Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride [Paperback]

Kate DiCamillo (Author), Chris Van Dusen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Mercy Watson

It’s the best thing since buttered toast — Mercy Watson in paperback!

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!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Mercy the pig, who proved herself a worthy child substitute in ercy Watson to the Rescue (2005), is up to her old tricks again. This time the self-absorbed, endearingly naughty Mercy brings many a child's dream to life: she squeezes herself onto Mr. Watson's lap and commandeers his beloved 1959 pink Caddy for a joyride. Van Dusen's larger-than-life characters and retro sensibility extend the dry humor of the situation, and his shiny, rainbow-bright gouache art shoots the energy, especially Mercy's, right off the page. Great for emergent readers. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1 Reprint edition (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763645052
• ISBN-13: 978-0763645052
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.4 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pigs

More About the Author

Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Magician's Elephant, a New York Times bestseller; The Tale of Despereaux, which was awarded the Newbery Medal; Because of Winn-Dixie, a Newbery Honor book; and six books starring Mercy Watson, including the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride. She lives in Minneapolis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A cheerful book with eye-opening illustrations, May 31, 2006

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (Hardcover)

Mercy Watson is a bit stubborn, a bit spoiled, and a lot of cute. Her "parents," Mr. and Mrs. Watson, think Mercy is a "porcine" wonder (porcine: of, relating to, or suggesting swine). They adore Mercy, and every Saturday after a special lunch that includes her favorite food --- stacks and stacks of butter-oozing toast --- Mr. Watson takes Mercy for a ride in his car.

After Saturday lunch, Mr. Watson likes to drive off the calories in his gorgeous pink Cadillac, and Mercy gets to ride along even though she would rather drive herself. Every Saturday, Mercy enthusiastically hops into the driver's seat and refuses to move --- she wants to drive! Porcine wonder or not, Mr. Watson doesn't think Mercy should drive his car, but she resists all attempts to move her over to the passenger seat. With the help of Mrs. Watson and the promise of more toast when she gets home, Mercy gives in and they back out of the driveway. Mercy will do anything for her favorite food. At least she's going on an adventure, even if she doesn't get to drive. And there will be hot buttered toast waiting when she gets home! Life is GREAT!!

Things happen pretty much the same Saturday after Saturday until one sunny weekend Mercy's regular adventure turns into a big, rollicking affair involving a police car, next-door neighbor Baby Lincoln, and an unexpected tumble when someone isn't wearing a seat belt. Damage is minor, but Mercy gets the chance of a porcine wonder's lifetime when Mr. Watson is distracted while driving. Even a porcine wonder should have some driving lessons first!

MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE is book two in Kate DiCamillo's series for young readers. Illustrations by Chris Van Dusen are bright, engaging, and reminiscent of patterns and toys from the 1950s. Children's eyes will delight in the colors and distinct images on almost every page, and Van Dusen's eye for detail will give repeat readers something new to see with every pass through the book.

--- Reviewed by Joy Held

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent but not Great, November 20, 2006

By 

Wantz Upon A Time Reviews (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (Hardcover)

Mercy Watson is a "porcine wonder." She's a pig who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Watson. She has her own bed in her own room, loves buttered toast, and enjoys her Saturday routine with Mr. Watson.

Every Saturday, Mercy and Mr. Watson go for a ride in his convertible. Mercy always wants to drive, but Mr. Watson always tells her pigs can't drive. The Watsons' neighbor, Eugenia Lincoln always grumbles about the folly, and her sister, Baby Lincoln, always appreciates the folly.

When Baby sneaks into the car one week, wheeled silliness ensues, a police officer gets involved, and Mercy is in the middle of it all.

The illustrations are as fun as in MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE, and Mercy is still fixated on heavily buttered toast. While the Mercy Watson series is a cute concept, MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE falls a little short of expectations from the author of BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE. Children that are more inquisitive will be left wondering why the police officer didn't write the speeding ticket he was going to give to Mr. Watson, why Mr. Watson was taken home in a police car instead of driving home, and so on. Parents who plan to read this book to their children may find the logic issues annoying enough to make them not want to read it more than necessary.

While this isn't a brilliant read, it certainly isn't bad for young readers. This book will appeal to some kids but not others, rather than appealing to a broad audience. The illustrations are super, and I think that will be a redeeming feature for many potential readers.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
11/20/2006

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Witty Chapter Book, January 8, 2011

By 

courtney - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (Paperback)

These chapter books have been a hit with my 5-yr-old son. Witty and creative, we've found they're hard to put down.