Welcome to a fun story time! Today, we’re going to hear a special story called “The Kissing Hand”. It’s all about a little raccoon named Chester and his mom. Let’s find out what happens!
Chester Raccoon was feeling a bit sad. He stood at the edge of the forest and cried. “I don’t want to go to school,” he said to his mom. “I want to stay home with you, play with my toys, and swing on my swing. Can I please stay home?”
Chester’s mom, Mrs. Raccoon, gave him a gentle hug. “Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do,” she said softly. “But school can be fun! You’ll make new friends and play with new toys. And I have a special secret to share with you.”
Chester stopped crying and looked curious. “A secret? What is it?”
“It’s called the Kissing Hand,” said Mrs. Raccoon. She took Chester’s little hand and spread his fingers wide. Then, she gave a big kiss right in the middle of his palm. Chester felt the kiss travel up his arm and into his heart, making him feel warm and loved.
“Whenever you feel lonely at school, just press your hand to your cheek and think, ‘Mommy loves you.’ The kiss will make you feel happy and loved,” Mrs. Raccoon explained.
Chester loved his Kissing Hand. He knew his mom’s love would be with him wherever he went, even at school.
That night, as Chester stood in front of his school, he had a big idea. He turned to his mom and said, “Give me your hand.” Chester kissed the center of her hand, just like she did for him. “Now you have a Kissing Hand, too!” he said with a smile.
Mrs. Raccoon watched Chester happily go to school. She pressed her hand to her cheek and felt the warmth of Chester’s kiss. It made her heart sing, “Chester loves you.”
And that’s the story of The Kissing Hand. It’s a reminder that love is always with us, no matter where we go!
If you ever feel a little scared or lonely, just think of your own Kissing Hand and remember that someone loves you very much!
Make Your Own Kissing Hand: Let’s create our own Kissing Hand! Take a piece of paper and trace your hand on it. Once you have your hand outline, ask a grown-up to help you cut it out. Then, draw a heart in the center of your paper hand. You can color it and decorate it with stickers or drawings. Whenever you feel lonely, press your paper hand to your cheek and remember that someone loves you!
Share a Kissing Hand: Find a friend or family member and share the magic of the Kissing Hand with them. Give them a gentle kiss on their hand and tell them that whenever they feel lonely, they can press their hand to their cheek and feel your love. How does it make you feel to share your love with someone else?
Observation Walk: Go on a short walk with a grown-up and look for things that remind you of love and kindness. It could be a heart-shaped leaf, a friendly smile from a neighbor, or a hug from a friend. Talk about how these things make you feel and how they are like the Kissing Hand, spreading love and warmth wherever you go.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided transcript:
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Hello! Welcome to Storyline. I’m Barbara Bain, and we are brought to you by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Today, I will read a story titled “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn, with illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak.
**The Kissing Hand**
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, play with my toys, read my books, and swing on my swing. Please may I stay home with you?”
Mrs. Raccoon took Chester by the hand and nuzzled him on the ear. “Sometimes we 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, play with new toys, read new books, and swing on new swings. Besides,” she added, “I know a wonderful secret that will make your nights at school feel as warm and cozy as your days at home.”
Chester wiped away his tears and looked interested. “A secret? What kind of secret?”
“A very old secret,” said Mrs. Raccoon. “I learned it from my mother, and she learned it from hers. It’s called the Kissing Hand.”
“The Kissing Hand?” asked Chester. “What’s that?”
“I’ll show you.” Mrs. Raccoon took Chester’s left hand and spread his tiny fingers into a fan. Leaning forward, she kissed him 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.
Mrs. Raccoon smiled. “Now, whenever you feel lonely and need a little love from home, just press your hand to your cheek and think, ‘Mommy loves you.’ And that very kiss will jump to your face and fill you with warm thoughts.” She took Chester’s hand and carefully wrapped his fingers around the kiss. “Now, do be careful not to lose it,” she teased him. “But don’t worry. When you open your hand and wash your food, I promise you 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 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 center of her hand. “Now you have a Kissing Hand, too,” he told her. And with a gentle “Good-bye” and “I love you,” Chester turned and danced away.
Mrs. Raccoon watched Chester scamper across a tree limb and enter school. As the owl hooted to signal the new school year, 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.”
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I LOVE YOU
**The Kissing Hand**
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This version maintains the essence of the story while ensuring clarity and coherence.
