Book #6 - Chester's Way

 

"Hello, my name is Chester. I like croquet and peanut butter, and making my bed." 

Title: Chester's Way

Author: Kevin Henkes

Illustrator: Kevin Henkes

Publisher: Harper Trophy  

Date of Publication: 1988

Genre: Fiction

Readability Lexile: 570

Summary:

Chester and his best friend, Wilson have their own way of doing things. Everyone says they are two peas in a pod. They ride bikes together, they always cut their sandwiches into triangles, and they liked to dress up as pairs for Halloween – Salt and Pepper, Mittens on a string, Fried eggs and ham. Then one day a new girl, Lilly, moves into their neighborhood and she has her own way of doing things. At first the boys want nothing to do with her until she comes and saves the day by scaring some older boys away who are teasing Chester and Wilson. Lilly, Chester, and Wilson become best friends and they show each other new ways of doing things.

Evaluation:  

This is a good story will a good lesson that students will relate to. The plot of this story is believable. All of Kevin Henkes' mice books are based on the trials and tribulations of being a kid. This story, about making new friends, has many great characters that children can see themselves in. 

The main characters in this book, Chester, Wilson, and Lilly seemed to be based on real children because they are very realistic in their speech, behaviors, and attitudes. Chester and Wilson must learn that it is okay and good to have friends that are different from you. At first the two boys are set in their ways but after meeting Lilly they see that there is more than one way of doing things. 

The setting of this story isn't as attention grabbing as some of his other books but it does match with the story and with the characters. In this story, the three mice do lots of things outside together and throughout different seasons.The illustrations do a good job of showing the place and time of the text.

This book does not use any offensive, degrading, or stereotypical language. This book is about mice rather than people but the author draws mice of all colors in his books. 

Literary Elements: 

1. Theme: The theme of this story is something that all children can relate too. Whether they are the new kid in town, or two best friends that do everything together, children will see many different elements in this story that are similar to their own lives. I think the main theme of this story is that sometimes you can become best friends with the most unlikeliest of people. Chester and Wilson never would have guessed that they would become best friends with Lilly but in the end they have more in common that they thought they did and that their differences can be used to each other something cool!
2. Foreshadowing: The last page of the book introduces a new character, Victor. In the end of the story, Chester, Wilson, and Lilly become best friends and do everything together. The last page reads, "And then Victor moved into the neighborhood..." This tells readers that Victor probably has his own way of doing things just as Lilly, Chester, and Wilson did. The reader can wonder about what kind of quirks Victor has. 
3. Conflict: The author uses conflict in this story to show the differences and mild tension between best friends, Chester and Wilson, and their new neighbor, Lilly.


Illustrations:
The pictures do a nice illustrating the quirky traits that Lilly, Chester, and Owen have. After each explanation is a picture to go allow with it. The pictures have many fun details that students will enjoy looking at. 

Mini-Lesson Ideas: 
I would use this lesson to teach character development. The author spends a lot of time in this story explaining the different traits that the main characters have. By the end of the book you have a strong idea of what each mouse is like. This book could be used as an example of ways to introduce a main character. I would have students choose a character and write down all of the things that they find out about him or her during the whole story including they physical traits, likes and dislikes, and other fun details. Then each student can try to develop they own character.