Chester

Chester

by Mélanie Watt

Chester is more than a picture book. It is a story told, and retold, by dueling author-illustrators.
Melanie Watt starts out with the story of a mouse in a house. Then Melanie's cat, Chester, sends the mouse packing and proceeds to cover the pages with rewrites from his red marker, and the gloves are off. Melanie and her mouse won't take Chester's antics lying down. And Chester is obviously a creative powerhouse with confidence to spare. Where will this war of the picture-book makers lead? Is it a one-way ticket to Chesterville, or will Melanie get her mouse production off the ground?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Humor, Animals, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

It was in a design class taught by Michèle Lemieux at the University of Quebec in Montreal that author and illustrator Mélanie Watt created her first picture book, Leon the Chameleon, which was later published by Kids Can Press. Watt went on to create several more books, including the Learning with Animals collection and Augustine, which was named an ALA Notable Children's Book. Watt has also illustrated Where Does a Tiger-Heron Spend the Night? and Bearcub and Mama, which won the 2006 IRA Teachers' Choices Project.

Mélanie's best known book Scaredy Squirrel, has won many awards including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. The release of Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, was met with enthusiastic reviews and incredible sales, confirming the arrival of kid lit's newest superstar.

Chester,Chester's Back! and Chester's Masterpiece are about a megalomaniac cat who is every bit the antithesis to Scaredy. Chester has already become a bestseller and shows the breadth and creativity of Mélanie Watt.

Scaredy returns to take a few more tentative steps out of his comfort zone in Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and Scaredy Squirrel at Night. Mélanie has often noted how the Scaredy Squirrel books helped her work out her own insecurities and fears, as the success of these titles has required her to venture out into the unknown, and like Scaredy she has found the experience truly uplifting.

Mélanie currently resides near Montreal, Quebec.

~From http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/...

Reviews

[Robert Khorsand · Rating 4 out of 5]

سهیل کوچولو و داستان‌های کودکان...
خیلی خوشحالم که پس از مدت‌ها، کودک درونم رو دوباره به سفر بردم.
سفری به خونه‌ی چستر و در نتیجه از دیدن نقاشی‌هاش کلی ذوق کردم.
هر از چندگاهی، به این کتاب‌ها سر بزنید، دستی روشون بکشید، ورقشون بزنید و لذت ببرید. همه‌مون به این کتاب‌ها نیاز داریم، تا از هیاهوی این دنیا رها بشیم.

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 4 out of 5]

یکی از بهترین مسخره‌‌بازی‌هایی بود که خوندم و ۳۶ صفحه خندیدم :))))

[Ali Mousavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی باحال بود:)) فقط کاش اینقدر زود تموم نمی‌شد.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this out of the library for my 5 year old, and adored it. Laughed so hard I couldn't read the story coherently, which actually would have been a little tricky under any circumstances, as I had to pause a lot to explain the wacky postmodern premise of the book to my slightly puzzled boy. Essentially Chester the cat and Melanie Watt the author are fighting for control over the narration of a sweet story about a mouse, Chester being particularly aggressive, crossing out lines and drawing (gently) rude pictures. I also had to explain to T such book elements as dedications and author bios, which Chester, with his bright red pen has also had a hand in. The circle on the front cover which reads (in Chester's hand) "Place My Award Here" expresses the spirit of the book perfectly.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read!!! The "story" itself is pretty thin (we never DO find out what happens to that mouse, haha!) but that is because it really is all about CHESTER and his constant interruptions into the "story" do make him, and his antics, the star of this picture book.

Recommended to anyone who has a cat that thinks he/she is the center of the universe--and as we cat-servants all know, each cat IS the center of the universe! ;->

Thanks, Abigail, for the recommendation.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ingenious picture book that will be appreciated by anyone who loves cats or has a sense of humor.

Chester the cat, with his red marker, takes over the writing of the story from Mélanie Watt, and the results are cute and amusing.

The pictures are well done too; I especially liked the mouse.

