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Audrey Penn’s The Kissing Hand is one of the most-loved back-to-school read-alouds for a reason: it speaks directly to the separation anxiety so many young students (and their families) feel on the first day of school. Chester the raccoon doesn’t want to leave home for school, so his mother teaches him a secret — a kiss in the palm of his hand that he can press to his cheek whenever he misses her. It’s a gentle, reassuring way to talk about big feelings without making them feel scary.

What The Kissing Hand Is About

Chester the raccoon is nervous about starting school and would rather stay home in the woods with his mother. To help him feel brave, his mother kisses the center of his palm and tells him that whenever he feels lonely, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek and think, “Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you.” Chester carries that secret with him to school — and by the end of the day, he’s teaching it to his new raccoon friends.

Why Teachers Love It for Back-to-School

This book is a natural fit for the first week of school, especially in PreK through 2nd grade classrooms. It gives teachers an easy, low-pressure way to open a conversation about missing home, feeling nervous, and finding comfort — while also building a shared classroom ritual kids can return to all year whenever they need a little reassurance.

Discussion Questions to Ask After Reading

• How did Chester feel about going to school for the first time?
• What did Chester’s mother do to help him feel brave?
• Have you ever felt nervous about trying something new? What helped?
• What could you do if you started missing home during the school day?
• Why do you think Chester wanted to share his secret with his new friends?

Simple No-Prep Classroom Activities

• Give every student a “kissing hand.” Press a heart sticker or stamp into each child’s palm on the first day as a keepsake reminder.
• Trace-and-decorate hand craft. Have students trace their hand on construction paper, add a heart in the center, and decorate it as a take-home reminder.
• “I feel brave when…” writing prompt. A simple sentence starter for early writers to complete and illustrate.
• Class discussion circle. Talk through the discussion questions above as a group to normalize first-day nerves.
• Send a note home. Encourage families to draw or write their own “kissing hand” message with their child the night before school starts.

A printable activity pack for The Kissing Hand is in the works and will be added here once it’s ready — for now, this classroom-tested read-aloud plan is a simple, no-prep way to bring the story into your first days of school.

Looking for more back-to-school read-alouds? Check out our Duck on a Bike activities, Curious George Goes to School activities, or Giraffes Can’t Dance activities.

Judy Cox’s Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun tells the story of Rosa, a girl who’s tired of being teased for her packed lunch — until an unlikely soccer skill helps her feel confident in who she is. It’s a sweet, relatable read for talking about self-esteem, individuality, and standing up for yourself with kindness.

What’s Inside

This activity follows along with the book and gives students a simple way to reflect on the story’s themes of confidence and self-acceptance.

A simple, no-prep printable that pairs well with a read-aloud on self-esteem, individuality, or dealing with teasing.

Get the full Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun Activities pack on TPT

Looking for more character-themed printables? Check out our Duck on a Bike activities, Giraffes Can’t Dance activities, or Curious George Goes to School activities.

David Shannon’s Duck on a Bike is a silly, rhythmic read-aloud about one adventurous duck who decides to try riding a bike around the farm — and inspires every other animal to give it a try too. It’s a fun way to talk about courage, curiosity, and trying new things, and its repetitive, sing-song text makes it a favorite for early readers.

What’s Inside

• Color by Number
• Draw and Label (favorite characters)
• Color the character only
• Describe Duck writing sheet

These no-prep printables are great for a quick literacy center, morning work, or a simple companion activity after reading the book aloud.

Get the full Duck on a Bike Activities pack on TPT

Looking for more character-themed printables? Check out our Giraffes Can’t Dance activities, Curious George Goes to School activities, or Pete the Cat activities.

Giles the Giraffe can’t dance — or so the other animals say — until he finds his own rhythm and proves that everyone can dance when they find music that’s just right for them. Giraffes Can’t Dance is a favorite for teaching self-confidence, embracing individuality, and finding the courage to be yourself, which makes it a great pick for a read-aloud early in the year or during a unit on kindness and self-esteem.

What’s Inside

• Giraffe color-by-number activity
• Writing prompt page with starter sentences tied to Giles the Giraffe’s adventure

This simple 3-page printable is perfect for kindergarten or young elementary readers looking to creatively reflect on the story’s themes while practicing fine motor and writing skills.

Get the full Giraffes Can’t Dance Activities pack on TPT

Looking for more character-themed printables? Check out our Curious George Goes to School activities, Pete the Cat activities, or The Very Hungry Caterpillar activities.

If your class loves H.A. Rey’s mischievous little monkey, these Curious George Goes to School activities are a fun, low-prep way to extend the story. George’s first-day-of-school jitters (and his knack for getting into trouble along the way) make this a favorite read-aloud for back-to-school season — and a great way to talk about following rules, trying new things, and being brave on a first day.

What’s Inside

• Color by Numbers
• Write your favorite part of the book
• Writing sheet

These no-prep printables are perfect for PreK-3rd grade literacy centers, a quiet morning activity, or a simple companion to a back-to-school read-aloud.

Get the full Curious George Goes to School Activities pack on TPT

Looking for more character-themed printables? Check out our Pete the Cat activities, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus activities, or The Very Hungry Caterpillar activities.

Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of those books nearly every classroom keeps on repeat. The bright collage illustrations and simple, satisfying story of transformation make it perfect for PreK through 2nd grade, and it pairs naturally with an art project, a life cycle lesson, or just a cozy read-aloud.

After the read-aloud, this simple drawing and writing printable gives students a chance to reflect on the story in their own words. It is designed to pair with the caterpillar art project so many teachers already do alongside the book, giving that craft a written component too.

What’s Inside

– 2-page drawing and writing template
– Space for students to illustrate their own caterpillar or butterfly
– Simple writing prompts to reflect on the story
– Great for PreK through 3rd grade (works especially well in Kindergarten)

It is a quick, low-prep way to add a literacy component to a lesson your students already love. Grab the Very Hungry Caterpillar Drawing & Writing Activity on TPT for just $0.99.

Looking for more character-themed printables? Check out our Pete the Cat activities, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus activities, or Elephant & Piggie activities.