Chester is Mélanie Watt’s cat, and he definitely has an attitude. The two “authors” of the book have a tug-of-war over the story line as Mélanie tries to begin writing about a small mouse. Chester stops the action and insists it is HIS story, and she better just admit it. The two go back and forth as a very egotistical Chester takes over the narrative and drawings until Mélanie performs the ultimate “coup” and puts Chester in a pink tutu. Chester is not defeated . . . just take a look at the back flap biography on the author (or authors). This series continues with Chester’s Back (2008) and Chester’s Masterpiece (2010). 2008 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. sc

Chester is more than a picture book. It is a story told, and retold, by dueling author-illustrators.

Mélanie Watt starts out with the story of a mouse in a house. Then Mélanie's cat, Chester, sends the mouse packing and proceeds to cover the pages with rewrites from his red marker, and the gloves are off.

Mélanie 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 Mélanie get her mouse production off the ground?