"I'm not moving," Chester says to his mother as the story begins. "I'm staying here. I want to stay with my tree, and stay with my friends, and stay where I've always lived."

Chester is faced with a situation common to children today. The thought of moving, of leaving behind friends and the comfort of their only known home is unsettling for many youngsters. Chester's mother tries to convince her young son that moving will be an adventure, but Chester is not so sure. A new school, new friends, a different home did not sound like fun. But their tree is slated to be cut down and Chester must say goodbye to it.

Penn takes her time with Chester's goodbye. As he lovingly takes in the sights and smells of his hollow, he gently places a kiss on his palm and pushes it against the wall. "Goodbye," he tells the hollow. "I'll miss you." With these tender words, Penn lets Chester validate a child's sad feelings as he models a way to cope with leaving. Once Chester moves to his new home, he is delighted to discover Cassie, the little raccoon who lives next door. Things are looking up as Chester sends his mother a happy kiss and tells her, "All right...I'll stay."

Audrey Penn's dedication says it all: "To all my friends, big and little, who find their way to the other end of the path." In A Kiss Goodbye, Chester continues to help make that journey an easier one for children everywhere.