The 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge is underway!

Picture books and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Reading with your child only takes a little time each day, but the impact it will have on your child is big and will last a life-time.

I’ve just linked up with a fantastic resource for parents and teachers and anyone who wants to find great picture books to read with young children.  What’s really cool is that for many of the stories, there are also suggestions for other activities that extend the learning experience.  Perfect Picture  Book Friday is part of the blog of Susannah Leonard Hill, a talented author of many children’s books.  I’m honored to contribute, and hope that her site will also encourage every parent and anyone involved in the care and education of young children to take part in the 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge. 

Here’s a wonderful picture book that I have shared with hundreds of children.

The Kissing Hand

Written by Audrey Penn and Illustrated by Ruth Harper and Nancy Leak

Published by Child & Family Press, 1993

Intended audience age: 2 – 7

Theme/Topic:

As the author says, “This is a story for any child who confronts a difficult situation, and for the child within each of us who sometimes needs reassurance.”  The Kissing Hand will help any child who is anxious about starting a new school or trying a new experience.

Story Opening:

“Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest and cried.” 

Brief Synopsis:

 The little raccoon would rather stay home with his mother and play with his friends and swing on his swings because he is afraid of the new experience of going to school.  Chester’s mother is able to help her son overcome his fears by giving him a special secret that her mother shared with her when she was little.

Why I like this book:

Young children love this story and appreciate Chester’s fear because many of them have experienced it also.  As adults, we might envy the carefree life of a child…with no responsibilities and all the time in the world to play.  However, a child’s life is not really carefree…and children are learning at an amazing rate while they are playing…and especially while they are sharing a story with a parent!  Young children can identify with Chester and will be encouraged when they see how he was able to overcome his fear of going to school and his reluctance to leave all that is familiar.  The book provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to engage with their children about this very common problem.

Resources and Activities:

If you are looking to extend the learning experience with your child, here is a super simple craft project you can do.

THE KISSING HAND CRAFT PROJECT

Materials needed for each child: 1 piece of light colored construction or copy paper, fine-line markers and/or crayons.

1. Have the children place their hands on the paper.  Draw the outline of their handprints.
2. Talk to your children about the people (or pets) they love and those who love them.
3. Let the children decide which people will be represented by each finger…mother, father, siblings, grandparents, pets, favorite stuffed animal, teacher, etc.
4. Use markers or crayons to add the features to each finger.
5. Make sure the children reserve one of the finger of the handprint for themselves…we need to love ourselves before we can reach out and truly love others.
6. Help the children label each figure with a name to identify who it is.

When we brought the Show-Me-How-Story-Time-With-Miss-Vivian program to Chicago last summer, we had a ball with the children who came to hear The Kissing Hand and do the KISSING HAND CRAFT with us.  Reading and crafting with kids is so much fun for everyone involved! 

Join the 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge and read a story a day with your child.  Leave a comment and share with us what books you are enjoying with your child.  Someone is going to win a picture book at the end of each month…maybe it will be YOU!

Please remember that if you participate in this Challenge, you are entitled to a $5 discount on Show Me How, a great resource that gives you 100 picture book summaries and an easy craft and simple cooking activity for each.  Right now you can save two ways, because we are offering FREE SHIPPING for the month of January.