Chester the Worldly Pig

This was one of the books I grew up reading. Obviously, Bill Peet's illustrations and outlandish humour made this a hit, but I have always been drawn in by the fascinating personalities that he creates. Instead of leaving a minor character as a forgettable moment in the story, each character is interesting, strange, and a little curious. I always wanted to learn more about each of the characters. This is a must-have for any children's library.

It isn’t as fun as his better stories, but even when he’s slightly off his game, Bill Peet is a wonder. Chester the pig wants to escape the life to which he is fated, eating slops from a trough until he is fat enough to be slaughtered. He’s a plucky pig. He has the initiative and ambition and talent to teach himself to perform tricks. He runs away from the farm to seek his fortune in a circus, but his plans fail in a string of disappointments and near-disasters. He’s chased by a truly scary-looking bear, and then he’s captured and nearly eaten by some scruffy hoboes. He’s exploited, imprisoned, and laughed at by a circus. Talent unrecognized, he ends up just another pig fattening himself at a trough. Then at the end he is show more saved simply because of a pattern on his fur. Sheer luck, instead of a reward for pluck. A “happy” ending, but not a satisfactory one. The story does run through the usual Peet landmarks of trains and a dirty city. Sometimes there’s too much narrative per picture; a few more pages and illustrations would have helped. But I’ll say it again: even when he’s slightly off his game, Bill Peet is a wonder. Chester is a sympathetic, likable character, and you’re rooting for him all the way. show less

A young pig decides to seek is fortune in the circus. He develops an unlikely talent and chases a train down the tracks in hopes of being discovered. But when life in the spot light is less rosy than he imagined, Chester decides to return home to his life as a humble pig. Will this ambitious animal ever discover his true gift?

This book is about a pig who wants to do more with his life then get fat and become food for men. Chester wants to be famous. The pig goes to join the circus, but decides that he does not like it. So he runs away, and decides to do what all pigs do. Chester gets fat, and about the time he is ready to become food, a man comes by and buys him. In the end Chester finds out that the spots on his body are shaped like the world, and he becomes famous after all. I connect with this book, because I always wanted to be more than just an average person. I want to see the world, and do great things for God, and for the people of the world.
I would use this book to help teach kids about discovering, and being happy with themselves. I would also make show more copies of a pig, and continents so the kids could creat there own chester. The kids would color and label each continent as part of the lesson. show less

In this book, Chester leaves his farm because he does not want to be eaten. He tries to find a way to be something other than ham or sausage. First he tries being in a circus, then he is captured by three men after being chased by a bear. After a long journey, he returns to a farm where he proceeds to eat and eat and eat. He is discovered by Martin's Miracle Show where he is presented as the Worldly Pig because his naturally occurring spot patterns are that of a globe.

This book provides students with many chances to stop and ask questions or make predictions about what would happen next to Chester. They might stop and ask "I wonder" questions about why the man was willing to pay so much for Chester at the end of the story. They might show more also reread the story and look more closely at the illustrations to notice the patterns at the beginning of the story. Students can also make connections about the struggle of trying to be someone you are not. show less

Peet, Bill. (1978). Chester the worldly pig. Boston: Turtleback.
When I read this story, I was reminded of Wilbur in Charlotte's Web. Like Wilbur, Chester is a pig who is worried that his life will amount to nothing more than being on the dinner table. He wants to do something with his life so he runs away to join the circus. Life in the circus is not what he expected. Eventually, he decides it's time to go back to the farm and take his chances there. After he is fattened up for market, Chester's luck changes and he gets a second chance to do something with his life. Bill Peet wrote and illustrated this book. I like his drawings in which his characters show varied facial expressions. I think this allows students to relate to their own show more feelings. I especially like that he uses colored pencil as his medium- one of my favorite ways to draw. show less

Genre: Fiction
Media: ink, water color, pastels
Review: This is a great fiction book. Although Chester is a pig you feel for him and support him along his many adventures. You believe that he has a soul and a character and is a real person.