Is this a sequel to The Kissing Hand?

Yes, it's part of the same series featuring Chester Raccoon. While The Kissing Hand is usually about starting school, this one specifically tackles the anxiety of moving to a new home.

Is the 'tree cutting' part scary for kids?

Not really. The tree is marked with an 'X' by tree cutters, which serves as the reason they have to leave. It's presented as a fact of life rather than a scary event, though very sensitive kids might ask why the tree has to go.

Can I read this if we aren't moving?

Absolutely. It's a great story about family support and bravery, though its most 'on-the-nose' use is definitely for families in the middle of a relocation.

A Kiss Goodbye – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

A Kiss Goodbye

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2007Juvenile Fiction

89%

WISE Score

Chester Raccoon deals with the ultimate preschooler tragedy: moving house because his favorite tree is getting cut down.

A Kiss Goodbye

book

2007, Juvenile Fiction

89%

WISE Score

Chester Raccoon deals with the ultimate preschooler tragedy: moving house because his favorite tree is getting cut down.

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Screenwise Verdict

If you're moving house and your four-year-old is spiraling, buy this book. It's the sequel to the classic The Kissing Hand, and it does exactly what it's supposed to: makes a scary, adult-driven transition feel like a manageable adventure for a small raccoon.

It’s not high-octane entertainment, and it’s definitely not for older kids who have moved past the picture-book phase. But for the preschool set, it’s a gentle, effective way to process the finality of leaving one place for another. It’s a 'utility' book in the best sense—it solves a specific parenting problem with a lot of heart.

Age Fit

This is a bullseye for the 3-to-6-year-old crowd. It's specifically designed for kids who are still in the 'separation anxiety' phase or facing their first big move.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Audrey Penn's Chester Raccoon books are the gold standard for emotional regulation in preschoolers. The mother-child bond is centered, and the tone is deeply comforting without being saccharine.

Imaginative

Uses animal personification to make human anxieties manageable for small children. It's not reinventing the genre, but it uses the woodland setting effectively to ground a scary concept like moving house.

Safe

100

Entirely safe. The only potential friction is the 'tree cutters' marking the tree, which is the inciting incident, but it's handled with zero violence or trauma.

Enriching

An essential tool for kids facing transitions. It provides a concrete ritual (the kissing hand) to help children carry a sense of security with them into unfamiliar environments.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Emotional intelligence is the core here, helping kids put words to the messy feeling of leaving a familiar place.
The Kissing Hand ritual is a real-world tool you can actually use with your kid the next morning.
It validates negative emotions instead of just telling the kid to be happy about the new house.
Perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners who are highly sensitive to changes in their routine.

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What to Watch For

The idea of 'tree cutters' coming to take down a home might be a little unsettling for kids who are already anxious about environmental changes or home security.

Conversation Starters

"What are the three things you'd miss most if we had to find a new 'tree' to live in?"
"Why do you think Chester was so worried that the new home wouldn't be as good?"
"Do you think the Kissing Hand trick works even when you're in a completely different city?"
"How did Chester's mom help him feel better about the big change?"

Deep Dive

The Power of the Ritual

Audrey Penn hit on something special with the Chester Raccoon series. Most kids' books about moving focus on the 'fun' of a new room or making new friends, which can often feel dismissive to a kid who is genuinely grieving their old life. A Kiss Goodbye doesn't do that. It lets Chester be sad. It lets him be stubborn.

The book works because it centers on the Kissing Hand—a simple, physical ritual where a parent kisses the child's palm so they can 'carry' that love with them. For a child moving to a new house, a new school, or a new state, that sense of portable security is everything.

Why it still lands

Published in 2007, the book doesn't feel dated because the core conflict—fear of the unknown—is universal. The illustrations are classic woodland style, which provides a safe, cozy aesthetic that lowers the 'threat level' of the story. If your family is going through a transition, this is a much better starting point than a lecture about how 'exciting' the move will be. It meets the kid where they are: in a tree they don't want to leave.

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