Chester Raccoon is scared to go to school. He wants to stay home with his mom, play with his toys, and read his books. His mom tells him school will be fun and that he will make new friends. She shares a special secret called the “Kissing Hand.” She kisses Chester’s hand and tells him that whenever he feels lonely, he can press his hand to his cheek and remember her love. Chester feels happy and safe. That night, he gives his mom a kissing hand too, so she can feel his love. Chester goes to school feeling brave, and his mom feels warm and happy. The Kissing Hand helps them feel close, even when they are apart.
ചെസ്റ്റർ റാക്കൂൺ ആകെ വിഷമത്തിൽ ആണ്. അവന് ഇന്ന് മുതൽ സ്കൂളിൽ പോകണം. വനത്തിൻ്റെ അതിർത്തിയിൽ ആണ് സ്കൂൾ. രാത്രിയിലെ ആണ് ഇവിടെ ക്ലാസുകൾ. രാത്രിയിൽ അമ്മയോടൊപ്പം കിടന്നുറങ്ങിയ അവന് ഇന്ന് മുതൽ ഉറക്കവും ഇല്ല അമ്മയും ഇല്ല അവൻ്റെ കളിപ്പാട്ടങ്ങളും ഇല്ല. ചെസ്റ്ററിൻ്റെ വിഷമം കണ്ട അമ്മ അവനോട് സ്കൂളിലെ രസങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചും അവനു കിട്ടാൻ പോകുന്ന പുതിയ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളെ കുറിച്ചും പറഞ്ഞു പക്ഷെ ചെസ്റ്ററിന് അതിലൊന്നും താല്പര്യം തോന്നിയില്ല. അവസാനം അമ്മ അവനോട് ഒരു രഹസ്യം പറഞ്ഞു. അതാണ് ഉമ്മവയ്ക്കുന്ന കൈ!
Notes
- Chester is sad. He does not want to go to school.
- He wants to stay home. He likes playing with toys. He loves reading books.
- His mother holds his hand. She tells him school will be fun.
- Chester will meet new friends. He will play with new toys.
- His mother has a secret. It is called the “Kissing Hand.”
- She kisses his hand. The kiss makes Chester feel warm.
- Chester can touch his hand to his cheek.
- It will remind him that Mommy loves him.
- The kiss will never go away. Chester feels happy.
- He knows Mommy’s love is with him.
- That night, Chester is thinking.
- He wants to give Mommy a kiss, too.
- He kisses her hand. He says goodbye with love.
- Chester goes into his school. Mommy feels warm and happy.
- She knows Chester loves her. The kiss stays with her, too.
- Chester is brave. He is ready for school.
- Mommy and Chester’s love stays forever.
- The Kissing Hand is a special hug.
About the author
Audrey Penn is an American writer of stories for children. She is best known for The Kissing Hand, a picture book featuring raccoons with human qualities.
1. Chester has to go to School
Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest and cried. “I don’t want to go to school,” he told his mother. “I want to stay home with you. I want to play with my friends. I want to play with my toys. I want to read my books. I want to swing on my swing. Please, may I stay home with you?”
Ms Raccoon took Chester by the hand and nuzzled his ear. “Sometimes we all have to do things we don’t want to do,” she told him gently. “Even if they seem strange and scary at first. But you will love school once you start. You’ll make new friends and play with new toys. You can read new books and swing on new swings.”
“Besides,” she added, “I know a wonderful secret that will make your nights at school seem as warm and cosy as your days at home.”
Questions
- Why was Chester crying?
Chester was crying because he did not want to go to school. He wanted to stay home with his mother. He felt scared to leave his familiar things. - What did Chester say he wanted to do instead of going to school?
Chester said he wanted to stay home. He wanted to play with his friends, read books, and swing on his swing. He did not want to leave his toys and books. - How did Ms. Raccoon comfort Chester?
She held his hand and nuzzled his ear gently. She told him that sometimes people have to do things they don’t want to do. She also told him that he would love school once he started. - What did Ms. Raccoon say about school?
