Mercy Watson goes for a ride

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Title:

Mercy Watson goes for a ride

Author:

DiCamillo, Kate, author.

Van Dusen, Chris, illustrator.

Series:

Mercy Watson ;

Series Number:

Summary:

Mr. Watson's usual Saturday drive in his Cadillac with his favorite pig, Mercy, turns into an adventure when an unexpected passenger shows up in the back seat and Mercy finds herself behind the wheel.

Edition:

1st ed.

Physical Description:

72 p. : col. ill. ; 22 cm.

Genre:

Humorous fiction.

Subject Term:

Watson, Mercy (Fictitious character) -- Juvenile fiction.

Swine -- Juvenile fiction.

Automobile driving -- Fiction.

Author(s):

Van Dusen, Chris,

Publisher:

Candlewick Press,

Electronic Access:

Contributor biographical information
Publisher description

Publication Date:

2006

ISBN:

9780763623326

Publication Information:

Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2006.

Call Number:

J DICAMILLO

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607002550922	Juvenile Fiction	DICAMILLO	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

The amiable Mercy Watson takes an automobile ride she'll never forget in the second tale of an ebullient first chapter-book series by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen.

Mr. and Mrs. Watson's porcine wonder, Mercy, loves nothing more than a ride in the car. It takes a fair amount of nudging and bribing and a "You are such a good sport, darling" to get the portly pig out of the driver's seat, but once the convertible is on the road, Mercy loves the feel of the wind tickling her ears and the sun on her snout. One day the Watsons' motoring ritual takes an unexpected turn, however, when their elderly neighbor Baby Lincoln pops up in the backseat in hopes of some "folly and adventure" -- and in the chaos that ensues, an exuberant Mercy ends up behind the wheel! Soon there's a policeman on her tail, a struggle for the brake, and a blissfully airborne Mercy. Of course, it's nothing that an extra helping of buttered toast can't fix!

Author Notes

Kate DiCamillo is the author of the first story about Mercy Watson, Mercy Watson to the Rescue . She is also the author of The Tale of Despereaux , which received the Newbery Medal; Because of Winn-Dixie , which received a Newbery Honor; The Tiger Rising , which was named a National Book Award Finalist, and the new middle-grade novel The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane .

Chris Van Dusen is an author and illustrator of several picture books. He lives in Maine, USA.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 3-Another action-packed escapade staring the "porcine wonder." Every weekend, when Mr. Watson takes his pig for a ride in his pink convertible, Mercy must be cajoled out of the driver's seat with the promise of a tasty treat upon their return. One Saturday, their elderly neighbor, Baby Lincoln, stows away in the backseat. Man and pig speed happily along until Baby reveals her presence. Surprised, Mr. Watson takes his eyes off the road, and Mercy seizes her chance, jumps into his lap, and grabs the wheel. The vehicle zooms along, pursued by a police car. With Mr. Watson unable to reach the brake, it takes some heroics from Baby to save the day. Back at the house, the ever-serene Mrs. Watson manages to mollify everyone-including Baby's crotchety sister and the angry policeman-with a stack of hot buttered toast. Written with simple vocabulary and lots of repetition, the quick-paced narrative flows gracefully and is packed with amusing moments. The glossy, full-color gouache paintings provide visual clues to support the text and add greatly to the humor. The characters' facial expressions are laugh-out-loud funny, and the idealized 1950s setting strikes just the right tone of innocence. A fresh, fun-filled must-have for those looking to spiff up beginning-chapter-book collections.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

The buttered-toast-loving porker is back in the paper-over-board Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Chris Van Dusen. When Mr. Watson takes Mercy for their customary Saturday drive, a surprise in the back seat takes them for a turn. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved