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Chester the Raccoon #5

Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories

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Chester Raccoon's good friend Skiddel Squirrel has had an accident and will not be returning - ever. Chester is upset that he won't get to play with his friend anymore. Mrs. Raccoon suggests that Chester and his friends create some memories of Skiddel, so that they will have good memories when they miss him. Chester, his brother Ronny, and their friends decide to gather at the pond, where they combine their memories and create a touching celebration of their friend's life.

Many young children must face the loss of loved ones or the need to attend a funeral. This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how "making memories" can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2009

4 people are currently reading
196 people want to read

About the author

Audrey Penn

37 books128 followers

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5 stars
78 (37%)
4 stars
83 (39%)
3 stars
36 (17%)
2 stars
11 (5%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Emily.
1,407 reviews
April 16, 2024
Certainly made me weep at the end. But was very wordy. And some of the names were needlessly hard to pronounce?
Profile Image for Christy.
Author 17 books67 followers
February 18, 2017
Chester Raccoon's good friend Skiddel Squirrel has had an accident and will not be returning - ever. Chester is upset that he won't get to play with his friend anymore. Mrs. Raccoon suggests that Chester and his friends create some memories of Skiddel, so that they will have good memories when they miss him. Chester, his brother Ronny, and their friends decide to gather at the pond, where they combine their memories and create a touching celebration of their friend's life.

Many young children must face the loss of loved ones or the need to attend a funeral. This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how "making memories" can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one.
Profile Image for Sarah.
759 reviews17 followers
July 18, 2020

I was a bit surprised when the book outright stated Chester's friend had passed away. Some children may not understand the concept of death, and this would be an interesting way to show the process of preserving someone's memory, through sharing memories or having a token that reminded them of that lost friend.
Profile Image for Samantha Ruth Lai.
304 reviews
October 21, 2024
i just picked this up bc it is a raccoon and i am a sucker for raccoons // wait actually this was so intense ah SUDDENLY THROWN INTO A DEATH SITUATION AND CONFRONTING DEATH AND THE preservation of memories of someone that has passed on??? dude that's crazy // the imagery of the moon is absolutely ADORABLE and why is that duck looking at me like that... lolz
Profile Image for Pam.
10k reviews57 followers
May 16, 2018
Tender look at death and grieving. Chester loses a friend in an accident and struggles to understand what this means. His mom helps him and a lot of friends find a way to remember and build a memory that will last.
Profile Image for Lynn  Davidson.
8,285 reviews36 followers
June 18, 2018
Chester Raccoon's friend Skiddil Squirrel met with an accident and died, so Chester is very upset. This story will help children understand more about when a loved one or a pet dies, and the idea of making memories about the one they lost.
Profile Image for Wendy Keel.
419 reviews49 followers
February 3, 2021
This is such a cute fun book to read. It is easy to read and understand, full of great images and will make both you and your children happy. I find when we read this story we both end up smiling a lot.
40 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2022
I really like how this book approached the topic of death in a child-friendly manner. One of Chesters Friends "goes away forever" and his mom shows him how he can still be connected to his passed friend by the memories they created and things that remind Chester of his friend.
Profile Image for Rosemary.
297 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2017
I have read other books about Chester Raccoon and liked them. I didn't realize this book was about death and would not find it appropriate to read casually to my class.
Profile Image for SilverNediya.
383 reviews
November 23, 2021
ای جان، عزیزم
!
دم غروبی این چی بود دلمون رو مچاله کرد
درمورد شیوه‌ی تصویرپردازی‌ش شک دارم 5 ستاره رو بدم یا نه؛ انتظار داشتم واسه همچین داستانی متفاوت‌تر باشه . خیلی براق و رنگ‌ولعابی بود
Profile Image for امیرمحمد حیدری.
Author 1 book75 followers
March 6, 2025
زیادی بی‌مقدمه سر قضیه‌ی مرگ رفت؛ شوکه‌کننده‌ست. مخصوص کودکانِ داغ‌دیده.
65 reviews
February 13, 2023
Beautiful story on how honoring a friend who has passed away can help us grieve. It also teaches children the importance of honoring rituals.
50 reviews
October 23, 2019
This book touches on a hard topic for many...death. Although it is not a conversation that we want to have with younger students, this books helps students understand the importance of having good memories. I have used this book with my students when they have had to deal with the death of a family member, friend, or a pet.
Profile Image for Melissa Roach.
52 reviews2 followers
April 4, 2011
Description:
Chester Raccoon's good friend Skiddel Squirrel has had an accident and will not be returning - ever (because he passed away). Chester is upset that he won't get to play with his friend anymore. Mrs. Raccoon suggests that Chester and his friends create some memories of Skiddel, so that they will have good memories when they miss him. Chester, his brother Ronny, and their friends decide to gather at the pond, where they combine their memories and create a touching celebration of their friend's life.

