Louis Sheffield Elementary School

Chester, the raccoon has to say goodbye to his home because the trees in that part of the forest are being cut down. Chester is very sad and fearful about moving to a new home. But, Chester sees that the new tree is not so bad after all. He has even found a new friend.

About the Author

Audrey Penn is the author of the New York Times bestselling children’s book, The Kissing Hand. She has been writing books for over 30 years. But, Audrey Penn didn’t always write books. She used to be a ballerina dancer with the National Ballet in New York City. In 1973, Mrs. Penn was the choreographer for the 1976 Olympic Gymnastics Team. Mrs. Penn has always loved writing. During the fourth grade, she began keeping a journal. She wrote about everything she saw and heard each day. Her favorite part about being a children’s author is meeting her readers.

Strategies and Skills

Compare and contrast, The Kissing Hand and A Pocketful Full of Kisses to A Kiss Goodbye.
What lessons can a reader learn from this story?
How did Chester change from the beginning of the story to the end of the story?
Look at the illustrations and list the other animals in the story.
Have the students classify the nocturnal and day time animals.
Why do you think the trees were being cut down?
What questions would you ask the tree cutters?
Make a list of things that the cut trees could be used for.
Make a list of ways to prevent so many trees from being cut down.
How would you feel if your family told you that you had to move? Why would you feel that way?
How are Chester and his family similar to people?
Write a letter to persuade the tree cutters not to cut down the trees.
If this book had a sequel, what do you predict would happen?
What does Mrs. Raccoon do and say that makes her a wise mother?
List personality traits for Chester, his mother and Ronny.
Write the story ending to go with the illustration on the last page.
Talk about the good examples of sensory details used when Chester is saying goodbye to his home: touch, sight, smell
Repeated language: “I had an adventure….”
Think of another problem animals in the forest might have and write an animal story.
Audrey Penn has written many children’s books. Check out her website: www.audreypenn.com
Dialogue
Contractions: I’m, it’s, don’t, we’ll, I’ve, aren’t, I’d, I’ll, didn’t
Strong Verbs: announced, patted, scrunched, grumbled, smacked, chuckled, memorized, gazed, wrapped, nuzzled, etc.
What did Chester do to help him “to memorize” his old home?
Can you describe your house so others can visualize it?
Have you ever had to leave somewhere that you loved?
Vocabulary: hollow, furrowed, stubborn, whined, prickly, budge, expression, comfortable, fiery, pouted, plumbed
Compound Words: forehead, understand, sometimes, pinecones, around, everywhere, inside, afternoon, goodbye, forget, outside

Created by Donna Ayers and JoEllen Clardy

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Audrey Penn's Home Page

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