. He also finds ways to comfort himself. Ultimately, Chester does make the move with his mom and little brother, finds his new home comfortable and meets a new friend.

What makes this book so powerful and beautiful for children is the path that Chester shows them by expressing his feelings of sadness and loss, his fears about moving, and his finding ways to literally carry pieces of his home and room with him to his new house. These and other ways of coping are invaluable for children in crisis, as well as children who simply have to move for reasons of their parent's work transfers and other purposes.

Chester's readjustment to his new home shows a child the hope for new friends and a new adventure in a different home. And, the original "kissing hand" is carried through to assure children and Chester that no matter where he is there's the security of love that's always with him.

The illustrations are, again, simply beautiful and telling of the story in this book. It can be read from several different venues, but having the hard copy makes it available for a child to pick up whenever he or she needs the extra boost of support and security.

I love this book which I hope to get for my grandsons who've moved to CA. I've already read the book to the eldest one for his cassette tape from Grammie.

Highly recommended for children of all ages, actually... Moms and Dads, too.

5 safe harbor stars

Deborah/Grammie Bee

[⭑✯*⭒.✶ianis✶.⭒*✯⭑ · Rating 3 out of 5]

asta n a fost asa tareee

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

another super cute Chester Racoon story. this time about moving to a new place, with a new house, school and friends.

Chester learns that moving isn't so bad, he gets to keep his memories, & find new friends

** thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for this copy!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5

Audrey Penn has a good thing going with her Chester Raccoon series of books. I don't know many parents of kindergarteners who aren't familiar with The Kissing Hand and she's followed it up with a few other books about Chester Raccoon learning something new.

In A Kiss Goodbye, Chester and family have to move. There's a mark around the tree he lives in which is an indication that the humans will soon be cutting the tree down. His mother wants to get him to a new home before the current one is taken down, but Chester doesn't want to move. He is comfortable in his current home and he doesn't want to go somewhere where he doesn't know anyone. Moving is a scary thought for Chester, just as it often is for human children, too. But there is no choice here. The home is coming down.

But of course Chester discovers some good things about his new home and new neighbors and learns that sometimes moving can be a good thing.

The book is, of course, highly didactic, but to teach a lesson is a big part of why we would read this to our children in the first place. Fortunately, Penn gives us familiar and adorable animal characters, and artist Barbara L. Gibson provides colorful, fun pictures so that children don't know they are being taught something.

It is definitely an interesting choice to have the move come about because of a planned cutting when this could just as easily have been a move necessitated by a forest fire or other natural disaster. This should hopefully prompt some parent/child discussion.

One aspect that I questioned was that Chester's new friend is a female and while, again, nothing is overt here, there is definitely the impression that Chester's interest in his new friend is more than merely platonic and that he's maybe even a little confused by this new interest of his. I found this distracting and felt I didn't need this other layer to the story.

Still, this is an overwhelmingly positive book for children.

Looking for a good book? For anyone with young children and facing a new move, this is a delightful and helpful picture book.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This goes along with The Kissing Hand series. It deals with loss and adjustment. How to process and look at change in a different way. These books are great for kids but they are also great for adults. They help you to think of things in a new light. My son and I read this together after the death of his sister this last year. He really enjoyed it and used what happened in the story to help process what he was feeling. He is 5 (4 when she was killed).

[Patty Anne Callaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched this reel and instantly thought about this story and how it would make me cry when I was little and I just read it again and it still makes me cry i’m actually so glad to see the little raccoon family is just like how they are in the book

Just had to share the book and reel that remind me of this book

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTM3qr...

https://www.scribd.com/document/76108...

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time Chester and his family have to move because his tree will be cut down. He struggles and doesn't want to move. Of course, they have to go and he discovers that his new home is nice too. He meets a new friend to end the story.
Use with students who have to move or who need to welcome a new student.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers all the familiar challenges for kids when facing a big move - new school, missing friends, liking the current home and not wanting to leave it. Encourages kids to treat the move as an adventure and ends with meeting a new friend.

