Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride 2

Product Description
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!

Publishers Weekly
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. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Joan Kindig, Ph.D. – Children’s Literature
Mercy Watson roars back into our lives in Kate DiCamillo’s latest installment of the ‘Mercy Watson’ chronicles. When Mr. Watson suggests their weekly ride in their pink Cadillac, Mercy hops into the driver’s seat. Willing to do anything for toast, Mercy is persuaded to let Mr. Watson drive when she is promised that by acquiescing she will receive heaps of hot buttered toast upon her return. On their outing (with Baby Lincoln stowed away in the backseat), Mercy’s urge to drive overpowers her and she takes the wheel. Driving is tougher than Mercy expected and her comeuppance assures us that Mercy will not be driving again anytime soon. The story is short and sweet and beautifully written. Any story that ends with lots of hot buttered toast is one I have to recommend. 2006, Candlewick, Ages 7 to 10.

School Library Journal
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 Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews
She’s back! Mercy, the porcine wonder, is back in all her buttered-toast eating glory. It’s Saturday, time for a ride in the pink convertible. But, does Mercy like to ride or drive? Drive! Only Mrs. Watson’s promise of extra helpings of hot buttered