By: Kate Dicamillo Publisher: Candlewick Press Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Candlewick Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 80 Publication Date: May 09, 2006 Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Release Date: May 09, 2006
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!
Jennifer Flamingo's Review This is the story about Mercy (a pig), Mrs. Watson, Mr. Watson, Baby Lincoln, Eugenia Lincoln, and a Police Officer. In the beginning of the story we learned that Mercy wants to drive. Mr. Watson and Mercy go for a ride every Saturday in Mr. Watson's pink convertible. Every Saturday Mercy wants to drive the car but Mr. Watson says no. Mr. Watson gets distracted and Mercy jumps on Mr. Watson's lap. Mr. Watson is not happy that Mercy is driving but there is nothing that he can do. A police officer sees them speeding down the street with Mercy driving and tries to pull them over. They stop and Mercy goes flying out of the car. They call end up going back to the house and have a big stack of buttered toast. I like this story becuase the illustrations were bright and colorful and explained the story. This story is like Cinderella. Both Eugenia and the witch are ugly and mean and don't want anyone to be happy.
Great alternative to chapter series books The large type, heavier page stock and vintage illustrations make this a great quality book physically. Everyone in my college lit class fell in love with it. Books #2 and #3 are definately better than book #1. I am awaiting book #4 due out shortly. The storyline is a little jaded with it's anti-feminist "wife in the kitchen" outlook, otherwise it's simpicity and family values are great. My AP son was able to read this in kindergarten with little trouble. It is a great alternative to some of the chapter series out there that offer more "junk" than quality.
Can Kate do anything wrong? It's another hit! We love Kate Dicamillo. Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride is another hit on our list. Great story and illustrations.My kids LOVE it. With any book by Kate on your list you can't go wrong!
Wow! Catching! I actually purchased 4 sets of each of the Mercy Watson series books 1,2,3 and anxiously await till # 4 comes out. I purchased a set for each set of grandchildren, one set each for our friends grandchildren for the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays. It captured the interest of one of our grandchild who has dyslexia among other problems and he is finally, at 11 years old, beginning to read. This story was so funny and interesting that he was anxious to read to us. Mercy's adventures are hilarious and the neighbors are so funny. Also, a child can relate to the love a family gives a pet, in this case, a pig. A delightful children's story that all should read with their children. Mrs. E. Newman
Decent but not Great 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.
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