McGovern, Cammie.
CHESTER AND GUS
New York : HarperCollins, 2017.
IL 3-6, RL 4.3
ISBN: 978-0062330697

(3 booktalks)

Booktalk #1

This inspiring and gripping novel is about the remarkable bond between Chester, a service dog, and ‘his person,’ Gus. Chester is a Labrador retriever who flunked service dog school. Gus is an autistic boy who seems to understand what’s going on around him, but who doesn’t speak, and retreats from people for no apparent reason. Chester and Gus is the story about how these two are brought together. Chester narrates the story, which gives a wonderfully realistic picture of autism and the challenges and triumphs faced by sufferers and their families.  (Vermont DCF Award nominee, 2018-2019)

Booktalk #2

Chester is training to be a service dog and find a best friend for life. However, Chester becomes frightened and hides when a loud noise occurs. Now he is not eligible to graduate from the program. Penny, his trainer, is devastated for him. She decides to place Chester with a family with an autistic boy named Gus. Will Chester be able to figure out his new friend and find his place in his new home? Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award 2018-2019

Booktlak #3

Do you love a good dog book? Bark, bark! Doesn't everyone? My name is Chester. I'm the dog in this story. I really wanted to become a service dog, just like my mom but that didn't work out. Now, a nice family wants to adopt me to help their son, Gus. Gus is autistic. I'm not sure what that means exactly, but I'm willing to learn and try to help him. Unfortunately, Gus doesn't seem to like me much and I'm not sure how much help I can be to him when he doesn't want me around. What's a dog to do? Read Chester and Gus to find out if we become a dynamic duo. (Prepared by: Cynthia Symonds, Round Top Elementary School, csymonds@richland2.org for South Carolina Book Award)