Cover of Chester

Chester

by Mélanie Watt · Grades K–3 · Realistic Fiction

Chester by Mélanie Watt is on US reading lists at grades k–3. It appears on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists, across 3 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 5–8 · Grades K–3 · 33 pages. The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9781554531400). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 3 states

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book AwardVirginia Readers' ChoiceMountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania)

This page shows where Chester is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades K–3
Age range
Ages 5–8
Pages
33
Reading time
about 35 minutes (est.)
First published
2010
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9781554531400

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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More like this

Same grade band, chosen by theme and by how many reading lists carry them. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (3)
On award reading lists
Catalog record
First published 2010 · 33 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Chester→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades k–3. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on cats; cited on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists.

Themes

cats

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Chester?
Chester is listed for grades K–3. It appears on 3 state book-award lists across 3 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Chester?
It takes about 35 minutes to read Chester (33 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 35 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Chester?
Chester appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania), Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Chester banned in schools?
Chester does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally. See the banned books list by state.
What themes does Chester explore?
Central themes in Chester include cats.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades K–3 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 3 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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