CHESTER’S BACK!

Aspiring author Chester, a chubby calico cat, is back for another metatextual tussle after the events of his 2007 debut, Chester. Mélanie, his owner, has decided he’s to have his own story…but Chester’s not content just to be a character; he wants creative control. With red marker in paw, Chester rewrites (and draws) his tale. The medieval backdrop is too modern; Chester wants to be a cave cat. The toothy dinosaur Mélanie introduces to bring him into line doesn’t scare Chester, so she tries to replace him with a line of costumed critters—but Chester drives away the competition. What does Chester really want? A limo, his name in lights, billboards with his picture, lots of red jellybeans and acknowledged star status. When he gets everything he asks for, Chester finds the wardrobe not quite what he had in mind. Played out against the medieval drawing, the antics of the overbearing cat and his exasperated author/owner will elicit chuckles aplenty from returning fans and those new to the battle, from front flyleaf to back. (Picture book. 4-8)