Sometimes you don't truly understand a character until you know what she loves above all else.'Ĭhris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. As I listened to her, I could see Mercy nodding in emphatic agreement. One day, my friend Alison was going on and on and on about the many virtues of toast.

She says, 'Mercy Watson had been in my head for a long time, but I couldn't figure out how to tell her story. With its straightforward story line, repeated text and hilarious illustrations, this new series should delight young readers.Īn ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that’s destined to be a classic.Ī beguiling blend of slapstick and whimsy.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. Family Magazine Best Books of the YearĭiCamillo's tightly woven, outlandish story shows she's a pro at making readers laugh. Watson live in a charmingly retro world with their adorable pet pig. Short and peppy chapters for reading or read-alouds. This fast-paced tale features a pig named Mercy, a problem neighbor, and piles of buttered toast. Mercy Watson, a disarmingly charming pig adopted by a loving human family, makes her debut in this new series of chapter books for beginning readers.ĭiCamillo's suspenseful yarn keeps readers turning the page, while the retro-folksy illustrations by Chris Van Dusen go for laughs and make for a gentle transition from picture books.Īll heck breaks loose in this affectionate screwball take on bringing up baby. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, The Van Dusen's boldly hued, tactically hyperbolic gouache paintings tap into the narrative's wry humor and joie de vivre.Īppropriate as both a picture book and a beginning reader, this joyful story combines familiar elements with a raucous telling that lets readers in on the joke.ĭiCamillo employs enough creative word choices to elevate the story beyond the controlled vocabulary of a first reader, yet the short chapters, large font, double spacing, and easygoing narrative make it approachable for transitional readers.

Mercy watson chapter books