Art: very detailed (texture fur, bugs as something they eat)
Story: Realistic in terms of what the animals eat (I don’t know if this can be attributed to artist or writer) and it just was a fun adventure in these characters lives.

Chester Raccoon is excited about attending his first overday (a sleep over for nocturnal animals). His mother gives him their traditional kiss and off he goes. He has fun with his other friends, and they have a busy time. Chester is a gracious guest, even helping his host. His good manners are subtly done, mostly, and provides a gentle lesson to readers. After a delightful, and sometimes stinky day due to a skunk who stinky puffs easily, with his friends, Chester tries to settle down for a good day's rest but finds he's homesick and goes home early.

"Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover" offers humor, delightful illustrations, and a sweet but overly long story about a fear faced by many children. The author spent too much time detailing everything they did and ate during the sleepover, it got a bit tedious. But the message of missing family and being afraid is nicely done. There's no shaming, no fussing, just simple acceptance of and respect for Chester's feelings. I can get behind that message. This book would work for older 3 year olds, on up.

An arc was provided generously in exchange of an honest review via Netgalley.*
The poem at the end was good, but I didn't like everything else. The "stinky skunk" jokes got old pretty fast. I didn't like the mom interfering with the kids play, I didn't like the boss game, and I am sure that when you thank someone you look them in the eyes instead of turning your back on them. This book just is not for me and my kid. There is nothing I wish my kid to learn from it.

Rating: 5 STARS
(I received an ARC from the EDELWEISS)
(Review Not on Blog)

I really enjoy Audrey Penn's Chester Racoon series. I love both the writing and illustrations by Penn. This one is perfect for children going to a sleepover.

I love this new story about Chester Raccoon. It is going to be a hit with fans of The Kissing Hand and A Pocket Full of Kisses!! Another beautifully written story by Audrey Penn!! She has taken us back into Chester Raccoons world with an exciting new tale about first sleepovers.

Thank you for the advance copy of this book! Very good book for young readers!

I love this series. It is so heartwarming and every mother on the planet can identify with the deep bond of love that continually flows between a mother and her little one no matter what the physical distance.

Chester has been invited to a sleepover at his friend Pepper Opossum's tree across the river. Unfortunately Chester, being a raccoon, is nocturnal so he is going for an "overday." His mother assures Chester that he will be picked up the moment the sun sets, nuzzles his ears and plants a gentle kiss right in the middle of his palm, her famous Kissing Hand signature which makes him feel safe and connected to her. He squeezes her fingers and feels her love and warmth flow into him. He's now ready to independently go on his first dayover ever. Or is he?

She delivers him safely and he and his friends spend the day freely exploring, playing games and having great fun together. They hang by their tails over a tree limb, they toss darts made from porcupine quills and acorns, they splash and skip rocks into the creek. All the while Sassafrass Skunk adds humour and fragrance to the tale as he emits "stinky puffs" throughout all the adventures. Finally the little ones have to confess that they are pooped and need to go back to Pepper's hollow and have a sleep. Everyone agrees to the plan and back they go. They yawn and find the perfect spot to curl up and drift off... everyone that is... except Chester.

His eyes are big and round like saucers. He looks around and he sees everyone unconscious and that's when anxiety moves in. Chester presses his mother's Kissing Hand to his cheek but it isn't powerful enough to overcome his feelings of being separated from her.

He misses his little brother, he misses his mother, he misses his own hollow which is his alone. Suddenly Chester becomes terribly homesick. Wise Mrs. Opossom sensing his discomfort and uneasiness quietly whispers to him if he would like to go home. He answers yes he would. Her kind neighbour rabbit escorts the sad little raccoon back to his mother where he is greeted with a big warm hug the comforting words that she missed him too and he is always welcome at home.

The illustrations are absolutely brilliant. I cannot recommend this series enough. It is one that tugs at the heartstrings and never let go. Highly, highly recommended.

Being introduced to The Kissing Hand and Audrey Penn's books a short time ago and loving them when I saw this I knew I had to read it. It's cute and connects to The Kissing Hand and has great illustrations. Would recommend giving this book a shot.

What a gorgeous book. Lovely story and beautiful pictures. Such a simple story idea but one that resonates. I also love the poem at the end.

Yes I know the long and illustrious history of this books predecessors but I just can't get into the cutesy realistically drawn anthropomorphic characters. It's very American and not my style at all. Personal view of this type of book.

Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover by Audrey Penn Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover by Audrey Penn is a great book about Chester the raccoon and his almost perfect sleepover. At first, I thought that it was about spending the night at another animals house but instead it was about spending the day and nap time at another house. All the animals were interesting and funny including the skunk who stinky poofs.

When Chester Raccoon is invited to an "overday" at his friend Pepper Opossum's tree, he will be away from mother raccoon for the full day. She kisses his hand and closes it on her kiss as he is leaving. Chester joins all his friends for a day full of fun games and activities. When they all get tired, they go to Pepper's tree and curl up in her hollow. All his friends fall asleep except for Chester. He remembers his mother's Kissing Hand, but he still feels homesick and a tear escapes from his eye. When Pepper's mom notices how sad he is, she enlists the help of Mrs. Rabbit to take Chester home. Once home and in his mother's arms, he has not problem falling asleep across the hollow from his brother. Chester learns that it okay to be nervous when you experience new things and not to be afraid to ask for help. This is a great book to read to young children who might be nervous or scared about a new activity or to be leaving mom whether to go to a friend or relative's house or even to school. The illustrations are adorable and the animals are so cute. I especially liked Sassafrass the skunk who kept "stinky puffing" when she was nervous, tired or giggling. This is also a good book about teaching tolerance for friends and those who might be different.

