Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

by Kate DiCamillo

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763623326
• ISBN13: 9780763623326
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.6" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 5 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

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

A cheerful book with eye-opening illustrations

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