Mercy Watson, by Kate DiCamillo | Book Series Review

The Children’s Book Review | December 9, 2016

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

and

Mercy Watson To the Rescue

Written by Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Hardback Book: 80 pages each

Age Range: 5-7

Publisher: Candlewick

ISBN: 978-0763623326; 978-0763622701

What to expect: Talking animals, adventure, family, friendship

Mercy Watson is a porcine wonder – at least, that’s what her humans call her! She’s lovable and ready for adventure and an extra helping of buttery toast.

In MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE, Mercy has wheedled her way in to Mr. and Mrs. Watson’s bed in the middle of the night. She wants to be snuggled, too! But those extra helpings of buttered toast make the bed a precarious sleeping spot, and before they know it the entire bed is breaking through the floor. When Mercy runs off, Mr. and Mrs. Watson tell themselves she’s going to get help. Is she? Or did she suddenly think of the neighbor’s delicious sugar cookies?

Mercy Watson is an adorable pig who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Watson. In MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE, Mercy does what she does every Saturday. She eats a splendid lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Watson, then she goes for a ride in Mr. Watson’s fancy sports car. The Watson’s neighbors, sisters Eugenia and Baby Lincoln, are rather nosey fusspots who watch these drives with keen eyes. But today Baby Lincoln has decided that she wants in on the Saturday drive, too! So begins an outrageous high speed police chase. Thankfully, everything ends well with a special helping of extra-buttery toast at home.

The Mercy Watson series is sure to entrance little readers. The illustrations are sweet and fun and the writing is light and easy to understand. Mercy gets in to a lot of trouble, and children will adore how she seems to always wiggle her way out of it and end up with tasty treats. Highly recommended for the elementary-school set.

MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE Available Here: 

 

MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE Available Here: 

 

 

About Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo is the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, which received the Newbery Medal; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, which received a Newbery Honor; and THE TIGER RISING, which was named a National Book Award Finalist. She says, “Mercy Watson had been in my head for a long time, but I couldn’t figure out how to tell her story. One day, my friend Alison was going on and on and on about the many virtues of toast. As I listened to her, I could see Mercy nodding in emphatic agreement. Sometimes you don’t truly understand a character until you know what she loves above all else.”

About Chris Van Dusen

Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE, and IF I BUILT A CAR. He says, “When I first read Mercy Watson to the Rescue, the characters were very vivid in my mind, and they just came to life when I started painting. This is exactly the type of story I love to illustrate — a wonderfully silly adventure with lots of action.” MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE was his first book with Candlewick Press.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride, written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books likeDaisy Darling, Let’s Go to the Beach! and Daisy Darling, Let’s Read a Story! by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Chris Van Dusen, Kate DiCamillo, Mercy Watson, and Pigs.