Mercy Watson to the Rescue - A Quick Book Summary
By Lily | Published 30 December 2022 | Book titles and covers are affiliate links
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen is an excellent source of entertainment for young readers, particularly early chapter-book readers. Spark your child's curiosity and imagination by sharing with them this quick book summary for Mercy Watson to the Rescue and encouraging them to dive into the full story.
This picture book follows the first adventure of the lovable pig, Mercy Watson, and her good-natured escapades in the world of the Watson household. The story line of Mercy Watson to the Rescue is a wonderfully silly adventure that is sure to delight readers of all ages.
The book is full of action and creative word choices, and the comic nostalgic flair that Kate DiCamillo brings to all of her timeless tales is on full display. Kids love it!
The Main Characters: Tell Me About Them
Mercy Watson: Mercy is a good-natured but curious and precocious pig who lives in the Watson home and sleeps in their bed. Mercy is described as being "as plump as a dumpling" and "as strong as an ox," but she loves nothing more than hot buttered toast. Mercy is undoubtedly the star of the show!
The Watsons: Mr. and Mrs. Watson are a loving family of pig farmers who treat Mercy like a member of their family.
The Next-Door Neighbors: Baby Lincoln and Eugenia Lincoln are the Watsons' next-door neighbors, who are initially suspicious of Mercy but eventually warm up to her.
The Plot: What is Mercy Watson About?
The story is told from the point of view of Mercy and the Watsons, giving readers a unique perspective on everyday life in the Watson household. Ultimately, the story is about the power of kindness and the importance of treating everyone with love and respect.
The story begins with Mr. and Mrs. Watson going to bed after a sudden craving for hot buttered toast. Mercy, who is sleeping in their bed, wakes up and decides to go to the kitchen to look for some toast. In the kitchen, she accidentally starts a fire and escapes through the window.
The Watsons' next-door neighbors, the Lincoln sisters, see the fire and call the fire department. The firemen arrive and put out the fire, but Mercy is still missing. The rest of the story follows the search for Mercy and her miraculous journey back to the Watson household.
Key Themes: What Lessons Can Be Learned?
· One of the key themes in Mercy Watson to the Rescue is the virtues of toast. Mercy loves hot buttered toast, and her love for it is so strong that it drives the entire story.
· The book also explores the idea of everyday life and how even the most ordinary moments can lead to great adventures and about living life to the fullest.
· Another theme is the importance of community and neighbors. The Lincoln sisters, the fire department, and the Watsons' friends all come together to help find Mercy and bring her back home.
· Additionally, the book highlights the importance of family and the idea that family is not just limited to those who are related by blood.
Why Kids (and Parents!) Will Love Mercy Watson:
Kids will love Mercy Watson to the Rescue because it is a wonderfully silly adventure that is full of action, humor, and heart. The book is illustrated in a graphic novel-style by Chris Van Dusen that is colorful and playful. The lovable pig and her good-natured escapades will capture the attention of young readers who love animals and keep them engaged throughout the entire story.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue is the type of story that parents will love reading to their children at bedtime. This fun read-aloud book is full of opportunities for sound effects and emphatic agreement (such as "Hot toast!"). The large font and graphic novel-style illustrations make it easy for young readers to follow along, and the short chapters keep the pace moving quickly.
The Mercy Watson series is perfect for children 4 to 8 years old. The books are written in a controlled vocabulary that is suitable for early chapter-book readers and transitional readers who are just starting to develop their reading skills.
Fun Facts About the Mercy Watson to the Rescue
· Mercy Watson to the Rescue was the first adventure of this New York Times best-selling porcine wonder series. The series has since grown to include six books and a graphic novel including Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride, Mercy Watson Fights Crime, and Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise.
· One of the unique features of the Mercy Watson series is its format. It is a picture book and an early chapter book hybrid, with illustrations on almost every page and short chapters that help young readers build their reading skills.
· The charming and loveable characters in the Mercy Watson series are brought to life by the vibrant colors and whimsical drawings of illustrator Chris Van Dusen who is an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books himself including "A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee" and "If I Built a House."
· The Mercy Watson books has also spawned a spin-off series called Tales from Deckawoo Drive, which features some of Mercy's neighbors and friends in their own adventures. The first book in the series is Leroy Ninker Saddles Up.
· The book was published in 2005 by Candlewick Press and helped launch Candlewick Press’s “Chicken House” imprint for early chapter books.
Book Reviews on Amazon
Delightfully fun
This book is a delightfully fun read! Children and adults alike will enjoy curling up to share this fun story. We can’t wait to read more books about Mercy, the Porcine Wonder! – Bookworm
Great for young readers
This is a perfect read for kids learning how to read. The chapters are short, and the vocabulary does not cover too many hard words. Overall it is a great book. - Sonja H.
The best books EVER, forever!
Our class just finished reading the entire Mercy Watson series. We love these books! Even though Mercy is mischievous, Mr. and Mrs. Watson love her and care for her like a kid. They sing her to sleep and feed her hot buttered toast - her favorite! The characters are very funny. New characters are introduced in each book. The colorful and detailed illustrations help us understand the story. These books are really funny and make us laugh. We would definitely recommend the Mercy Watson books to our friends and family. – Anne S.
It's a must read chapter book!
This is an amazing book to start chapter books for pre-schoolers. It is a must have. One large picture per page so it’s not a sudden move from picture books and easy to follow story line. – Amazon customer (India)
Great first chapter book!
I bought this for my three-year-old daughter, who was beginning to be interested in longer and more complicated stories. We loved this book! The illustrations and vivid and interesting, and the story is just complicated enough for her age and comprehension. She was so interested that we read the whole thing at one sitting! I also love that female characters feature prominently in this book, as I often find it difficult to find books with female protagonists (at least, ones who are not princesses or fairies...). We look forward to reading the other Mercy Watson books! – Kryptic81 (Canada)
About the Author:
Kate DiCamillo is a highly acclaimed and award-winning children's author including Mercy Watson to the Rescue which was a Newbery Honor book. She was inspired to write the series because of her daughter’s love of pigs.
DiCamillo has won two Newbery Medals for her novels "The Tale of Despereaux" and "Flora & Ulysses," as well as a Newbery Honor for "Because of Winn-Dixie." She is also the author of other timeless tales, including The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Tiger Rising, which was a National Book Award finalist.
Her books have been translated into over 40 languages and have won numerous awards and honors.
Kids will love the adventures of Mercy Watson and her friends, and parents will appreciate the controlled vocabulary and short chapters that make it accessible to new readers. Overall, Mercy Watson to the Rescue is a good book that is sure to provide children with a great experience and inspire a love for reading.