Chester

What caught my eye at first was the "place award sticker here" written on the cover with a thick red marker. Who would do that? Well you soon discover when you open the book. Cover to cover you find evidence of a pesky character that has tampered with the author's book. The author, Melanie Watts attempts to write a picture book about a mouse, but a mischievous cat named Chester, armed with a red marker, keeps changing the story to be about himself! He is determined to be the star of the story, even if he has to keep interrupting the story with his red marker. It is a hysterical war between the author's pen and the cat's red marker. Chester and the author go back and forth trying to take charge of the story. Chester writes over the author's words and scribbles over the pictures. He and the author go back and forth trying to take charge of the story. I won't tell you who wins! It's a really fun read, funny to the last page. My second graders LOVED it. All three books cracked us all up. Now all my students keep saying ..."Power of the Pen!" There are so many uses for this series in readers' workshop and writers' workshop. For example: In Chester's Masterpiece the author has to fight back with sticky notes. All her thinking is on sticky notes throughout the book. "I'll show you the ingredients of a good story." "Do you have Writer's block Chester?" "And where does this story of yours take place?" I highly recommend this book series. By: K. MacKenzie (Teacher)

This book just works! On one level its a fun, silly book sure to make kids giggle. On another, its great to teach them about narration, point of view, and alternate organization/writing styles. Its set up that the author, Melanie is writing a book, but her cat Chester dissaproves. He keeps coming in, scratching out what she wrote, and creating his own story. After Chester makes writing the book so difficult, Melanie gets her own back in a way guaranteed to cause laughter. What could be confusing is made clear through different fonts and color (Melanie writes in black, Chester has a red marker). It ends up being all about the byplay between Melanie and Chester. It does have a story, but its set out in a very different way than a classic picture book. I read it in my 1st grade classroom, and we actually got some great conversations (yes, with 6 year olds) about who was the narrator, can an author be a character, etc. I then put it in the classroom library and they had a great time reading it and acting it out. A hilarious and fun book!

I gave this as a gift to a 4 1/2 year old. She and her mother read it together. She loved it! She loved that the cat had the marker and was changing the story! Lots of giggles!

This series of clever stories by Melanie Watt ... I mean her cat, Chester, are fun, clever and laugh-out-loud hilarious for kids and parents a like. My five-year-old constantly asks for these to be read aloud and never fails to laugh himself silly while doing so, no matter how many times he's heard the tale of the chubby cat who tries to take over the cute little mouse's intended story by wielding his red marker. I've even frequently caught my little guy giggling while reading this one to himself, with all appropriate voices, of course. Watt, who also writes and illustrates the Scaredy Squirrel series, another family favorite, is one of, if the, best children's author/illustrator working today. She doesn't talk down to her audience and creates classic, clever stories that capture kids' imaginations and inspire them not only to want to read themselves, but keep parents entertained when reading together, as well. I just can't say enough good things about Watt and Chester! My only complaint being that there's been only three stories featuring this hammy fat cat so far.

We are suckers for big fat fluffy cats since we actually have one as our primary family pet. My 4 and 6 year olds love Chester. It is impossible to find the Chester books at any of the stores or school book fairs where we live. The library books are soooooo beat up because all of the kids love and read this book so much. Right now the only book edging out this for bedtime reading at my house is another Chester book "Chester's Masterpiece". We bought both on Amazon for Easter presents for our girls. They love the Chester books.

My son loves this book! Fast shipping, book in excellent condition.

Super cute story. My daughter brought it home from the library and the family liked it so much we bought it for ourselves. Super cute! It's written like a normal book, but then Chester (in red marker) starts taking over the story and changing the story into one about himself, not without some fight from Melanie Watts (the real Author). It's fun and different from other stories out there. It reminds me of the humor of Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No bad, Very bad day.

My son read this book in school and fell in love with Chester. I knew I needed to find him this book to have at home. Upon receiving it, the book came exactly as described. All in all - Great price, great shipping, I couldn't be happier that we found it on Amazon. Thank you!