Children’s Book Review : Chester’s Back!

I didn’t’ have the opportunity to read this book until now, I did post earlier about how it won the 2009 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards. We just picked it up from the library, and it didn’t disappoint!Anyone who is familiar with Chester knows that he’s one cat that just won’t let his author tell a story! He gets out his red marker and draws his own version of the story. From the very beginning, where he alters Melnie Watts thanks to her sister, to the title page and all the way through the book, Chester places his mark wherever he can.

My kids think this book is hilarious, to say the least. Kade cackles madly when we read it to him, and now that he understand what the cat is doing, he enjoys reading it to Ivy.  She requested a reading from him, and I found them on the bunkbeds giggling insanely over the book first thing this morning.

The drawings are engaging and funny enough that adults will smirk and snort over Chester’s antics, which to me is important. If I don’t enjoy reading the book, since the adults in our house are still the major readers and the kids the listeners, then it won’t be read usually. There are some books that I admit have disappeared to the Goodwill because I just can’t stand them. So finding something that makes me laugh while reading to the kids is a bonus. The storyline is confusing and jolty and random, and that’s exactly how its supposed to be, there IS no story. Its just bickering back and forth between Melanie and Chester, and is highly amusing.