This is a terrific read aloud book, as long as a lot of time is spent perusing the pictures and red marker crossed out text.

I gave it an extra star for the author/illustrator’s inventiveness.

[I.Shayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

حسابی بامزه و خنده دار
خلاقیت نویسنده دیدنیه

[Zahra Zarrinfar · Rating 4 out of 5]

بامزه و خلاقانه بود.

[Sajede · Rating 5 out of 5]

آخرین دقایق سال ۴۰۲، کتاب کودک خوندم و خوشحالم.

[Amir · Rating 5 out of 5]

چه‌قدر تو خری آخه. :)))
نویسنده می‌خواد داستانی درباره‌ی یه موش بنویسه، چستر -گربه‌ی خانم نویسنده- ماژیک برداشته پریده توی داستان تعریف کردن. :)) معرکه.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Determined to star in Mélanie Watt's new picture-book, Chester the cat hijacks the creative process, editing her story with his bright red marker. Who wants to read a book about a mouse anyway? BORING! Discerning readers would rather enjoy this tale of a cat who is:

Charming
Handsome
Envy of Mouse
Smart
Talented
Envy of Mélanie
Really handsome

An engaging and humorous book, Chester is sure to please young bedtime listeners, who will find themselves giggling helplessly at the back-and-forth struggle between cat and author. The pencil and watercolor illustrations add to the hilarity, as do the many little whimsical touches, from the "Place My Award Here" blurb on the front cover, to the "1 million dollars" price-tag on front dust-jacket flap. Entertaining, original, and not-to-be missed!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Okay, so, it's funny. I could nitpick things I'm not overly fond of, but overall I think this was meant to be written with a great deal of love for cats behind it (which, I'm happy about).

Watt starts out trying to write a book about a mouse that lives in a country house. But, Chester wants the story to be about him, so he keeps adjusting the story.

Anyone who's had a cat try to focus your attention on the cat instead of whatever else you're possibly doing should enjoy this cute tale! And, even the "about the author" stuff is hilarious and enjoyable!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for sharing. It is so much fun you just have to show it to someone else! That's how I came across it, and in turn I have shared it also. "It demonstrates the individualism of cats" according to my husband. He thinks it deserves 5*s as it is so much fun to read. He adds, "It's the quintessential cat book. It's all about the cat and how everything has to accommodate to the cat." There, now my husband has taken over my review!!

[Zahra tavakoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

نمی‌دانم مناسب چه سنی است طنز ماجرا را شاید بچه‌های بالای شش هفت ساله متوجه بشوند.
داستان یک گربه بازیگوش که نمی‌گذارد نویسنده داستانش را تعریف کند.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tired of waiting to be the star of his own book, fat cat Chester takes over mouse's book, emending it with his red permanent marker.

Suoer cute concept, I would have liked to see it fleshed out just a little more. A few more pages.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super fun book, that makes fun of itself and most books like it. This book is about a mouse, however, Chester the cat takes over, redoing the drawings and adding his own words. A very creative and funny read.

[Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Publication Date: August 1, 2009 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Series: Chester

Chester is more than a picture book. It is a story told, and retold, by dueling author-illustrators. Melanie Watt starts out with the story of a mouse in a house. Then Melanie's cat, Chester, sends the mouse packing and proceeds to cover the pages with rewrites from his red marker, and the gloves are off. Melanie and her mouse won't take Chester's antics lying down. And Chester is obviously a creative powerhouse with confidence to spare. Where will this war of the picture-book makers lead? Is it a one-way ticket to Chesterville, or will Melanie get her mouse production off the ground?

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this book earned some belly laughs from my nephew! He loved the pages in which Chester expressed his frustration with Melanie and the mouse by drawing unflattering stick figures of them. He busted out laughing and said, "Amy, read that page again!!" After we were done he said, "I like Chester!" Thanks for the suggestion, Ryan.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: What'd you think of the books?

Eleanor: I liked Chester the best, because Chester is the FUNNIEST cat I have EVER SEEN!!!

