The Kissing Hand
I love love love this book! My mom use to read this book to me when I was a little girl. The book is about a young raccoon named Chester that is nervous about starting school. His mother kisses his palm and tells him that "whenever you feel lonely and need a little loving from home, just press your hand to your cheek and think, 'Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you." This book would be great to read to your class on the first day of school. It allows the students to make book to self connections. You may also add an activity at the end of the read where the students get to trace their on hand draw a heart in the middle of their palm to connect with the book and fully comprehend the text. Then they may place the hands where they are visible to the class as a reminder of love from home.
PreK-K
Fountas and Pinnell: Level I
