Let me start by saying I love Audrey Penn. When my daughter was going to school for the first time someone gave me The Kissing Hand and I bawled. I recommend that book to everyone!

I wish this book and all of the other Chester Racoon books had existed when she was little (she is 22 this year). This book does a great job of explaining the different feelings you may feel during your first sleepover. Also, that it is okay to feel home sick even if you had a great time with your friend(s).
I would recommend this book to anyone with small children going to a sleepover for the first time.

I can't wait to read the rest of the Chester Raccoon series. Looks like I need a trip to the library!

#AudreyPenn #ChesterRaccoon

I received this e-arc for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So cute. The Kissing Hand was one of my favorite books growing up so it was nice to get to see the characters again. Very cute and sweet story with great illustrations. The drawings really capture the fluidity of the animals - it’s quite impressive. I also appreciated that the language wasn’t awkward nor was it oversimplified. It was just right to be a great book to read with kids. It subtle teaches lessons about friendship and manners and knowing it’s okay to go home when you need to without being heavy handed like so many children’s books are today.

In the beginning of the school year to my kindergarten class, we read The Kissing Hand. This book is about going to a friend’s house for a sleepover. I enjoy reading this book. Great illustrations and story.
Thank you NetGalley and Tanglewood publishing. This is my own honest opinion.

A very sweet book and it reminded me of the wonderful books I read in my childhood that still stick with me to this day. Beautiful storyline with wonderful illustrations. A perfect addition to a child's library.

Chester the Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover deals with the fear of spending the night at a friend's house despite having a long fun-filled day of playing with friends. A cute story to read to young children.

Chester raccoon from The Kissing Hand book is back for another adventure. This time he is going on a day visit to see his opossum pal, Pepper. While playing, the young animal friends experience a lot unexpected stink from Sassafras skunk. She can’t help it that she sprays when she is giggling, nervous or sleepy. At the end of the day, Chester is missing his mom and just can’t wait to be home.

I expected a bit more from this story. It was sweet and heartwarming like The Kissing Hand, but it still fell a bit short for me.

Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover adds to The Kissing Hand series about family life depicted through woodland characters, primarily the adventures of a raccoon family. The picture book is a wonderful story to enjoy as a read-aloud either at home or at school.. The story line provides opportunities to talk about kindness, respect for others and cooperation.

I received a digital galley from #NetGalley without requirement for review.
#TheKissingHandSeries #TanglewoodPublishing #AudreyPenn

This was my first ‘Chester Raccoon’ book and it was utterly charming. The illustrations by Barbara Leonard Gibson were lovely, adorable and smiley, making me smile in return. The book delivered a positive message about new experiences, but also highlights that familiarity is fine, too.

A gorgeous book by Audrey Penn with some great advice to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tanglewood Publishing for the complimentary ARC. This is my honest and totally voluntary opinion.

Great book for fans of "The Kissing Hand" which has the same charming illustrations and cutely drawn characters. The book deals with Chester's homesickness at his first sleep over with friends which is a great and relateable topic that needs more attention. I would have liked to see some more advice or ideas for coping skills although I like that it makes it ok that Chester went home.

I read this book to my 8 and 10 year old girls. They enjoyed it. They thought it showed a realistic problem, that many children have (being homesick at a sleepover). They thought the animals in the illustrations were cute and that when the skunk sprayed it was funny. We think it's a cute sequel to the Kissing Hand and we would recommend it to any child who loves animals.

Cute little book, could be helpful for kids who have fears about sleep overs or otherwise being away from their parents, doesn't really address any way to help deal with those feelings but still a good book.

Thank you to Tanglewood Publishing for an online copy of this book. Thank you also goes out to NetGalley!
I LOVED the Chester Raccoon books when I was a kid and was so excited to see this one! Another beautiful Chester Raccoon story that every child can relate too. Filled with humor, fun and heartfelt moments this book is perfect for children. A cute story about how it feels to be away from home, even after you've had so much fun. A good lesson for kids that sometimes its okay to want to be under the comfort of your own "hollow". I absolutely loved this adorable story, the cute characters and the beautiful illustrations!

