- First published
- 1965
- Editions
- 4 editions
- Status
- In print
Chester the Worldly Pig
A pig named Chester escapes the farm and seeks fame by joining the circus, where his extraordinary ability to spell out words with his spots earns him unexpected stardom as the One and Only Worldly Pig.
"Of ALL things," grumbled Chester, "why on earth did I have to be a pig? A pig is no better off than a cabbage or a carrot, just something to eat. But before I end up as so much sausage and ham, I intend to try and amount to something."
On the original family site, his son recalled that his dad loved pigs and loved to draw them. This story also gave him an opportunity to include a bear, the circus and its animals, and a circus train: other things he loved to draw. Part of the inspiration was a map he had seen drawn on a piece of animal hide. In his autobiography, Bill said Chester reflects his past more than any of his other books. (Bill Peet, Jr.)
From the book
Preliminary sketches
