Books by
Kate DiCamillo

MERCY WATSON THINKS LIKE A PIG

GREAT JOY

MERCY WATSON:
PRINCESS IN DISGUISE

MERCY WATSON FIGHTS CRIME

MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE

THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE

MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE

THE TIGER RISING

BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

Book Club Guides

THE TIGER RISING

BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE

MERCY WATSON THINKS LIKE A PIG
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763632656
Ages 7-9
80 pages

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.

        --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

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