Activity for Chester

Chester

Written and Illustrated by Melanie Watt
Published by Kids Can Press, 2007
JK – Grade 6

“Hi, I’m Melanie Watt, and I’m trying to write and illustrate a story about a mouse. But Chester, just won’t stop interfering!"

"Thank Goodness! NOW it’s a great book about me!"

"See what I mean? Chester keeps doodling on and rewriting my story with his annoying red marker.”

This delightful and hilarious picture book will have you laughing just as hard as the children! Chester’s wayward antics are creative, fun and easily identifiable thanks to his bright red font. The illustrations in this book add as much to the story as the text. This story is a great book to share at a storytime session or to pour over at home!

Storytime Suggestions

Before the story...

• The front cover indicates trouble is brewing right from the start. Melanie Watts’s name has been crossed out and replaced with “Chester” in bright red ink.
• Invite the children to participate by asking who the author of the story is.
• What additional clues does the cover give as to what the story will be about?
• Point out Mouse on the front cover. Ask the children what emotion he is showing? What emotion is Chester showing?
• You’ll want to set the stage for this story before you begin. Either use the text in the front book-jacket-flap or describe the dilemma yourself: Melanie is trying to write a story about a Mouse but Chester keeps taking over with his red marker!

During the story...

• Unless you are particularly good at characterization, you may need more than your vocal skills to differentiate between who’s telling the story – Melanie or Chester. While it’s clear by the colour of the text, it’s less so when read out-loud (especially for younger audiences).
• Try making a “Chester Mask” (see attached template), and hold this up in front of your face every time Chester speaks. Alternatively you could use a cat puppet or some other prop for the same purpose.
• Be sure to point out all the little doodles in the illustrations as you go.
• Ask the children what changes they see in the picture now that Chester has “moved in”.

At the end of the story…

• Continue the discussion by asking the children if they have pets at home. Do they ever misbehave? Ask for some examples.
• Go back and look closely at the pictures, are there any clues about where Chester sent Mouse on his trip?
• Ask the class for suggestions as to how Melanie could have helped make Chester behave.
• We never did get to hear a story about Mouse. If appropriate, start a discussion about what Mouse’s story might have been about. This is a great way to lead into an independent story writing activity.

Related Activities

Mouse’s Story...

• Have the children write their own story about Mouse. “Once upon a time there was a mouse. He lived in a house in the country….” Have the children finish this off, imagining what story Melanie was actually trying to tell us.

Chester’s Story...

• Alternatively, ask children to create a story that actually is all about Chester. What would happen in it? What would he do? Would he still get into trouble?

My Chester the Cat Drawing

• Have children draw their own Chester illustration. They can include Melanie Watt, Mouse, Chester, the “souvenir with teeth”, or a new character all together.
• Provide as many art supplies as appropriate, but crayons, colored pencils, and markers will work best on plain paper. Feel free to add pastels, paints, and other craft materials if you choose to work with heavier stock art paper.

Chester Mask

This is a great activity – especially if you used a Chester mask while telling the story. Children will love to play make-believe with their new mischievous friend.

1. Print the attached template onto mid-to-heavy-weight card stock.
2. Use the black and white version so that children can colour Chester in themselves. Use markers, crayons, coloured pencils and paints. Consider giving the children the option of attaching a bow to the top of Chester’s head using a pink ribbon.
3. Cut out the mask. (Assist younger children with this step).You can create a more realistic mask by “fraying” the edges. Make multiple snips inwards with your scissors on a diagonal very close together, creating tiny pointed peaks and valleys. This will create the effect of hair sticking up.
4. Glue or tape the top ¼ of a large popsicle stick to the back, bottom-middle of the mask, with the remaining ¾ visible below the mask. This is your handle.

Further Reading

If your kids loved this story, try out these other great reads by Melanie Watt:

• Scaredy Squirrel
• Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend
• Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach
• Leon the Chameleon
• Augustine