Our raccoon stuffed animal, Chester, helped us read "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn. In the story, Chester is a little nervous about going to school for the first time. Then, Mother Raccoon showed Chester the 'kissing hand'; she took Chester's hand and placed a kiss in the center of his palm. This helped to ease Chester's fears and reminded him that his mother's love would go everywhere with him.
At the art center, students traced and colored their hand, with a special poem for their families.