As this week marks the first days of school for many, including Dubbers, I wanted to share the sweetest book that is also most appropriate…”The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn.

Dubbers’ Nana sent it a few days ago and Dubbers showed no interest in looking at it or hearing me read it. I kept it in a visible place and each night asked, “Do you want me to read the book Nana sent?”  I would receive a shake of the head for “no”. While Dubbers enjoyed books from an early age, he goes in and out of periods where he prefers them more or less. We have been in the latter for awhile, and even when he did show interest, it was for one of his old board books, such as “Goodnight Moon” or “The Little School Bus”.

This morning, however, while sitting on my bed waiting for me to finish getting ready, Dubbers said out loud, “Nana” (one of the few words he can actually speak). I brought him his Talker and asked him, “What about Nana?” to which he replied via his Talker, “book”. I smiled, got the book, and lay next to him and read the adorable story of Chester the raccoon and his first “night” of school.  Chester was hesitant to leave his comfort zone of home, his friends and toys, but his mother explained he would make new friends and play with new toys. Then she told him about a secret passed down from her grandmother to her mother and to her.  Chester’s mother then kissed the palm of his hand and told him that he would feel her love by holding it to his cheek anytime he felt the need. This is probably the first age-appropriate book Dubbers has let me read to him with no interruptions or fleeting attention.

Tonight, on the eve of his first day back to preschool, we were lying in bed and Before he fell asleep I asked if he wanted me to read him a book. He nodded his head yes and then kissed his hand.