Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
261st out of 436 books
—
159 voters
Chester's Masterpiece (Chester)
by
Mélanie Watt
Chester's finally ready to write his own masterpiece -- he just needs to get pesky writer-illustrator Mélanie Watt out of the way. Chester's solo attempts at storytelling are messy, to say the least, but he's determined to go it alone. But where's his story going? After several alternative (but always unhappy) endings, Chester is confronted by a problem he never bargained...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
March 1st 2010
by Kids Can Press
(first published 2010)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
552)
In this third Chester book, Chester has completely taken over and is writing the book all by himself. He has taken Melanie’s art supplies and her computer mouse. But writing a children’s book isn’t as easy as Chester thinks. He has to come up with original ideas, select a genre, illustrate the book, and then work on a happy ending rather than a gloomy one. Luckily Melanie is right there with helpful criticism along the way, even demonstrating her skills as an artist with just a pencil.
I know th...more
I know th...more
This is the most clever and darling book I have read in a long time! Chester the cat is starring in his third book, but this time he is writing the book all by himself....with ABSOLUTELY NO help from Melanie Watt! He has hidden her art supplies and computer mouse and is off creating his own story in his own way, even if he has to use ideas from other books, even if he doesn't include other characters, and even if his pen runs out of ink! The pages will make you laugh out loud as you read (via po...more
Mar 08, 2010
Jennifer Rayment
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Shelves:
signed-by-author
Jake's Review: This book made me laugh. I really liked how the mouse and Melanie argue with Chester all the time. It made me laugh when Chester ran out of ink and couldn't communicate anymore. Chester looked funny when he was dressed as a mime. I liked the last page where you find out that Chester has dumped all of Melanie's stuff in the kitty litter.
Mom's Review: I'm prejudiced with this one, since I absolutely adore Melanie Watt and all of her work. It would have to be pretty crappy for me not...more
Mom's Review: I'm prejudiced with this one, since I absolutely adore Melanie Watt and all of her work. It would have to be pretty crappy for me not...more
This book was such a engaging way for a book to be written. The cat has taken the authors art supplies and is creating a book. While the author is using a pencil and post-its to communicate with the cat. The cat has no idea how to write a book but really wants to write one and illustrate it. The cover page even says this book was written by Chester and not Melanie(the actual author). It starts reading from the very first page with all the publishing information. I think that is a neat and unique...more
Chester the very fat cat decides that it's his turn to write a book, so he hides Melanie Watt's writing supplies and her computer mouse and sets about to write and illustrate a book with her red marker. Melanie keeps leaving post-it notes on Chester's work. It's a cute book, but I think it would be difficult to read to a child because of the two different voices - the red marker and the post-it notes. However, once children can read by themselves, I think they would find it very enjoyable, and l...more
This is a humous look at the writing process. Chester the cat takes over his book from author Melanie Watt. Comments between Chester and Melanie occur in the pictures, writing, and post it notes. The takeover theme is continued on the cover and title page.
When Chester runs into writer's block, Melanie pushes him to think of what kind of story he wants to tell and what setting he needs. Chester has to try out several endings to his story while Melanie and another character give feedback on his wo...more
When Chester runs into writer's block, Melanie pushes him to think of what kind of story he wants to tell and what setting he needs. Chester has to try out several endings to his story while Melanie and another character give feedback on his wo...more
Chester is back and (dare I say it?) better than ever! In this third installment in the Chester saga, the rotund calico has finally wrested almost control over Mélanie Watt's book. Chester has stolen (and hidden) all of her art supplies and, armed with his trademark red marker, goes about gleefully creating his own masterpiece. But Watt won't go down without a fight and finds ways to foil Chester with pencil and sticky notes. Very, very funny!
3 likes · like · see review
This book would be great for a writing lesson. The book is created through the author communicating ideas and thoughts to the cat about what to write. A teacher could communicate to her students in a similar way and use this book to introduce the format. However, Chester, the cat, doesn't like to listen to author, so the teacher could inform students that this is what you do not want them to do. This book really allows the students to see the communication between the author and cat.
In the first two Chester books, Chester the cat tries to "edit" author Melanie's story-writing with his red marker. In this book, Chester the cat returns, and this time completely hijacks the book-writing project, hiding Melanie's materials, and doing it all himself. Melanie is relegated to using sticky notes to send Chester messages. The kids liked this, but I was not as amused as I was with the first two Chester books. The novelty wore off. Ages 3-7.
I loved this book! The storyline is great. The text causes the reader to search the whole page. The student's need to identify early on that the sticky notes represent Melanie (the author.) There is an ongoing conflict throughout the book that is comical. Also, the illustrations in this book are a mix of graphic, cartoon, and realistic. I think this book would be very beneficial for children to read, it is very stimulating.
If you can handle the conversation back and forth between Chester and the author this one is SUPER CUTE. And I do not usually like cats.
This one would be GREAT tied in to a writing lesson. Because the conversation is all about how to write a story ... needing a setting, and a main character (or "hero"), needing an ending that ties up the story in a satisfactory manner.
This one would be GREAT tied in to a writing lesson. Because the conversation is all about how to write a story ... needing a setting, and a main character (or "hero"), needing an ending that ties up the story in a satisfactory manner.
Chester's Masterpiece was a fun book that would be an excellent teaching tool for teaching young children the details of writing a book or creating a storty. The book has very detailed illustrations with text in varied forms. The book is great for independent reading or a read aloud with one or two listeners, but may not be as effective as a read aloud for a larger group.
