The Ladybug Reads...: Review - Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

Saturday, January 5, 2019

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.