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

2008 February 17

It cracked us up. It's a clever metafictional riff on books for kids. It is also, now, a model for picture-book making for the Possum, who's written imitative tributes to the neighbor's cat, Max, for the daughter of the household.

Library copy.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God, this was cute! I had a fat cat named Chester, and he ruled the roost just like this guy does. I love the "PLACE MY AWARD HERE" circle on the cover! Very clever!

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from the library last night, and thought it was adorable. I must buy a copy for the nephews, who will enjoy every word.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Chester the cat takes over the story from the author/illustrator Melanie Watt. The illustrations are adorable and the battle for control of the story is absolutely funny.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Mélanie wants to do is write and illustrate her story about a little mouse who lived in a house in the country. Unfortunately, her cat, Chester, has other ideas. Obviously, the story should be about him, not the mouse, so he ships the mouse off and takes over the book. Mélanie and Chester face off in a battle of wits, each one topping the other’s crazy antics to take over the story. Mélanie wins by putting Chester in a pink tutu, but Chester, as always, gets the last word.

Watt has taken the self-referential book to an extreme and it certainly pays off. Although the readers never see Watt (except in photographs on the first and last pages), her voice is ever present in the story. Watt’s text is written in black, while Chester writes and draws in thick red marker. The illustrations are bright and cheery with the calico Chester always in the spotlight. What begins as a traditional storybook, with text on the left and pictures on the right, becomes a chaotic adventure as Chester writes and rewrites the story wielding his red marker.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun book, though it is difficult to read aloud because it is hard for younger kids to understand that Chester the cat is the one editing/rewriting the author's original story. The illustrations really make the book worth reading because the story line isn’t really a story at all. Chester the cat wants the story to be about him and not about the mouse. As the author writes the story about the mouse, Chester takes his red marker and changes story and illustrations to get the mouse out and put himself in. Chester even changes the author’s dedication from “for Marcos, Eva, Melina and Layla” to “for Chester because I couldn’t have made this book without him. He’s the smartest, most handsome cat in the world. I wish I could be like him someday!” And on the last page of the book is a photo of the author/illustrator, Melanie Watts; well, it also shows Chester walking away with his red marker and the photo has a red moustache, beard, and glasses drawn on it. Both the illustrations and the story are funny.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our girls adore this book. We've already read it six times and they still want to read it over and over. The page showing Chester wearing a pink tutu makes our girls roar with laughter.

It's a fun story and very snarky in places. Our girls love this book so much, I bought copies to give to their teachers at their school book fair. And our youngest has borrowed it several times from her school library. The humor never gets old.

This story was selected as one of the books for the March 2013 - 21st Century Picture Book Characters discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Steve Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended a Melanie Watt book by a friend, and was actually looking for a different one that she's looking for when I discovered Chester. Oh, how happy I found this one. I looked through it, and immediately began cracking up. It's written "collaboratively" by the author and her cat. It includes a love of cats, and a very silly back and forth premise where Chester the cat tries to change her story to promote, well, Chester more and more. It's very funny, and each page offers a lot to take in.

I think this could pose some difficulties as a read aloud, but I'm up for the challenge. I know my kiddos will enjoy looking through this on their own, regardless of my success in doing it justice as a read aloud.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute picture book about Chester, a silly cat who uses his red marker to take over the story. As the author tries to take the story back to what she wants, Chester is sneaking his way back in, until the story becomes a hilarious struggle between the two of them for what the book will be about. Very fun and my kids loved it. (And I love Melanie Watt's illustrations - they are so cute and bring out the story so much.)

[Katsumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Chester! All Chester wants is some attention and to get rid of the pesky mouse and dog that torment his existence. With the help of his red marker Chester is able to make his perfect world! This book does not have a huge "story" component but has tons of personality. It is a quick, fun kids book.

[4marina Nueckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a cat named Chester who wanted to be the star of this story. With his red marker Chester edited her story, but she still wanted to write her story.
I liked this book because it was funny and entertaining to see what Chester will write.I would recommend this book to people who want to read a short, funny, and quick read book.