The Mercy Watson Collection, Volume 1

Mercy is no ordinary pig. She is the "porcine wonder" who delights in hot buttered toast and can do no wrong in the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Watson. And serendipity is also on Mercy's side--whether it be as the bed crashes through the second floor or the convertible travels a mite too fast. Ron McLarty takes this beginning chapter book to soaring heights. His tone and inflection bring life to the simplest of sentences and unlock the wonders of nuance for the listener. His pacing validates each character and action. Laugh as the police officer has a conversation with himself and as Baby Lincoln takes the sails right out of her sister's proclamation. It's a pleasure to sit down at the Watsons' table! A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

September 1, 2006
K-Gr 2 -Kate DiCamillo, the Newbery award-winning author best known for her novels for older children, has recently written short chapter books for the younger crowd starring a lively pig named Mercy Watson. Mercy lives in the house with her doting owners who treat her like their own child, singing her lullabies and making sure she is adequately supplied with her favorite food -buttered toast. The sisters who live next door are split on whether Mercy is a good or a bad neighbor (rather like the Wilsons and Dennis the Menace.) In "Mercy Watson to the Rescue" (Candlewick, 2005), Mercy goes for help and saves her family when their bed fall through a hole, more from accident than intent. Mercy indulges herself in "Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride" (Candlewick, 2006) as she takes the wheel of the car and tries a little driving, much to the surprise of a local police officer. The stories, ably performed by Ron McLarty, stand on their own without need of background music or sound effects. Each tale is gently humorous, and children will grin at Mercy -s adventures, and then probably head to the kitchen for their own well-buttered toast. -"Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.