She said Chester would make new friends and play with new toys. He would read new books and swing on new swings. School would be a fun place for him. - What special secret did Ms. Raccoon mention?
She said she knew a wonderful secret. She told Chester it would make his nights at school feel warm and cosy. Chester became curious about the secret.
2. A Secret
Chester wiped away his tears and looked interested. “A secret? What kind of secret?”
“A very old secret,” said Ms Raccoon. “I learned it from my mother, and she learned it from her mother. It’s called the Kissing Hand.”
“The Kissing Hand?” asked Chester. “What’s that?”
“I’ll show you.” Ms Raccoon took Chester’s left hand and spread his tiny fingers into a fan. Leaning forward, she kissed Chester right in the middle of his palm. Chester felt his mother’s kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart. Even his silky, black mask tingled with a special warmth. Ms Raccoon smiled. “Now”, she told Chester, “whenever you feel lonely and need a little love from home, just press your hand to your cheek and think, ‘Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you.’ And that very kiss will jump to your face and fill you with toasty warm thoughts.” She took Chester’s hand and carefully wrapped his fingers around the kiss. “Now, be careful not to lose it,” she teased him. “But, don’t worry. When you open your hand to wash after having food, I promise the kiss will stick.”
Chester loved his Kissing Hand. Now he knew his mother’s love would go with him wherever he went, even to the school.
Questions
- Why did Chester stop crying and look interested?
Chester became curious when his mother mentioned a secret. He wanted to know more about it. He asked her what kind of secret it was. - Where did Ms. Raccoon learn about the Kissing Hand?
Ms. Raccoon learned it from her mother. Her mother had learned it from her own mother. It was a very old secret passed down in their family. - What did Chester ask after hearing about the Kissing Hand?
Chester asked, “What’s that?” He wanted to understand what the Kissing Hand meant. His mother promised to show him. - How did Ms. Raccoon show Chester the Kissing Hand?
Ms. Raccoon took Chester’s hand and spread his tiny fingers. Then, she kissed the center of his palm. Chester felt the warmth of her kiss spread through him. - How did Chester feel after his mother kissed his hand?
Chester felt his mother’s kiss travel up his arm and into his heart. Even his black mask tingled with warmth. The kiss made him feel loved and safe. - What did Ms. Raccoon tell Chester to do with the kiss?
Ms. Raccoon told him to press his hand to his cheek whenever he felt lonely. This would remind him that his mother loved him. The kiss would make him feel warm and happy. - Why did Ms. Raccoon tell Chester to be careful with his Kissing Hand?
Ms. Raccoon playfully teased him not to lose it. But she also assured him that even if he washed his hands, the kiss would stay. Chester would always carry his mother’s love. - How did Chester feel after receiving the Kissing Hand?
Chester loved his Kissing Hand. He knew it meant his mother’s love would stay with him. It made him feel ready to go to school.
3. At School
That night, Chester stood in front of his school and looked thoughtful. Suddenly, he turned to his mother and grinned. “Give me your hand,” he told her. Chester took his mother’s hand in his own and unfolded her large, familiar fingers into a fan. Next, he leaned forward and kissed the centre of her hand. “Now you have a kissing hand, too,” he told her with a gentle “goodbye”.
“I love you,” Chester said as he turned and danced away. Ms Raccoon watched Chester scamper across a tree limb and enter the school. As the first bell of the new school year rang, she pressed her left hand to her cheek and smiled. The warmth of Chester’s kiss filled her heart with special words.
“Chester loves you,” it sang. “Chester loves you.”
Questions
- Why did Chester look thoughtful in front of his school?
Chester was thinking about his mother and the Kissing Hand. He knew he was about to start school. He wanted to do something special before going inside. - What did Chester ask his mother to do?
He asked his mother to give him her hand. He gently unfolded her fingers into a fan. He wanted to share the Kissing Hand with her. - What did Chester do to his mother’s hand?
Chester kissed the center of her hand. He told her that now she had a Kissing Hand too. It was his way of saying goodbye with love. - How did Chester’s mother feel after receiving the Kissing Hand?
