CHILDRENS LITERATURE EVALUATION SHEET (EDU 206 Dr.

. Baer) Evaluator: Sarah Sell Title of Book: Chesters Way Author: Kevin Henkes Publishers Recommended Age Level: No Recommendation Language Development: The language age for Chesters Way is Preschool- Kindergarten, approximately ages five to six. Children have mastered more complex language as well as the usage of pronouns, verbs, present and past tense. Chesters Way is a descriptive story with much action set in the past. Therefore, students will be able to understand passages such as Chester wouldnt play baseball unless Wilson played, and they never swung at the first pitch or slid head first (8). Also the story is relatable and realistic so it would be beneficial for students to act out part of the story considering children ages five and six enjoy dramatic play. One humorous scene to act out would be when Lilly jumps out from behind the bushes disguised as a cat to scare away Chester and Wilsons bullies. Social Development: Ages three to four are the optimal ages of social development for Chesters Way. Three and four year olds enjoy playing together, and participating in group activities. Chester, Wilson, and Lilly. Lilly, Wilson, and Chester. Thats the way it was (31) summarizes the bond the three formed as they played together in the different seasons, taught each other new things, and held special events with one another such as picnics and Halloween. Togetherness and friendship is a very important element of Chesters Way. Also, three and four year olds become particularly aware of other emotions. To ask a three or four year old how they would feel if they were Lilly when the boys constantly made excuses so as not to play with her would be a good exercise for children. Another great way of identifying reactions is interpreting Wilsons and Chesters initial reactions to Lilly in a passes such as this: If Lilly was walking on the other side of the street, Chester and Wilson walked to the other side. shes something else, said Chester. sure looks like it, said Wilson (19). Cognitive Development: The cognitive age of this book I would say is early elementary, ages six to eight but primarily the younger ages. In the early elementary years children enjoy reading easy books and Chesters Way used simple language and short sentences so that children can better comprehend what they read. Also as I mentioned earlier that I would classify this book for children in the lower of the early elementary years, children under the age of seven still base rules on immediate perception and learn through real situations. One way to combat this characteristic is to make students aware of and discuss relationships and information. In Chesters Way, friendship is a key lesson and the way in which the mice display friendship is information to be discussed. In spring, Chester and Wilson and Lilly shared the same umbrella. In winter they never throw snowballs at each other. In fall, they raked leaves together. And in summer, they reminded each other to wear sun screen so they wouldnt burn. Finally, becoming friends with someone you normally wouldnt due to differences in a real situation, therefore, Chesters Way could well be a highly relatable book to many students assisting in their comprehension of the story.

Personality development: The appropriate personality age of this book would have to be ages five and six. Five and six year olds are usually outgoing and friendly, so a story about positive relationships and friendships are understandable and necessary. In analyzing either Chester and Wilsons relationship in the beginning or Lilly, and Chester and Wilsons friendship in the end due to Lillys persisting efforts to be genuine and kind covey an essential message to this age group. Student will see the former in passages such as Chesters best friend was exactly the same way. Thats why they were best friends (8), and the later in Lillys mothers remark about the three towards the end Some days I cant tell those three apart (28). In addition to the significance of friendly stories in this age group, five and six year old require secure, warm relationships. Wilson and Chester had one another and when Lilly moved in, she was merely just looking for friends too. Therefore, in scaring the other boys away that were harassing Chester and Wilson, she proved herself to be a secure friend in looking out for them. Lilly also demonstrates selflessness and genuineness when she swallows three watermelon seeds for each of them. When Chester and Wilson told Lilly about how they had each swallowed a watermelon seed once, she swallowed three of them. Ill grow a watermelon plant for each of us, she said (29). Chesters Way is really the perfect story for developing young personalities. Brief Plot Summary: Chester and Wilson are best friends and are identical in their interests and behaviors. They are inseparable until Lilly moves into town. Lilly is eccentric and spontaneous, almost the exact opposite of Chester and Wilson. However, Lilly strives to be their friend despite their grave differences and Chester and Wilsons continual avoidance of her. One day when Chester and Wilson are being bullied by some older mice, Lilly rescues them by squirting the other boys with a squirt gun. From then on, Lilly, Chester, and Wilson find that they have more in common than they thought and become best friends. They teach each other new things and quickly become a timeless trio. Evaluators assessment: Chesters Way is a classic in teaching children lesson about friendships and kindness. I recall reading this book as a child, and its heartwarming tone and captivating content make it a book that you pick up again and again. It teaches some valuable lessons about friendships in an age appropriate manner and is interesting to young readers as it has some opportunities for problem solving and prediction making. Evaluators Recommended Age Level: 5-6 Evaluators Overall Rating: 9