A Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn

Illustrated by Barbara Leonard Gibson. 32 pages. Tanglewood, 2006.

When children have a younger sibling, they may worry that they won't be special to their parents any more, and as a result, won't get enough love. In this sequel to The Kissing Hand, Chester the raccoon has a little brother, Ronny, who takes his things, follows him around, pulls his tail, and generally annoys him. When Chester's mother reassures him with a Kissing Hand, he's happy because he knows that she loves him. But when she gives Ronny a Kissing Hand, he's shocked - he thinks she's given Ronny his (Chester’s) Kissing Hand. He worries that she doesn't have enough Kissing Hands for both young raccoons. Patiently, Mrs. Raccoon reassures Chester by telling a story in which the endless light of the sun resembles her endless love for the two of them. But what's most reassuring of all is the extra Kissing Hand she gives Chester to keep in his pocket in case he ever needs it - to meet the special needs of a big brother. With Chester, older siblings will learn to maintain their sense of themselves as special and loved.

Ages: 4-7
Cultural Context: non-human