Mercy Watson to the Rescue

From the one and only Kate DiCamillo comes an irresistible new hero for early chapter book readers, brightly captured with comic nostalgic flair by Chris Van Dusen.

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash — "to alert the fire department," her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind — like a sudden craving for their neighbors' sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson — an ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that's destined to be a classic.

Child Magazine

For kids feeling a wee bit big for picture books, this first title in a new chapter-book series is a perfect fit. With a beguiling blend of slapstick and whimsy, DiCamillo (author of The Tale of Despereaux and Because of Winn-Dixie) introduces readers to Mercy Watson, a coddled pet pig or, rather, a "porcine wonder" who favors hot buttered toast and sleeping with owners Mr. and Mrs. Watson. (Van Dusen's amusing pictures add to the merriment.) Then tragedy strikes when Mercy's weight causes the family bed to start sinking through the floor. What ever will Mercy do? (ages 6 to 8)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2005