Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories

     This was my absolute favorite book of the entire course. I was totally amazed by the illustrations and found myself sharing this story with most of my classmates. I've sparked many interests in this book and look forward to reading the rest of the Chester Raccoon stories in the future. I really appreciated how well this author addressed losing a friend. It had the perfect amount of emotional responses to it and was realistic in its goal of sending a positive message about how to remember someone you lost.
      I think this would be an excellent resource to use in a classroom. It covers the topic very well, but the illustrations alone are outstanding. I think children will enjoy this story and all that it has to offer. Though the characters are animals, I think the students will find it relatable because the main character ventures on a journey to find an object that reminds him of his friend. I think every child has a special something they have as a keepsake of their childhood. I love this book and can't wait to share it with even more people!

Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories
by: Audrey Penn
illustrated by: Barbara L. Gibson
Published in 2009