Customer Reviews

Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoy using Chester Raccoon stories with my first graders because the author uses Chesters Mom to help students with changes in their lives (going to school, moving). She is very wise. In this book Mother Raccoon helps Chester understand about death. It is gently written and would be good for reading to a child, but I would not recommend it for whole class reading since it deals with death.

I ordered this book and the two other Chester Books, for a friend for her Grandson. He was thrilled. I babysat for him about a week after they arrived and while I was getting him dressed for bed, he remembered the new books and dragged me over to the bookcase to find them. He loves them! The books teach kids how to deal with feelings and interact with others. They are wonderful.

My jaw dropped when I opened this book. From the start the illustrations enfold the reader and sweep you right into an expertly written story that is as tender and touching as it is consoling and healing. The prose is always only soothing and motherly and not the least bit syrupy or patronizing.

Here's the breakdown:

Characters: Chester and his mother quickly resonate with the young reader especially in their dialog where Mother Raccoon is soothing and reassuring, wise and nurturing.

Events / Story Line: This story line is remarkable in that it offers children a practical means to work out their mourning; something constructive to do when a little one feels helpless.

Illustrations: Awesome. I like the full page illustrations. They really underscore the soothing tone of the story while dealing with a somber subject and offering hope.

Reader relevance: I think this is a book that little ones will appreciate, giving them an outlet for their emotions and something to create and hang onto with regard to their deceased loved one.

Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories by Audrey Penn
Ages 4-851wf0g3-o8l_sl500_aa240_
Tanglewood Press (August 25, 2009)
Cautions: This story deals with the death of a young friend

Kiwi Magazine Review:
The author of the Kissing Hand really has a way with words. Adults will find comfort in sharing this book with a child who has lost a friend. Although the topic is a difficult one, Audrey Penn guides the story with her gentle touch and adds a cup of comfort to the sad story of the death of Skiddil Squirrel. Helping the reader focus on all of the lovely memories of their friend and remember him forever in their hearts.

We have most of the books in the Kissing Hand series, so when my 5 yr old daughter picked this one out at their school book fair, I didn't bother to turn it over and read what it was about. Mistake on my part. When I sat down to read it to my 2 & 5 yr olds I was shocked to read that Chester's little friend had an "accident" and died and wouldn't be coming back to school.
It had a very touching message about making memories, but it was very sad, and these are not typically the types of books I read to my little girls before bed. It is definatly not a book we will read over and over, maybe save it again for later when they are older or if the situation unfortunatly, arrises. I know death is a fact of life, however, my 5 year old was a bit disturbed on the fact that a young squirrel died, I would have rather them have an older animal pass on, then maybe we wouldn't have taken it so badly.

I would like to add that this is nothing against the auther, it was wonderfully illistrated and very well written as are all the other books in this series, I simply wrote this review so everyone was VERY CLEAR on what the subject matter was, and suggest saving the purchase for when this unfortunate subject has to come up in life.

Helping children deal with the unexplainable concept of death can be a daunting feat. Chester and his friends have the help of a very understanding mother who leads them to understand "accidents", death, and mourning. She helps the young animals talk about fond memories of their friend. They visit a special place where their friend used to go and they bring a special token back with them so they can always remember their friend. They essentially share the experience of a funeral in the woods by the pond where they played with their friend. The story is very well written with child-freindly explanations of difficult topics. The illustrations are beautiful. This is a touching story of a very difficult fact of life.

"Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories" is a book to help children explore and accept, and integrate the incomprehensible experience of losing a friend forever. Chester's mother helps him and his friends work on combining their memories of their friend, Skiddel Squirrel, who has suffered an accident and will not be returning to play with them again. Chester and his brother Ronny and all their friends make a little ceremony at the pond, bringing back the acorn full of memories to help them remember their friend Skiddel. "Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories" uses quiet conversations and gentle illustrations and natural images to deliver a very comforting message of acceptance and faith that children age 4-8 will respond to.