Just the name Chester makes me happy. And, that face? Actually, the cover is of Buddy the dog who beats up Chester the cat so much that Chester just leaves. He's like, "I may be brave, but the a-whoopin' I get ain't worth it. I'm gone." So when Buddy the dog starts to miss Chester and feel guilty he runs away to find Chester and bring him home.
And, I must say, it's such a dramatic plot twist that I was shocked. Kids, pets, parents don't run away in picture books...they escape, they move, they hide, but running away? Shocking.
Great edgy premise, violence, runaways, late night shenanigans, but the illustrations really make the story. It's all in that Chester's face and body language. His giant body with skinny little arms. The angry look of ultimate defeat on his face, "I lose, you win. Grreat!" In fact, his face sort of reminds me of the boss on Parks & Rec. You know the guy with the mustache who is SO GOOD that you look at him for 2 secs and you're totally in?
Alas, I digress. Of course, the story ends happily ever after, but there's great drama till then. Plus, you will use a million different voices to say, "Have You Seen Chester?" Now this one we got at the thrift store...recycle, reuse! Well, actually, I'm just cheap. But, I washed it.
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