Synopses & Reviews
KATE DICAMILLO is the author of the first story about Mercy Watson, MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE. She is also the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, which received the Newbery Medal; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, which received a Newbery Honor; THE TIGER RISING, which was named a National Book Award Finalist, and the new middle-grade novel THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEYOF EDWARD TULANE. She says, "A long time ago, my best friend's son, Luke Bailey, put a toy pig in a toy car and pushed the car around the living room, screaming, 'Look, look, pig taking a ride! Pig taking a ride!' During the next few hours, this phrase was repeated with such shocking volume and intensity that it took up permanent residence in my brain. MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE is the direct product of Luke's obsession and mine, a decade or so after the fact. Look, Luke, pig taking a ride!"
CHRIS VAN DUSEN illustrated the first book in the Mercy Watson series, MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE. He is also the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR MAGEE, and IF I BUILT A CAR. He says, "I have four brothers (no sisters!), and cars were a big part of my upbringing. So when I read this story about a wild car ride, I couldn't wait to get started. I made the Watson convertible a 1959 because I love old cars with lots of chrome, fins, and style. It was also great to visit these characters again. We're becoming good friends!"
Review
"As usual, droll, understated watercolors illustrate the pair's tour of popular attractions. . . . Who knows where on earth [duck] and Dodsworth will end up next, but let's hope we find out soon."
and#8212;Horn Book
"The poetics of restraint could not be better displayed."
and#8212;Kirkus
"From the Dodsworth series, another fine, funny book for beginning readers or for reading to younger children."
and#8212;Booklist
Synopsis
To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig--she's a
Synopsis
From the one and only Kate DiCamillo comes an irresistible new hero for early chapter book readers, brightly captured with comic nostalgic flair by Chris Van Dusen.To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash — "to alert the fire department," her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind — like a sudden craving for their neighbors' sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson — an ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that's destined to be a classic.
Synopsis
Kate DiCamillo is the author of the first three stories starring Mercy Watson. She is also the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, which won the Newbery Medal; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, which received a Newbery Honor; THE TIGER RISING, a National Book Award Finalist; and THE MIRACULOUS JOUNREY OF EDWARD TULANE, winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in Minneapolis.
Chris Van Dusen has illustrated all the books in the Mercy Watson series. He is also the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE, and IF I BUILT A CAR. He lives in Camden, Maine.
Synopsis
'\'Mercy Watson Princess in Disguise, 6 copies,\''
Synopsis
Dodsworth and his misbehaving duck paland#160;visitand#160;Tokyo on theand#160;fifth stop in the Dodsworth series, where Tim Egan's sharp wit and playful illustrations make this a trip to remember. Will duck ever learn to mind his manners? Or will Dodsworth have to say sayonara to the duck before the trip is through?
Synopsis
With trips to New York, Paris, London, and Rome under their belts, Dodsworth and the duck head for Japan: and#8220;The plane glided over Mount Fuji. Tokyo sparkled in the distance. Dodsworth was a little nervous.and#8221; Dodsworth has good reason to be nervousand#8212;the duck bumps into a rickshaw, falls into a koi pond (he canand#8217;t swim), and knocks over a tray of wagashi! Readers will love the slapstick humor and the odd-couple friendship between Dodsworth and the duck. Four engaging chapters of short sentences, clean design, and gem-like little paintings of the Land of the Rising Sun make it easy for early readers to enjoy the journey.
Synopsis
Everyone's favorite classroom pet is now starring in chapter books!
Humphrey has had lots of adventures as the classroom pet of Room 26, but never one like this. He is going on a campout in the backyard with Heidi and her friends! Theres stargazing, roasting marshmallows, searching for creepy-crawliesand then there are the prank-loving boys next door, who want to prove that the girls are scaredy-cats.
Humphrey doesnt think girls are scaredy-cats. He doesnt think girls are like cats at all. Can this VERY-VERY-VERY small hamster show them with a hairy-scary trick of his own?
With sweet illustrations and an easy reading level, Humphreys Tiny Tales are hamster-iffic for emerging readers.
About the Author
Kate DiCamillo is the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, which received the Newbery Medal; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, which received a Newbery Honor; and THE TIGER RISING, which was named a National Book Award Finalist. She says, "Mercy Watson had been in my head for a long time, but I couldn't figure out how to tell her story. One day, my friend Alison was going on and on and on about the many virtues of toast. As I listened to her, I could see Mercy nodding in emphatic agreement. Sometimes you don't truly understand a character until you know what she loves above all else."
Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE, and IF I BUILT A CAR. He says, "When I first read Mercy Watson to the Rescue, the characters were very vivid in my mind, and they just came to life when I started painting. This is exactly the type of story I love to illustrate — a wonderfully silly adventure with lots of action." This is his first book with Candlewick Press.