Chester Racoon and the Almost Sleepover
By: Audrey Penn
What a charming book that follows Chester the Racoon as he attends his first over “overday”. Although Chester has a fun day, when things start to slow down he misses his mama. He touches his kissing hand and misses the familiar even more. While the day was fun he is ready to go home. He enjoyed his almost sleepover but is happy to be home in his own hollow.
As sweet as this story is I wish for all those children struggling with separation anxiety that it would have given more coping skills to be able to stay. It was fine that Chester Racoon went home but it would have been encouraging to see him be brave and stay.
I was given the privilege to read this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review which is stated here.

What a cute book with wonderful illustrations. I highly recommend Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover. This a wonderful children’s story. I’m buying the hardcover for all my grandchildren. Chester is going on his very first sleepover (overday). We get to see him being excited about the idea of a stay over, until later when he changes his mind and wants to go home because he misses his mother and brother. It teaches kids it’s okay to not be completely comfortable with new situations and to be kind rather than tease. I received a complimentary digital copy from Tanglewood Publishing through NetGalley.

This was a cute and clever book that had my two children smiling throughout especially when Sassafras Skunk accidentally lets out stinky puffs. Chester Raccoon is on his very first "overday" at his friend Pepper Opossum's place. The group of friends spend the day having fun until it's time to go to sleep and Chester Raccoon realizes he misses his own family and decides to leave the overday early. The book is filled with colorful and beautiful illustrations. It is sure to delight small children, especially ones who are already familiar with Chester Raccoon from "The Kissing Hand."

I read similar picture books as a kid, particularly A Pocketful Full of Kisses, so this book filled be with nostalgia. A super cute kids book.

What a cute story! I teach kindergarten, and I love reading Audrey Penn’s Chester Raccoon books to my students. We always read The Kissing Hand during the first week of school, and they love following it up with other stories and repeated readings.

This book tells the cute story of Chester’s first sleepover - the fact that he calls it sleeping “over day” instead of “overnight” leads to some giggles and a fun conversation about nocturnal animals. The skunk is an adorable character sure to have your children laughing! I also loved how Chester Raccoon speaks up for himself when he wants to go home during the sleepover. It creates an opportunity not just for a fun story, but for important conversations about speaking up for your needs and knowing what is right. Five stars!

This is an adorable picture book about Chester the raccoon’s first sleepover with Pepper Opossum. Many woodland animals come out for a fun play day. At bedtime though, Chester is feeling homesick as most kiddos tend to do on their first sleepover.
The illustrations are wonderful and I think the topic is very relatable. This could start a fun preschool discussion on sleeping in an unfamiliar place and how that makes you feel.
Thank you to Tanglewood Publishing and NetGalley for this e-copy in exchange for my honest review, my opinions are my own.
This will be featured on my blog Thursday January 3, 2019.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com

This is a sweet little story about a raccoon on his first sleepover. We follow Chester Raccoon as he attends his friend's "overday" party with several other friends.

The friends all play together and have a lot of fun. The illustrations here are charming, and there's a lot going on in most scenes.

There are some really silly bits that I know would be a hit with a couple of little ones I know -- this is likely to get a few giggles throughout.

Although it is a little longer than I would like for repeated readings, this is a perfect little story for helping to prepare a little one for what to expect at a sleepover,

4 stars for this helpful and sweet book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tanglewood Publishing for providing me with a DRC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Tanglewood Publishing for this DRC.

This is exactly what I imagine a sleepover for (nearly) baby animals would be like. We have an "overday" (as it's referred to by our Raccoon momma) with a squirrel, skunk, raccoon, badger, porcupine and an opossum.
The overday even had a snack platter of rotten fruit and bugs and a game of darts made from a porcupines tail quills.
I would totally attend that overday if I were a nocturnal baby animal.
There is, of course, more to the story, but you will have to read the book to find out!
Side note: there is a recap of sorts in the form of a poem at the back of the book.
I love this!
Giving a shorter option on for nights you don't have time to read the whole story.