Having a new baby in the house may have been easy at first for you older child at home but as we all know those babies get bigger and love to get into their older sibling’s things. They like to follow them around and try to be just like them in addition to grabbing attention from mom and dad. When this starts to happen older siblings tend to have a change of heart towards the new brother or sister in the house.

“A Pocket Full of Kisses” by Audrey Penn is a wonderful children’s story featuring a family of raccoons teaching a lesson about a mother’s abundant love for her children. Big brother Chester is having a hard time dealing with his little brother Ronnie now that he is old enough to get into his toys and follow him around. He has to share everything with him including a special bonding tradition that he thought was only for him from his mother; the kissing hand.

Chester is feeling down and expresses to his mother that he wants to take his little brother back. In return he promises his mother that he’ll be really, really good. To make him feel better, she takes his hand in hers, spreads his little fingers into a fan and kisses his palm. He feels much better until he sees that his mother does the same for his little brother. Heart broken and with tears welling in his eyes, he asks her why she gave little brother his kissing hand. Now that Chester sees he also has to share mommy’s love with Ronnie, he is worried that his mother won’t have enough love to go around for the both of them.

Currently my family is experiencing just that situation. Looking for different ways to help out my oldest who is only 6 years old and has been the only child, adjust to the new changes has been difficult at times. My best friend who also had the same situation with her two boys lent us “A Pocket Full of Kisses” and told us that it really helped her oldest understand that the love us mothers have for our children can only continue to grow and will never run out no matter how many kisses we give out.

This story is just one great book out of a series that Audrey Penn has written about Chester and some of the troubles that young children have to face at one point or another. Also popular with parents and teachers alike is “The Kissing Hand” and is part of many kindergarten teachers curriculum at the start of each school year. Starting school and leaving mom and dad can be tough and like “A Pocket Full of Kisses”, it has helped many children with their new adjustments in a fun and uplifting way.

Check out the entire series by Audrey Penn:

• “The Kissing Hand”


• “A Pocket Full of Kisses”


• “A Kiss Goodbye”


• “Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully”


• “Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories”