Sunday, May 11, 2014

The Kissing Hand

The Kissing Hand

Bibliographic Information
Penn, Audrey. The Kissing Hand. Scholastic Inc., 1993

Plot Description
Chester Raccoon is very upset. He doesn’t want to go to school. He wants to stay home with his mother all day. Mrs. Raccoon understands that he is scared, but tells Chester that sometimes we all have to do things that we don’t want to do. She goes on to tell him that he will have a great time at school, make new friends and play with new toys. But, Mrs. Raccoon also has a wonderful secret. One that will help Chester’s nights at school seem as warm and fuzzy as home.  Will this secret help Chester or will he still be afraid to go to school?

Quantitative Reading Level
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 2.7
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 93.3
ATOS Level: 4.8

Qualitative Reading Level

Meaning: Low. Text contains a single level/layer of simple meaning. 

Structure: Low. The narrative structure is mostly simple and is more explicit than implicit and is largely conventional. Narration does not shift in point of view. The order of events is chronological.

Language: Low: Text contains little or no use of figurative language or irony. The language is contemporary, familiar, conversational language that is explicit, literal and easy-to-understand.

Knowledge Demands: Low. Requires only everyday, practical knowledge.  No references to other texts. 

Content Area
English, Health, Science

Subject Area Tag
English, Health, Science, Reading for Pleasure: Picture Books

Content Area Standard
New York State Content Area Standard (Grades K-5)
1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
5. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. 
7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
9. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
11. Respond to literature by employing knowledge of literary language, textual features, and forms to read and comprehend, reflect upon, and interpret literary texts from a variety of genres and a wide spectrum of American and world cultures.
Health Standard 2—A Safe and Healthy Environment: Family and Consumer Sciences, Elementary
Students will know the basic principles of home and community safety. They can demonstrate the skills necessary to maintain their homes and workplaces in a safe and comfortable condition. They can provide a safe and nurturing environment for themselves and others.
Science Standard  4: The Living Environment, Elementary
Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

Curriculum Suggestions
  • Read to class the first day of school to help those with separation anxiety
  • Read as part of a unit on animals

Links to Supporting Digital Content
Author website

Optional:

This book was given to my son by his teacher on his first day of kindergarten. He was so excited to share it with me when he got home. My daughter will begin Kindergarten next year with the same teacher, and she is very excited to get her own copy of The Kissing Hand. Such a beautiful story.

*photo obtained from Goodreads 

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