Review - Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Mercy Watson #4)
by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Date: 2007
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 80
Format: e-book
Source: library

When the Watsons decide to zip their porcine wonder into a formfitting princess dress for Halloween —complete with tiara — they are certain that Mercy will be beautiful beyond compare. Mercy is equally certain she likes the sound of trick-or-treating and can picture piles of buttered toast already. As for the Lincoln sisters next door, how could they know that their cat would lead them all on a Halloween “parade” of hysterical proportions? Kate DiCamillo’s delightful pig is back in a tale full of treats, tricky turns, hijinks, and high humor.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sadly, I think this is my least favourite of all the Mercy Watson books. It relies much more heavily on the pictures than on the story, which contains a lot of repetition, especially during the chase. The plot is basically that Mercy and the Watsons go trick-or-treating and Mercy chases Eugenia's cat, General Washington, up a tree.

The pictures are awfully cute, and I love how Stella herself is dressed up as a pig. It's also rather amusing when she runs off and her brother, Frank, shouts her name, à la A Streetcar Named Desire. Mostly, though, I'm kind of disappointed at how thin the story is. It's fun watching Mrs. Watson try to put a costume on a pig (Mercy only agrees because she thinks the resulting treat will be toast with a great deal of butter on it), and the return of the firemen Ned and Lorenzo is amusing. I guess I just wish there had been a little more story than the usual "cat stuck in a tree" trope.

As part of the series, this book works fine. But if someone were to read it on its own, they'd probably be underwhelmed.

Quotable moment:

"Well," said Stella, "I guess the parade is over."

"Nothing is over!" Eugenia Lincoln shouted.

She stared up into the branches of the tree.

"General Washington," said Eugenia, "come down here immediately."

"Moowwll," said General Washington.

"General Washington," said Eugenia, "I will not take 'no' for an answer."

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.63 out of 5

Review - Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes

Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes (Mercy Watson #6)
by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Date: 2009
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 96
Format: e-book
Source: library

Some may find it wonky to take a pig to the drive-in. But not the Watsons, who think the movie’s title, When Pigs Fly, is inspirational. And not their beloved Mercy, who is inspired by the scent of real butter from the theater’s Bottomless Buckets of popcorn. As they pull up in their convertible, Mercy lifts up her snout and becomes a pig on a mission, leading a delirious chase that’s trailed by hapless rescuers reunited from Mercy’s earlier adventures.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm kind of sad that this is the last Mercy Watson book. I still need to read #4 (hurry up, library!) and there's the spin-off series to finish, but I'm going to miss reading about this porcine wonder and her wonky adventures.

In this tale, the Watsons decide to go to the drive-in to see a movie called When Pigs Fly. They take the Lincoln sisters, as well as Stella and Frank (who I'm assuming were introduced in Book 4). Officer Tomilello and Francine Poulet are also at the drive-in, along with Leroy Ninker, and eventually the firemen Lorenzo and Ned show up, too... so it's a big reunion of all the characters of the series. Mercy ends up using the drive-in as a buttered-popcorn buffet, and everyone ends up chasing her. Of course, Mercy loves a chase...

For some reason, I found the dialogue a little clunky in spots, especially with Francine Poulet's date, Alfred P. Tomkins. It almost seemed comma-splicey to me. Other than that, though, this book had the same sort of style as the others, with plenty of new words to keep kids stimulated (e.g., Leroy Ninker singing the praises of real butter on the popcorn: "Yippie-i-oh! There's nothing faux.").

I'm so glad I read this series. I'll read Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise at some point in the future. I wouldn't miss it! I just wish these books--along with the Bink & Gollie series by the same author--had been around when I needed early-reader chapter books. I know I would've gobbled these all up... like hot toast with a great deal of butter on it!

Quotable moment:

Mercy discovered that there was hot buttered popcorn everywhere.

Every car had big buckets of popcorn!

Every car had open windows!

The popcorn was buttery.

The popcorn was crunchy.

The popcorn was delicious.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig

Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig (Mercy Watson #5)
by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Date: 2008
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 80
Format: e-book
Source: library

Can Mercy Watson outwit . . . Animal Control? The porcine wonder’s on the lam in her latest tongue-in-snout adventure! Eugenia and Baby Lincoln may live next door to a pig, but that doesn’t stop them from living a gracious life. And the amiable Mercy Watson is equally determined to follow the delightful scent (and delicious taste) of the pansies her thoughtful neighbors are planting to beautify their yard. "Where have all the flowers gone?" shouts Eugenia, who is finally ready to take extreme measures—and dial Animal Control! Has Mercy’s swine song come at last? Or will her well-pampered instincts keep her in buttered toast?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read this book out of order, since I'm on a wait list for Book 4 at the library. I figured it would be fine to skip one, since each book seems to stand well enough on its own. That was the case here, although I suspect that the neighbour kids, Stella and Frank, were introduced in the book I skipped. No matter. This was still a fun story about the lovable porcine wonder.

One day, while the Watsons are enjoying lemonade in their backyard, the Lincoln sisters are busy planting pansies. Mercy smells them and goes in search of the wonderful scent. Of course, she then eats all the flowers, which is the last straw for Eugenia Lincoln, who calls Animal Control. Francine Poulet sets out to capture a pig, though she's never had to deal with a pig before. So she decides to think like one. (I'm not sure how leaping over hedges and climbing trees is thinking like a pig, but that's part of what makes it so amusing.) She eventually finds Mercy at a disappointing tea party (all the food is imaginary!) and of course the story ends happily with everybody enjoying some hot buttered toast.

As usual, the illustrations are great, and the word choices are stimulating. At one point, the Watsons are running around worrying about "an Unmentionable Horror", thanks to Baby Lincoln's vague warning. (I love how they didn't even stop to clarify what she was talking about, but just ran off in a panic.)

These books are so much fun. While it would've been nice to read them all in order, it's not strictly necessary. Each story stands well on its own.

Quotable moment:

"BABY!" screamed Eugenia.

"Yes, Sister?" said Baby.

"Where have all the flowers gone?" shouted Eugenia.

"Oh, dear," said Baby. "They were here just a minute ago."

Mercy came around the corner.

There was a spring in her step.

There were pansy petals on her chin.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Mercy Watson Fights Crime

Mercy Watson Fights Crime (Mercy Watson #3)
by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Date: 2006
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 80
Format: e-book
Source: library

Leroy Ninker is a small man with a big dream: he wants to be a cowboy, but for now he’s just a thief. In fact, Leroy is robbing the Watsons’ kitchen right this minute! But little does he know that a certain pig who loves toast with a great deal of butter is stirring from sleep. Even less could he guess that a comedy of errors will soon lead this little man on the wild and raucous rodeo ride he’s always dreamed of! Nosy neighbors, astonished firemen, a puzzled policeman, and the ever-doting Watsons return for a hilarious adventure.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is another fun story about Mercy Watson the pig. It seemed more like the first book (which I liked) in that Mercy is very much a pig with few human attributes or motivations (I wasn't a huge fan of Mercy wanting to drive the car in the last book; that seemed a little too human). In this story, as in the first book, Mercy ends up saving the day simply by being herself.

One night, after she's been tucked into bed, she hears a noise in the kitchen. In her simple little mind, noise in the kitchen means someone's making food. So she goes downstairs to investigate and stumbles across Leroy Ninker, who's trying to steal the toaster. After Mercy realizes nobody's actually making toast, she gets bored and falls asleep, blocking the thief's exit. As he tries to surmount this obstacle, the rest of the book is set in motion and Mercy ends up inadvertently thwarting the robbery.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about Leroy in this book. I first read about him in Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, which comes later in the chronology of these books. At that point, he was already a reformed thief. I'm a little uncomfortable with him being a cute and lovable thief, because I think it runs the risk of glamourizing breaking the law. (However, it's kind of hard to take him that seriously as a burglar, since all he ended up doing was stealing a few kitchen items and then riding the pig around the backyard while imagining himself a real cowboy.)

I enjoyed this installment marginally more than the last one, since it goes back to Mercy doing her thing simply by being a pig. As usual, the writing and illustrations are great. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next book, Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise.

Quotable moment:

"That pig is disturbing the peace," said Eugenia. "And so is the cowboy riding her. I am calling the police."

"Oh, Sister," said Baby, "are you sure it's not a dream?"

"It's a nightmare," said Eugenia. "That is what it is."

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (Mercy Watson #2)
by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Date: 2006
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 80
Format: e-book
Source: library

Mercy loves nothing more than a ride in the convertible, with the wind tickling her ears and the sun on her snout. But one day the Watsons’ 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!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I would've read this one sooner, but I had to wait for it from the library. These books are obviously quite popular, as there's a wait list for all of them.

This is the second book in the Mercy Watson series, and the third book I've read that takes place in this world. As usual, Kate DiCamillo gives readers an entertaining story about the porcine wonder, Mercy Watson. In this installment, Mr. Watson takes Mercy out for their usual Saturday drive in his pink convertible. But the day turns out to be anything but usual. Baby Lincoln, one of the Watsons' elderly neighbours, has stowed away in the backseat, and Mr. Watson gets distracted just long enough for Mercy to jump onto his lap and take control of the car. What follows is a police chase, a near-death experience for the porcine wonder, and plenty of buttered toast. Of course.

I wasn't quite as enamoured with this book as I was with the first one. It's still strong, and I did like how safety is emphasized (when Baby Lincoln and Mr. Watson are trying to stop the car, they make a point of always making sure their seat belts are buckled). DiCamillo's great use of vocabulary words is on display here ("careened" and "caromed" are unusual words to see in a children's book), and the illustrations by Chris Van Dusen are as charming as ever. However, I just didn't feel as much magic as I did with the first book, or as I did with Leroy Ninker Saddles Up. It's still a strong book for beginning readers, but the story is a little bit short.

Quotable moment:

"Laws have been broken," said Officer Tomilello.
"Pig!" shouted Eugenia.
"Excuse me?" said Officer Tomilello.
"It's all that pig's fault," said Eugenia.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.75 out of 5

Review - Mercy Watson to the Rescue

Mercy Watson to the Rescue (Mercy Watson #1)
by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Date: 2005
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 80
Format: e-book
Source: library

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she’s a porcine wonder. And to the 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!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

After loving some of Kate DiCamillo's middle grade novels (as well as the wonderful Bink & Gollie series for kids), I thought I'd give this series a try. I'm not really big on anthropomorphized animals, especially if they talk. But I didn't have to worry about that here. Aside from a few human traits, Mercy is very much a pig. She does end up saving the day, but totally unintentionally; her mind is more on her stomach and playtime than it is on being a hero.

The pictures are really cute, almost with a quaint 1950s feel to them. There are plenty of them, too, breaking up the text into easy-to-read chunks. It shouldn't take an older reader too long to get through these books, but they'll be just the right length for beginning readers. I would've loved to have this series around when I was a kid.

If you can suspend disbelief around the basic premise (that of a couple who are raising a pig as their child) and just go with it, you'll probably find a lot to enjoy here. This would be a great book to read aloud, as well as a suitable book for kids who are just getting into reading chapter books themselves.

Quotable moment:

Eugenia ran toward Mercy.
Mercy's heart beat faster.
There was going to be a chase!
Mercy loved a chase.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.25 out of 5