A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon (The Kissing Hand)

In a twist on the fear-of-the-dark story, Chester Raccoon, in his first original board book, goes to bed when the sun comes up. "There's nothing to fear in the afternoon," assures his mother. But the sunlight and shadows remind him of "six foot spiders in baggy pants," a bug-eyed crocodile, and a bear. A hug and kiss from his mother finally helps him to sleep, dreaming about catching fireflies. It's a tricky thing to make broad daylight seem spooky, but readers may still see their own bedtime fears in Chester's overactive imagination. Ages 1-4. (Aug.)

PreS--As Chester Raccoon nestles into his lair, he begins to imagine frightening creatures in the light that streams across his bedroom. At first, it takes on the form of a crocodile and later a pair of spiders. Like many children who see monsters in the shadows of their bedrooms, Chester becomes increasingly agitated as he tries to sleep. Soon, his mother comes to assure him that there is nothing to fear. Just as she reassured him in The Kissing Hand (Child Welfare League of America, 1993), she kisses Chester's palm to soothe his worries. The ink and watercolor illustrations are realistic and reassuringly expressive. Chester's nonthreatening bedtime imaginings are silly enough that young readers' own slumbers will not be interrupted. Designed for younger children, this board book features rounded corners, rhyming couplets, and a simpler text than the earlier books in the series. It should find an audience in most public libraries.--Laura Butler, Mount Laurel Library, NJ