Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Mercy Watson Series #4)

by Kate DiCamillo, Chris Van Dusen (Illustrator)

Overview

A Wall Street Journal 20 Best Children’s Books of the Past 20 Years Selection

Can visions of treats entice a porcine wonder to wear her princess costume? Hold on for some Halloween havoc, Mercy Watson-style!

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763630140
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	07/10/2007
Series:	Mercy Watson Series , #4
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	6.63(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.51(d)
Lexile:	510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kate DiCamillo is the beloved author of many books for young readers, including the Orris and Timble, Mercy Watson, and Tales from Mercy Watson’s Deckawoo Drive series. Her books Flora & Ulysses and The Tale of Despereaux both received Newbery Medals. A former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, she lives in Minneapolis.

Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of many books for young readers, including The Circus Ship and Big Truck, Little Island, and the illustrator of the Mercy Watson and Deckawoo Drive series. He lives in Maine.

Hometown:

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date of Birth:

March 25, 1964

Place of Birth:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Education:

B.A. in English, University of Florida at Gainesville, 1987

Editorial Reviews

Everyone's porcine wonder is back, and just in time for Halloween. Mrs. Watson knows just what Mercy should be for the holiday-a tiara-and-pink-tulle-clad princess. Mercy is dubious, especially after struggling with her dress, until the word "treats" is mentioned. Toast with a great deal of butter is her favorite treat, and that thought is enough to keep our little porker in the game. Following the formula perfected in the earlier titles, the hilarity is found more in the super-saturated illustrations than in the words. Whether Mercy is flying after a terrified cat or snuffling for butter candy, the illustrations are energetic and the sly wit is infectious. One quibble: Because of the placement of spot art, some of the nighttime images show a blue-black darkness and others look like broad daylight. No matter, though-young readers will clamor for more adventures with this irrepressible retro pig and her lovable family. (Fiction. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

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

From the Publisher