She felt warm and happy. As the school bell rang, she pressed her hand to her cheek. Chester’s love filled her heart with special words. - What did Chester’s kiss say to his mother?
His kiss reminded her that Chester loved her. She could feel his love even when he was at school. The Kissing Hand helped them stay connected.
Self Introduction | Answer
- “Hello, friends!
- My name is Febin.
- I love telling stories because stories make us happy and teach us good things.
- I like talking about kindness, sharing, and helping others.
- I also enjoy asking fun questions and playing learning games.
- Learning is exciting when we do it together!
- I am very happy to be here with all of you.
- We are going to have so much fun learning, playing, and making new friends!”
- Thank you!
Conversation | Answer
- Chester: I don’t want to go to school!
- Ms. Raccoon: School will be fun. You will make new friends.
- Chester: But I want to stay home with you.
- Ms. Raccoon: I have a secret that will help you.
- Chester: A secret? What is it?
- Ms. Raccoon: It is called the Kissing Hand.
- Chester: What is a Kissing Hand?
- Ms. Raccoon: I will show you. She kisses his hand.
- Chester: It feels warm!
- Ms. Raccoon: When you feel lonely, press your hand to your cheek.
Conversations
🐿️ Conversation 1: Chester and Benny the Squirrel (First Day Feelings)
- Chester: Benny, I feel scared to go to school today.
- Benny: I feel scared too, Chester. I want to stay home.
- Chester: My mommy gave me a kiss right on my hand.
- Benny: A kiss on your hand? That sounds very nice, Chester.
- Chester: When I miss her, I press my hand to cheek.
- Benny: Does it help you feel better when you feel sad?
- Chester: Yes, it feels warm and makes me smile inside my heart.
- Benny: I wish my mommy gave me a kissing hand too.
🦉 Conversation 2: Chester and Olive the Owl (Making New Friends)
- Olive: Hello Chester, do you want to play with me today?
- Chester: Yes, Olive! I love making new friends at school.
- Olive: I was shy before, but now I feel happy here.
- Chester: My mommy said school has toys and books and swings.
- Olive: I like books with pictures of animals and funny stories.
- Chester: Let’s read together and then swing under the big tree.
- Olive: That sounds fun! You are a kind and friendly raccoon.
- Chester: Thank you, Olive. I’m glad we are friends now.
🐰 Conversation 3: Chester and Ruby the Rabbit (Missing Home)
- Ruby: Chester, I miss my home and my soft blanket.
- Chester: I miss my toys and my swing in the yard.
- Ruby: My mommy hugs me every morning before I come here.
- Chester: My mommy gave me a kissing hand to feel loved.
- Ruby: What is a kissing hand? Can you tell me more?
- Chester: She kissed my palm and said, “Mommy loves you always.”
- Ruby: That sounds magical. I want a kissing hand too.
- Chester: You can ask your mommy tonight. It helps a lot.
🦊 Conversation 4: Chester and Felix the Fox (Sharing Secrets)
- Felix: Chester, you look happy. Did something nice happen today?
- Chester: Yes, Felix. I have a secret from my mommy.
- Felix: A secret? I love secrets. Can you tell me yours?
- Chester: It’s called the Kissing Hand. It makes me feel brave.
- Felix: Brave? I want to feel brave when I feel shy.
- Chester: Just press your hand to your cheek and think of love.
- Felix: I will try that. Maybe I’ll feel warm inside too.
- Chester: You will, Felix. Love makes everything feel better and safe.
🐻 Conversation 5: Chester and Bella the Bear Cub (Saying Goodbye)
- Bella: Chester, I feel sad when I say goodbye to Mommy.
- Chester: I used to cry too, Bella, before I knew the secret.
- Bella: What secret? Can it help me feel better at school?
- Chester: My mommy kissed my hand and said, “I love you.”
- Bella: That sounds sweet. Did it make you stop feeling lonely?
- Chester: Yes, I remember her love every time I miss her.
- Bella: I will ask my mommy for a kissing hand tonight.
- Chester: That’s a great idea, Bella. It will help you smile.
More: A Friend | The Dot | The Little Engine that Could
