Customer Reviews

Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig is the fifth book in the Mercy Watson series. I confess Chris Van Dusen's illustrations captured my attention first, but the combination of the story and the illustrations was perfect. The book itself is exactly what early chapter books should be: a combination of the familiar picture book and the soon-to-be familiar chapter book. The illustrations and font size are consistent with a picture book, but the page size and length are consistent with chapter books. Most importantly, the story and illustrations are delightful.

Mercy Watson is adorably precocious and utterly porcine. While Mercy is enjoying some fresh lemonade with her owners/parents, she smells fresh pansies and promptly wanders next door to eat them because they taste as good as they smell. Naturally, the neighbors are not pleased and call animal control. Hijinks ensue. DiCamillo mostly tells the story through simple words and phrases, but she also slips in more complex words, such as porcine, subtly. She deftly uses them in context that makes them clear to young readers. While these books are the perfect transition book from picture books to chapter books, they would also make excellent read aloud books for younger children.

My children all love Mercy Watson, the stories are fun and entertaining and the pictures are beautiful. It was so funny when my seven year old called her brother a Porcine Wonder and he had to read the book to know what his little sister was talking about. Well worth the cost of the book.

Mr. and Mrs. Watson and their porcine wonder, Mercy, are lounging out on the patio, sipping icy lemonade on a gorgeous sunny day. Meanwhile, Baby Lincoln and (Boo! Hiss!) crabby Eugenia Lincoln are about to prove that, even though they live next door to a pig, their lives are still gracious. Eugenia insists they beautify their yard by planting flowers. The long-suffering Baby begins digging away.

Mercy smells something yummy from her lounge chair. The scent pulls her into the Lincoln sisters' yard, where she discovers that the newly planted posies not only smell scrumptious, they taste fabulous as well. Of course, Mercy can't stop at just one flower. She keeps eating and eating.

When Eugenia decides to admire their gardening handiwork, she realizes that the flowers are gone and then finds Mercy with pansy petals on her chin. Eugenia chases Mercy while Baby fills the Watsons in. Mrs. Watson decides that poor Mercy is hungry, so she calls her in for a buttered toast snack.

To Baby's horror, her sister is furious. Eugenia declares that she is ready to take extreme measures. She calls Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet. And, while Mercy is sleeping off her toast gluttony and the Watsons comment contentedly on what a calm day they're enjoying, Baby Lincoln sneaks over to warn them that (gasp!) an "Unmentionable Horror" is on its way.

Meanwhile, Mercy's neighbors, Stella and Frank, lure Mercy over to a tea party by telling her that they will serve huge chunks of cake, cream puffs and cheese toast --- not to mention the éclairs, pancakes and enchiladas on the menu. Of course, Mercy can't resist, and although she must resign herself to the fact that she'll have to wear a hat, she heads over to Stella and Frank's house --- even as Francine Poulet beelines for 54 Deckawoo Drive. Along the way, Francine must fulfill her duty by picking up one lost dog after another. All the while, Francine is reiterating self-affirmations: "...you are the best Animal Control officer in the history of animal control. Nothing can stop you. Not even a pig!"

At Stella and Frank's tea party, Mercy is chagrined to learn that the promised dishes are all imaginary but the hat is not. However, she is about to be distracted from the undignified goings-on in an unforeseen and highly slapstick manner...and ultimately comforted with the expected reassuring conclusion.

As always, Mercy is a blue ribbon winner. The characters are hilarious, partly because they are so true to life. Illustrator Chris Van Dusen's pictures add to the story (Francine Poulet's license plate reads "CLUCK"; Mercy's bowl of lemonade is garnished with a slice of lemon). Young fans no doubt already find themselves craving a new Mercy story in much the same way that the porcine wonder pines for hot crunchy toast dripping with butter; MERCY WATSON THINKS LIKE A PIG will add to their hunger. Let's hope another delicious adventure is available soon.

We just love these books!!! I can read this from cover to cover in one sitting to my boys. They are entertaining and holds the kids attention. The pics are great too. All of the Mercy Watson books are great.

Bought for a private school library. The first graders love this series! The teachers like it also because the words are easy enough for the children to read themselves.

Book was well recieved, grandchild was happy would purcahse more books from this reader and through amazon everything went smooth

My son got this book as a present and I was worried he would no like it and find it too "girlie". He is 8!
He not only loved it, he asked that I get the whole collection, so I did.
He laughs out loud when he reads it.

Book is in MUCH better condition than I expected. I'm glad because I'm going to dontate it to my local library. I've been told the Mercy Watson books are very popular with young girls and I want other children - just like my granddaughter - to be able to read and enjoy them!

My daughter loves pigs and enjoys reading about Mercy's adventures. Even my other daughter will read these books without the interest in pigs. They are nicely illustrated and keeps my girls' attention to the end.

This selection was on a 6 year old's birthday wish list. She's just beginning to read - it was such fun to watch and hear her sounding out some of the words in the book. She actually laughed out loud as I read certain chapters.

I love the fact that each chapter is only a few pages long - perfect for bedtime story!