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Audry Penn has been writing American Children's books since 1975. Her first book won the Midstate Library Association Award and she was also nominated for the Caldecot Medal Award. She went on in her career and became a two time winner of the New York Times number one best seller award. She was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism. Audrey went on to write 19 books in total. She also has an educational program that she takes into schools, libraries, and children's hospitals called The Writing Penn, where she shapes and refines her story ideas in partnership with kids.

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I would like to share the books Audrey Penn wrote with 1st graders. I would introduce her reading by going to her own website where she has frequently asked questions. We could go through a read the questions and responses. Then as a group brainstorm questions we would like to ask her as a class.

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The Kissing Hand

by Audrey Penn

Grade levels: Early Childhood through 5th grade

Genre: Animal Fantasy

Summary: This story is about a young raccoon, Chester, who is getting ready to embark on a new adventure of going to school. As Chester prepares he lets his mother, Mrs. Raccoon, know that he does not want to leave the familiar things at home. He wants to play with his own toys, and read his own books. Mrs. Racoon then shares a secret that was passed down from generation to generation. She shares the secret of the kissing hand. At first Chester was skeptical about this new secret. Then Mrs. Racoon showed him. As Chester recieved the kissing hand he felt warm and tingly. Mrs. Raccoon encouraged Chester by saying whenever he felt lonely or afraid to put his hand to his face to feel the kissing hand once again. At the end of the book Chester shares the kissing hand with his mother and she feels just as warm and tingly as he did. The kissing hand gave Chester the courage to walk into his new adventure of going to school.

Learning experience: I would create a story box for a learning experience. Things that I would add would be some of the favorite things I have at home, as well as some of my favorite things I have at school. I would also include a soft felt heart to symbolize the kissing hand, one that fits inside of our hand. I would then ask the children to create their own story box for this activity. Having them include similar types of things within the box. I would also have them include something that makes them feel warm and fuzzy inside. I would do these things for the students to connect with the story and to remember the learning experience.

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Chester the Brave

By: Audrey Penn

Grade levels: Early Childhood through 5th grade

Genre: Animal Fantasy

Summary: This is a story about learning what it means to be brave. Chester racoon is back in this story. He's learning a lesson from his mother. She is telling a story about the robin who was learning to fly. She explains that being brave is not doing something when you are not bothered but rather choosing to do something even in the midst of being bothered. Mrs. Racoon then goes on to say that the robin did not like reciting his flying lessons infront of all the other little birdies. Chester is also afraid of reciting lessons infront of all the other animals at his school. Mrs. Racoon goes on with her story, the mother robin gives the little robin one of her tiny flight feathers and told him it was for good luck. The robin then, even faced with fear, had the courage to fly because he made the choice he was a very brave robin. Mrs. Racoon goes on to tell Chester that there are 3 little words in order to be brave, Think, tell, and do. Chester then find the courage to tell himself that he is also very brave. With that he also was able to recite his lesson even being the tiniest bit afraid.

Learning experience: First before reading this book I would have them watch a video on real life racoons and how they interact in the wild. Then after reading I would have them write their own "Think, Tell or Do." After they are finished I would have them share in small groups what they have chosen. By doing these things I am a connecting the reading to the reader. They see the connections between Chester Racoon and real life raccoons. As well as building upon what they have read through the writing activity and building community through sharing.