I received this ARC from Tanglewood Publishing and Tanglewood via NetGalley

I received this Arc from Netgalley for an honest review.
This is a great book about Chest the raccoon and his almost perfect sleepover. Originally I thought that it was about spending the night at another animals house but instead it was about spending the day and nap time at another house. All the animals were interesting and funny including the skunk who stinky poofs. This will become a well-loved picture book.

From the author of the popular and much-loved book, <em>The Kissing Hand</em>, comes this new story in the life of Chester Raccoon - <em>Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover</em>.

Like author Audrey Penn's other Chester Raccoon books, the story is very simple and very direct. Here, Chester is about to embark on his first sleepover at a friend's house. He's nervous about spending a night away from home and his mother. She gives him a kiss on his palm (ah...how nice to bring back a reminder of <em>The Kissing Hand</em>) and sends him off to play with his friends with Mrs. Opossum gently watching over them.

But as evening/night draws on and the group of friends grows tired, they settle in to sleep, but Chester can't sleep. Eyes wide, he's nervous as he looks around in the unfamiliar surrounding. Ultimately he goes to Mrs. Opossum who asks if he wants to go home. When he says he does, she enlists the help of Mrs. Rabbit who escorts him back to the warm embrace of his mother.

On the first reading, I wasn't too sure how I felt about Chester not staying with his friends, but as I thought about it and re-read the book, I realized that the message here is that it's okay if you aren't ready for something. Everyone grows and matures in their own time and that's okay. And as I recognized that, I liked the idea behind the story a little more.

Most of the story (two-thirds) is actually the friends playing together. While it's nice to see the fun side of the play-date, to counter the fear Chester has later, I'd liked to have spent just a little less time here, and less time making fun of the skunk's smell.

If I had little children, this would be a nice book to read to them when they are about to go on their first sleep-over. But make note of that point. There's only ONE <em>first</em> sleep-over. Although I like the book, I don't see many multiple readings because it won't be necessary and therefore not requested by the young ones.

The illustrations by Barbara L. Gibson are bright and cheery and perfectly suited for this type of children's picture book.

Looking for a good book? <em>Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover</em> by Audrey Penn adds story to the life of Chester Raccoon (<em>The Kissing Hand</em>) and is a nice reminder for children (and parents alike) that it's okay if you aren't ready for something new and scary.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Chester is back and growing up fast but not too fast. When invited to his first sleepover, Chester loves the nonstop fun with friends but when it is time to sleep the comforts of home is where his heart is happiest.

<i>The Kissing Hand</i> started a series of books featuring the lovable Chester Raccoon, a horde of fans young and old, and tons of teachers who enjoy using it for all sorts of lessons and activities. This latest book has Chester finally old enough to go on an overday (the nocturnal animal version of an overnight). His mother drops him off at his friend Pepper Opossum's home. Lots of other nocturnal animals are there, too - Stanley Squirrel, Badger, Cassie Raccoon, Sassafras Skunk, and Amber Porcupine. In typical sleepover style, they play games, have snacks, and finally get tucked in to sleep. Parents of youngsters who have been on their first sleepover will not be surprised by what happens as Chester tries to sleep in a strange place.

This will be a fun story to read with young children preparing for their own first sleepover, or to reminisce with those who have completed their first one. In classroom settings, it could be used with a study on nocturnal animals or habitats. (The list of snacks for the sleepover guests will be sure to elicit groans and calls of "Yuck!")

I LOVE this book! The story is so cute and silly at times and the illustrations are beautiful.
Great story about the love of a mother and a little one knowing they will always be loved and protected in their mothers arms. And of course the kissing hand!

We will be buying a hard copy of this book. My Grandkids loved it

Everyone loves Chester Racoon from The Kissing Hand. His adventures continue in this new book by Audrey Penn. Chester is going on his first sleepover but is feeling nervous. Although he has lots of fun when it comes time to go to sleep he cannot because he misses his mom too much.

I was very excited to read this book. I liked the premise for the story and the moments that children can relate to but it did not have the same flow and eneryg as The Kissing Hand. It seemed a bit forced especially Skunk's "stink puff".

Chester Raccoon is the sweetest little fella. He loves his Mama dearly and even though he's going for a play day and a sleepover, he can't leave until she gives his hand a kiss.

Tanglewood Publishing and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published May 16th.

This is a wonderful series for little ones. Chester has a great day playing with all his friends but when it comes time to go to bed, he can't sleep. The mother opossum finds him an adult to walk him home and he feels so much better when his Mom welcomes him home and he can get into his own bed for the night.

Sometimes the first sleep away from home is hard. I'm glad Chester was close enough to home to return. This is a fun story to share at bedtime. Just tuck your little one in with a kiss like Chester's Mom did.

Chester really enjoyed his sleepover, but wanted to return home to e with his mommy and brother.
Friendship and acceptance..