[Wendy Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one always makes me a little teary. For one I read it as my kids were reaching the age where they didn't want me to read them any more. But it's a great children's book that is easy to read and talk about. I highly recommend you get this book!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audrey Penn knows how to explain change to children. In this one, Chester Raccoon doesn't want to move so he says goodbye by taking a chunk of the tree and sniffing the bark. Once he arrives at his new home, he meets a friend.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penn Swords #3
Chester #3
Third yarn about Chester is miles better than the second one, it still is overly sentimental, but at least has a better story, and for the most part less whinging.
Not the greatest thing in the world but better than it may have otherwise been.

[Carrie Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey Penn's kissing series is the best loving family series for children everywhere!!!!

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect story to address a child’s sadness and anxiety about moving. Loving support from the Mama, the comfort of being not alone and the prize of friendship are all included in this tale.

[Yulia Ivanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for worries !

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find these a little too sentimental, but when in a waiting room what else was I supposed to read? I wish ppl would honor appointments.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the illustrations and story.

[Charul Palmer-Patel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not on board with addressing a book about a child's fear of moving with the idea that it's an expected part of life because the forest is being cut down.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet story about moving to a new place.

[امیرمحمد حیدری · Rating 1 out of 5]

مناسب برای کودکانِ در آستانه‌ی مهاجرت. جز آن بی‌فایده‌ست.

[SKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what a little one leaving their first home might feel. I couldn't ask for a more simple and sweet story.

[Kara Moreland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book told the story of Chester and his family having to move due to people coming to cut down trees where they lived. The book talks about the struggles Chester has with not wanting to move and how sad he was. In the end he likes his new home and already makes a new friend.
I love this book. I love all of these books! I only knew of one and I have found 2 and 3 now. These are fantastic books. I love the message and the meaning and the illustrations.
This could be used in a younger class for students who are having to move and are scared to. It could encourage them that it will be okay.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publishers Weekly (May 28, 2007)
In The Kissing Hand and A Pocket of Kisses, Chester the raccoon overcomes the traumas of going off to school for the first time and adjusting to a new brother. Here he faces a move, since the tree that is home to him, his mother and brother Ronny is being cut down. In rather overstated prose, his mother addresses Chester's reluctance to leave their beloved hollow: " `I understand how you feel,' she told him in an understanding, motherly voice, `but I'm afraid we all have to move.' " After the stubborn youngster questions what would happen if he refused to move, his parent cajolingly asks, "Aren't you afraid you'd miss us?" Chester wryly responds, "I'd miss you.... I'm not so sure about Ronny." Penn and Gibson resurrect their earlier books' popular power-of-the-palm-kiss motif as Chester, in a departing gesture, places "a gentle kiss on his palm and pushed it against the wall," while the accompanying illustration reveals glowing red hearts emanating from his paw. Not surprisingly, the skeptical animal finds a new friend immediately after moving into his new hollow and, scooting off to play with her, sends his mother a heart-projecting palm kiss and announces, "All right... I'll stay." Featuring a palette that varies considerably as the tale's scenarios move between day and night, Gibson's sharply focused art effectively conveys Chester's changeable moods. Its sometimes treacly tone notwithstanding, this tale, like its predecessors, should provide reassurance to kids facing a similar transition, as well as a useful starting point for adult-child dialogue. Ages 3-8. (May) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

[Melissa Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description:
Moving is hard on everyone, but especially children. Chester Raccoon, whom readers have come to know and love through the New York Times bestseller "The Kissing Hand", and its sequel, "A Pocket Full of Kisses", is facing another dilemma common to the lives of many children; he and his family are moving. Young readers will love the way Chester says goodbye to his old home and learns that there are some exciting aspects to his new home.

My thoughts...
When I read this book, I thought of how many children it would help....those that are moving to a new house, a new classroom or experiencing a new life change. It is very sweet and the ending of the book really shows the reader that new changes can equal new friendships/opportunities.

This book also addresses the issue of homes being taken away (from the animals) because of environment (natural disasters) or man power. In this case, the raccoon family has to move because there are tree cutters coming to cut down their tree, along with several others in the forest. How would you feel if you had to move because they were going to bulldoze your old home down OR if your home was destroyed by a hurricane/fire/tornado/etc.? It teaches children to sympathize with those that have to move, or those who may not have a home (homeless)...I know that might be a stretch - but its still a topic, nonetheless.

