Chester by Melanie Watt: Book Cover

    Chester by Melanie Watt, Melanie Watt (Illustrator)

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    (Hardcover)

    • Age Range: For infants or children in preschool
    • Pub. Date: September 2007
    • 32pp
    • Sales Rank: 44,052

      Reader Rating: (4 ratings)

      Detailed Rating: "Story" See All

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      • Overview
      • Editorial Reviews
      • Customer Reviews

      Product Details

      • Pub. Date: September 2007
      • Publisher: Kids Can Press, Limited
      • Format: Hardcover, 32pp
      • Sales Rank: 44,052
      • Age Range: For infants or children in preschool
      • Lexile: 350L 

      Synopsis

      A comical picture book created by dueling author-illustrators by the acclaimed creator of Scaredy Squirrel.

      Maryann H. OwenCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

      PreS-K
      While the conceit behind this book is quite clever, the presentation will be puzzling to young children and won't be of interest to those who are old enough to "get it." Watt begins writing a story about a mouse that lives in the country. However, her cat, Chester, wants the story to be about him, so he takes a red marker in paw and begins to write his own tale in addition to, and sometimes instead of, the author's. The book needs to be read in two voices (the author's and the cat's) in order to make sense to young listeners; but even then, there is not enough plot to garner their interest, and the concept will require too much explanation. The "story" is merely about the pair's test of wills. Charming pencil and watercolor illustrations, assembled digitally, depict Chester as a pudgy tabby and the mouse as tiny and gray. The chances of this book being requested more than once are remote.

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      Customer Reviews

      • Reader Rating:
      • Ratings: 4Reviews: 2

      Chester Is Fabulousby CueLaughter

      Reader Rating:
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      July 22, 2009: I read the two editorial reviews on this website. The review by Maryanne Owen proves that she must be the stereotypical hair-in-a-bun, cold, humorless, "Shhhhh-ing," librarian. She is the one who doesn't "get it."

      This book is absolutely fabulous. It is ingenious in that it entertains the child and the adult. It is filled with clever details that adults can appreciate in the same way Pixar does this in Toy Story (and others). Also, there are many, many details for the child to discover in the writing and the illustrations and even in the book flap. I've read this aloud to many classes and they adore it. They laugh and fully enjoy spotting the details as if they were looking at an I Spy book.

      Any adult or child with a cat will "get" the character of Chester, the cat. The author has obviously spent many an hour with a pampered feline to be this cleverly insightful. I absolutely applaud the outstanding creativity at the heart of the book; it is not just another story about a cute furry kitty. Chester engages with the author and therefore, the reader feels at ease in engaging in a conversation about the book (and its' ongoing changes). It makes for a delightful, interactive experience.

      I love that Chester is not filled with pathetic, watered-down humor, but humor that children can relate to because it is real. It is humor they find in the quirky charm of a sibling that always wears a cowboy hat or that of a single-minded pet that will not stay off their father's morning newspaper, no matter how many times he's removed.

      Humor and laughter do abound and are enough to justify reading this over and over, but there is a lesson in it, if you choose to communicate it: being self-absorbed and pestering to get your way does not work. A conversation with a younger child could be about whining. With an older child, the conversation could go to compromise or not bullying to get his way.

      I have given this book to my school's library and to many, many children. I think it makes a great gift, especially when paired with its' sequel, Chester's Back.

      I can tell you the real "experts," do "get" this book.

      I Also Recommend: Chester's Back!.

      Daughter Loves Chesterby Anonymous

      Reader Rating:
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      February 19, 2008: What a delightful book for the child (girl or boy) and for the parent. My 6 yr. old loves it and wants to have it read to her every night before bed. We bought it for her school library in honor of her birthday. Now we will have to buy another just so we can have it at home all the time. It's a very charming book. At the very end, I was wanting more dialogue. But it's still very cute book for any child. I think this particular book needs to have it's own series going and see what else Chester is up to. It has a potential Garfield-feel about it. I hope to see more from Chester and Melanie Watt.