I loved this book. Chester is back at it, arguing with author Melanie Watt and wanting to write his own story. He steals her supplies so she can't write. He makes many attempts at creating a story, but he just can't seem to get the hang of it. Students love taking a look at the little sticky notes Watt leaves all over the book for Chester. Great read aloud!
Chester the cat, the star of two previous books, Chester and Chester's Back, takes over this time to write his own book. Stealing author Melanie Watt's supplies so that she cannot interfere, Chester illustrates and writes several stories, but cannot seem to find his groove. The clever exchanges between Watt and Chester as they fight for ownership of the book extend onto the copyright page and author's bio. A marvelous story for inspiring young writers and showing the work that goes into creating...more
Another book that will go under my favorites! Chester the cat is making a book and this book shows the steps how the book was crafted! It shows how Chester came up with his setting, main plot, etc etc. This book would be ideal in teaching the children how to write a book with beginning, middle, end all with setting, main plot, and ending!
I really enjoyed this book. The text forces the reader to look at the whole page. The author has "sticky" notes in the book which represent her talking, this would be interesting to discuss with students. This book is funny yet makes you think. The illustration are also mixed which is not normal and makes the reader crave more. Great book!
Apparently, this book was completely done by Chester. Like the first two books, Chester is using his red pen and writing whatever he wants. But this time, he's taken all the author's stuff and hidden it so he has more control over the making of the book.
The Chester books are very funny. I think this is the best one yet.
The Chester books are very funny. I think this is the best one yet.
This book would be good for teaching how to write/tell a story.
I didn't like this as a bedtime story because it was confusing. My 4 year old didn't get that the Post It notes were supposed to be the author's voice and that she was having an argument with Chester. Also, with the mouse talking, it was all too much.
I didn't like this as a bedtime story because it was confusing. My 4 year old didn't get that the Post It notes were supposed to be the author's voice and that she was having an argument with Chester. Also, with the mouse talking, it was all too much.
Melanie Watt's use of humor in order to discuss the parts of a book is brilliant. Young children will love to read this book and be able to learn the important parts of a story, such as character and plot. Watt's use of post-it notes to comment on Chester's work can also be a great introduction to editing techniques for young students.
Really funny -- for older people. (This is definitely not for ages 2 -8.) The humor is wonderfully meta; the drawings are busy and clever. My only wish is that the pages were a little less busy. But I loved the book, and maybe, a busy book is exactly how a cat (or a child) would make his own masterpiece.
I love Chester and this addition is just perfect. Chester is going to write the story all by himself with no help from Melanie Watts. He has hidden all of her art supplies and her computer mouse.
This would be a great book to build a writing lesson around or even a library program about writing.
This would be a great book to build a writing lesson around or even a library program about writing.
The Chester books are not ones I'd use in a Pre-K story time. I think they might be fun in 1st and 2nd grade classrooms. The kids would get the humor more easily and they might make good jumping off points for creative writing. I'm just not thrilled with them..not my taste I guess.
Genre: Picture book
Copyright: 2010
I thought this was even better than the original Chester book personally. I thought it was cute, the interaction between the author and illustrator, of what makes a good story and Chester's rendition. The mouse's comments are especially funny.
Copyright: 2010
I thought this was even better than the original Chester book personally. I thought it was cute, the interaction between the author and illustrator, of what makes a good story and Chester's rendition. The mouse's comments are especially funny.
A fun picture book to encourage and inspire budding authors -- of all ages! Chester the Cat sets out to write his own book, without any help from Melanie Watt. As he discovers, sometimes a little help is, well, helpful. And with a little help, he creates his 'masterpiece'......
This was a very entertaining picture book that made my whole family laugh out loud, including my 11- and 14-year old. It isn't set up very well for a read aloud, but works well for reading one-on-one. And anyone with pets would appreciate the playful nature of the narrative. -Angela
Waivered between a four and a five and don't know why I didn't give it a five. I used it in a writing lesson with fourth graders, and it went well. It would work even better with grades 4-7 for discussion of writing elements. Chester's attitude is the best part of the book!
An absolutely hilarious and witty picture book! Chester has officially made it to the top of my favorite picture book characters list! Kids will really be inspired to be creative with a fun character like Chester to look up to. I look forward to reading more by Melanie Watt.
Chester is back with his red marker in hand, and he's ready to take over Ms. Watt's book. But what makes a good story? Will Chester take Ms. Watt's advice?
This is my favorite book by Ms. Watt. Chester is quite the character and the little mouse is funny too!
This is my favorite book by Ms. Watt. Chester is quite the character and the little mouse is funny too!
Loved this book it was very unique. It was in the form of the authors cat writing a story and hiding all of her things. It would be a great opening to a writing lesson and would help children to see the writing process and how stories are created.
Chester's Masterpiece is the third of Mélanie Watt's Chester books. In this one Chester gets his revenge and takes charge with a red marker pen.
Chester's begins his attempt at writing his own masterpiece by hiding all of Mélanie's art supplies and notes. Some of her work is in his litter box!
In all this silliness though, children learn about the creative process. They have access to Mélanie's Post-It notes and her sketches. They can see the tools she uses for making her drawings too.
Chester for...more
Chester's begins his attempt at writing his own masterpiece by hiding all of Mélanie's art supplies and notes. Some of her work is in his litter box!
In all this silliness though, children learn about the creative process. They have access to Mélanie's Post-It notes and her sketches. They can see the tools she uses for making her drawings too.
Chester for...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Feb 24, 2012 09:20pm