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Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise

Part of Mercy Watson

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Paperback
$6.99 US
6.44"W x 8.25"H x 0.27"D   | 8 oz | 60 per carton
On sale Jun 04, 2010 | 80 Pages | 978-0-7636-4951-7
Age 5-8 years | Grades K-3
Reading Level: Lexile 510L | Fountas & Pinnell L
"Halloween was made for carefree Mercy Watson." — School Library Journal

When the Watsons decide to zip their porcine wonder into a formfitting princess dress for Halloween — complete with tiara — they are certain that Mercy will be beautiful beyond compare. Mercy is equally certain she likes the sound of trick-or-treating and can picture piles of buttered toast already. As for the Lincoln Sisters next door, how could they know that their cat would lead them all on a Halloween "parade" of hysterical proportions? Kate DiCamillo’s beguiling pig is back in a tale full of treats, tricky turns, hijinks, and high humor.
As always, the Watsons' enthusiasm for their porcine marvel is both hysterical and heartwarming. There is something reassuring about the way they regard Mercy: She is beautiful. She is wonderful. She is adored. Which actually sums up the way I feel about Kate DiCamillo’s series.
—Kidsreads.com

Kate DiCamillo's porcine heroine returns…once again all's well that ends with buttered toast.
—Publishers Weekly

The humorous tone and simple sentences will appeal to young readers, as will Chris Van Dusen’s energetic gouache paintings.
—Washington Parent

How can you go wrong with a pig in a pink tutu and tiara?
—San Francisco Chronicle

There’s a lot of silly fun in store for readers.
—Journal Inquirer

Learning-to-read kids will appreciate Chris Van Dusen’s dynamic illustrations that are interspersed throughout the text.
—Associated Press

The brilliantly colored illustrations by Chris Van Dusen pack a comical punch.
—Scripps-Howard

The hilarious colored paintings, packed with action and emotion, add momentum to the pandemonium in this perfect beginning chapter book for second-graders.
—Chicago Sun-Times

An irresistible reading romp with lightning-fast action and sparkling slapstick illustrations.
—Curriculum Connection
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." View titles by Kate DiCamillo
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. View titles by Chris Van Dusen

About

"Halloween was made for carefree Mercy Watson." — School Library Journal

When the Watsons decide to zip their porcine wonder into a formfitting princess dress for Halloween — complete with tiara — they are certain that Mercy will be beautiful beyond compare. Mercy is equally certain she likes the sound of trick-or-treating and can picture piles of buttered toast already. As for the Lincoln Sisters next door, how could they know that their cat would lead them all on a Halloween "parade" of hysterical proportions? Kate DiCamillo’s beguiling pig is back in a tale full of treats, tricky turns, hijinks, and high humor.

Praise

As always, the Watsons' enthusiasm for their porcine marvel is both hysterical and heartwarming. There is something reassuring about the way they regard Mercy: She is beautiful. She is wonderful. She is adored. Which actually sums up the way I feel about Kate DiCamillo’s series.
—Kidsreads.com

Kate DiCamillo's porcine heroine returns…once again all's well that ends with buttered toast.
—Publishers Weekly

The humorous tone and simple sentences will appeal to young readers, as will Chris Van Dusen’s energetic gouache paintings.
—Washington Parent

How can you go wrong with a pig in a pink tutu and tiara?
—San Francisco Chronicle

There’s a lot of silly fun in store for readers.
—Journal Inquirer

Learning-to-read kids will appreciate Chris Van Dusen’s dynamic illustrations that are interspersed throughout the text.
—Associated Press

The brilliantly colored illustrations by Chris Van Dusen pack a comical punch.
—Scripps-Howard

The hilarious colored paintings, packed with action and emotion, add momentum to the pandemonium in this perfect beginning chapter book for second-graders.
—Chicago Sun-Times

An irresistible reading romp with lightning-fast action and sparkling slapstick illustrations.
—Curriculum Connection

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." View titles by Kate DiCamillo
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. View titles by Chris Van Dusen