Many young children must face the loss of loved ones or the need to attend a funeral. This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how "making memories" can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one.

My thoughts...
When someone leaves, or passes away it can be so incredibly hard to understand - especially to a child. This book does a great job of teaching children how to celebrate the life of a loved one...Mrs. Raccoon helps Chester remember all the great memories of his friend. Even as an adult, death is something that is incredibly hard for me to deal with - I understand that it happens to everyone and that its okay to be sad - but this book stands as a great reminder...to remember the good times, make a new memory and celebrate the life that once was.

I would recommend this book for counselors, teachers and parents alike...this is a book that would only be appropriate to deal with grief of some kind - whether it be a friend, family member, pet or someone that is close to your child in some way. I am so glad that this book was written for children...as I said earlier, there are some topics that are incredibly hard to discuss and death is definitely at the top of the list. Books like this one are great to help children understand why certain things happen and what they can do to feel better.
Profile Image for Julie Witt.
609 reviews20 followers
July 8, 2015
My Opinion: This was such a sad yet poignant little book. For everyone who has ever been asked what being dead means from a child who has lost a friend or loved one, you know how hard it is to answer that question. I thought Audrey Penn did a phenomenal job with it. When Chester Raccoon's friend Skiddel Squirrel has an accident and his teacher tells the class he will not be returning ever again, he wants to know what happened and why. His mother tells him just like old Mr. Beaver, "His heart quit beating and his body didn't work any more." Chester now understands, and "his insides felt jumbled and he was very sad." I think that's a wonderful way to describe this feeling in language a child would understand.

When Chester is still upset, Mrs. Raccoon suggests that they make a memory of Skiddil Squirrel, "that way you'll never forget him." She explains what that means and they set out to go to one of Skiddil Squirrels favorite places to play, and along the way they pick up a whole slew of friends who want to make a memory of him as well.

As usual, Audrey Penn takes a very difficult subject down to a child's level, not telling too much or too little, and makes it easier to understand. Also as usual, Barbara Leonard Gibson's illustrations are spot on and adorable to boot.

I highly recommend this book to parents who are trying to help their little one understand and deal with death and give it a special 5 stars :D
Profile Image for Kris (My Novelesque Life).
4,693 reviews210 followers
February 12, 2015
4 STARS

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

"Chester Raccoon's good friend Skiddel Squirrel has had an accident and will not be returning - ever. Chester is upset that he won't get to play with his friend anymore. Mrs. Raccoon suggests that Chester and his friends create some memories of Skiddel, so that they will have good memories when they miss him. Chester, his brother Ronny, and their friends decide to gather at the pond, where they combine their memories and create a touching celebration of their friend's life.

Many young children must face the loss of loved ones or the need to attend a funeral. This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how "making memories" can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one." (From Amazon)

A great picture book for young kids and parents will have fun reading it.
Profile Image for Sevenponds.
84 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2014

Chester Raccoon has lost a close friend, and he doesn’t understand why. In the tender story by Audrey Penn, beautifully illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson, Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories helps Chester and his friends celebrate the life of their friend who won’t be returning to play anymore.

This children’s book touches on issues both of the loss of young people and of older people, through the eyes of kids. Children may not understand the meaning or implications of death, and stories like this help explain this part of our lives simply and gently for them. Chester Raccoon teaches kids what it means to lose someone.

[Continued]

Full SevenPonds review:
http://blog.sevenponds.com/lending-in...
Profile Image for Amy.
363 reviews12 followers
May 19, 2011
I’m reviewing this book for NetGalley.

Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories is another children’s book about Chester Raccoon. Chester comes home to his mom one day and tells her that his teacher said his friend, Skiddil Squirrel had an accident. When his mom asks him more questions, it’s revealed that Skiddil died. Chester is really sad, so his mother tells him that he can make memories of his friend so he won’t be as sad.

I loved the pictures in this book. This book can gently introduce the concept of death to a child and that even though someone is dead the people affected will always have memories of them.

Profile Image for Beverly McCall.
Author 2 books29 followers
August 26, 2016
One of the most difficult concepts for any young child to understand is the concept of Death and the grieving process. Audrey Penn successful conveys the tale of how a mother, Mrs. Raccoon, helps her son, Chester, deal with the passing of a fellow student. Ms. Penn tactfully shares the strategies that a mother uses in helping a child understand the concept of Death. Teaching her son to use cherished memories of his friend will help ease the pain. Each precious memory links her son to his friend. I particularly enjoyed Penn's style with dialog. The conversation between mother and son was clear and concise. There was no rambling. This is a good book to add to a family's library.
119 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2010
Chester goes home and shares that Squirrel died. His mother explained to him what that meant. Chester was very sad. His mother knew that this was very painful because that was his friend. Mrs. Raccoon asked Chester what Squirrel liked and his favorite place. She took him there. She helped him make a memory of Squirrel. A memory is something special that will always remind you of that very special person. By the time there arrived at the pond many other of squirrels friends had joined the Raccoon’s.
This could be used if a family member or special person passes away.
Profile Image for Jessica.
261 reviews12 followers
March 23, 2011
My kids have loved Chester Racoon since The Kissing Hand and this story is no exception! This is a great way to teach kids about death and how to deal with death and the sadness and grief that comes with it. Chester's mom is supporting and sympathetic and has the great idea of making a memory of Chester's squirrel friend. Not only did Chester make a memory, but the trees made of a memory of him too. The pictures are colorful and cute and my kids love to study the pages. This was yet another great book by Audrey Penn!
Profile Image for Heather Fineisen.
1,399 reviews120 followers
December 4, 2012
This is a sweet story about making memories. My 8 year old was initially put off by the accidental death of Chester's friend but became reflective of our own losses and making special memories as we read together. This is a great book to generate a talk between parent and child on a tough subject. After reading this, my daughter started asking questions about her grandpa, my father who died when I was eight. She said she didn't want to make me sad by asking about him, but now she understands the memories make me feel happy. Great illustrations and great message!
Profile Image for Tiffany.
181 reviews3 followers
September 8, 2015
I admit, this was an accidental purchase. I hit "try a sample" but for some reason it bought it for me. That's never happened before, and I was going to return it.....but my 4 year old does love Chester.

This is a super sweet but sad story about dealing with loss. Chester's squirrel friend had an accident apparently, which made my 4 year old very upset. After we finished the story though, he liked how they made and talked about memories they had with the squirrel. This is a must have if you are trying to explain loss to a child.
Profile Image for Margo Tanenbaum.
823 reviews27 followers
May 12, 2010
Chester the Raccoon from The Kissing Hand deals with the death of a friend in this sensitively done book. His mother tries to explain to him how his friend Skiddil Squirrel won't be coming back, and works with him to make some memories of Skiddil that will help him remember his friend. As Chester and his friends gather at the pond they played at with Skiddil, they remember how he loved butterflies and acorns, and take home acorns in remembrance of him.
Profile Image for Abbey.
40 reviews1 follower
Read
December 7, 2012


This children's book is a must read for anyone. It is a heart warming story about friendship and taking bad news and turning it in to something good. Chester the raccoon has a friend that he finds out he will never see again. At first he really sad, but the more time goes on the more the Chester learns to accept the fact and find ways to remember his friend.
This is a great book to have in the classroom on a library for students to enjoy a nice, good story!
Profile Image for Jay.
532 reviews29 followers
August 2, 2015
yet again a lovely story from Chester Raccoon & his mum.
this time they're dealing with the loss of a friend. Chester doesn't understand what has happened to his friend Skiddil Squirrel, and then fells sad after Mrs Raccoon explains to him what it means that Skiddil died.
with the help of his mum, Chester is able to create some lovely memories of Skiddil that he can keep forever & never forget his friend.
a touching little story

** thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for this copy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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