I would definitely recommend this book for transitions or change, families that are moving, end of the school year lessons (moving to a new classroom) and more...

[Patricia (Patricia's Particularity)]

Chester has to move, and he is not happy about it at all... in fact he is distraught. Not only does he have to move out of the home he loves he has to move away from all of his friends. Mrs. Raccoon tries to sooth Chester's sadness by telling him that he will make new friends and have new adventures at their new home. Chester is not convinced but begrudgingly says to goodbye to him home. At their new home Chester does indeed meet a new friend, a girl Raccoon....

Audrey Penn focuses on a topic that most children experience at least once in their lives: moving away from what they know, for many different reasons. While moving is always hard, Audrey Penn shows that sometimes hard things are for the best (in this case Chester makes a new friend in the end and they have a home). At the same time, Audrey Penn does a beautiful job in showing that even though in the end everything worked out, Chester's feelings were still important. A Kiss Goodbye is a great book for all children to read, as they find that their emotions are normal, important and that sometimes things do work out.

[Tricia Scott]

Chester has to move, and he is not happy about it at all… in fact he is distraught. Not only does he have to move out of the home he loves he has to move away from all of his friends. Mrs. Raccoon tries to sooth Chester’s sadness by telling him that he will make new friends and have new adventures at their new home. Chester is not convinced but begrudgingly says to goodbye to him home. At their new home Chester does indeed meet a new friend, a girl Raccoon….

Audrey Penn focuses on a topic that most children experience at least once in their lives: moving away from what they know, for many different reasons. While moving is always hard, Audrey Penn shows that sometimes hard things are for the best (in this case Chester makes a new friend in the end and they have a home). At the same time, Audrey Penn does a beautiful job in showing that even though in the end everything worked out, Chester’s feelings were still important. A Kiss Goodbye is a great book for all children to read, as they find that their emotions are normal, important and that sometimes things do work out.

[Jessica Breighner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Kiss Goodbye
1. Brief Summary:
This is a story about a raccoon who has to move from his house, a tree, that is going to be cut down by humans. He discovers what his new house is like, and meets new friends.
2. Potential Audience:
Topic: Fear of moving to a new place
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: Fluent
3. Specific Curricular Uses:
read aloud: for students who are new to the classroom, or moving away from the class to a new school
Independent reading for the more fluent readers
4. Social Issues the book addresses:
Moving to a new place, making new friends. Human influences on the animal world.
5. Specific Literary Elements the book demonstrates:
Third person narrator point of view. This book demonstrates dialogue from characters within the book.
6. Interactions and Counteractions of text and image; How does the illustration help tell the story?
Illustrations carry the text. This helps the non fluent readers to understand what the text is suggesting.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving is hard on everyone, but for children it can be especailly traumatic. I think our girls handled our recent move in stride, but sometimes I wonder if they truly understand. Not too long before we left, our five year old told our neighbor that we were leaving for three weeks and would be back in time for her birthday. I explained that it was more like three years, and that we weren't exactly sure when we'd be back. But in any case, books like these can help make the transition a little easier. It validates their anxiety about leaving their home, their friends, their school... This is a nice, soothing story that shows that it's okay to be sad to leave, but sometimes, there are great things waiting for you on the other side. I bought this book especially for our move, but wouldn't ya know it, it got packed, so we finally found it in amongst all of our stuff. Better late than never!

[Alma Loredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chester has to move because the tree that his family and friend live in has already been marked. In a few days it is expected to cut down. Mrs. Raccoon explains to Chester that the moving would be just like an adventure. Unfortunately this does not help Chester because all of his adventures do not end up good. Mrs. Chester convinces Chester to go that way he can meet new friends and he won’t be lonely. Chester is sad. When Chester arrives to his new home he begins to realize that he will really like it.
This book can be used in science to explain to students that when trees are being cut we are actually cutting down animals homes and then they have to look for a mew place to live.
This book can also be used when we receive a new student and the student does not seem to try to make friends or talk to others. This book sends the message that sometimes we might move and feel uncomfortable. But when we move it’s like an adventure and we get to meet many new people.