Welcome to Deckawoo Drive, home of Mr. and Mrs. Watson and their dear, their darling … Mercy the pig! The Mercy Watson series will take you on one “oink-citing” adventure after another as you follow the wild and wonky escapades of one very special pig.
Mercy Watson is not just a pig—she’s a porcine wonder! Her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Watson, dote on her and think she can do no wrong. But their next-door neighbor, Eugenia Lincoln, thinks there’s more to Mercy than meets the eye, especially considering how most of Mercy’s exploits end with the fire department stepping in to set things right.
Whether she’s chasing down the scent of butter at a drive-in movie theater, dressing up like a princess for Halloween, or outwitting determined Animal Control officers, there’s always something afoot when Mercy’s around—or should we say, a-hoof?
Take our free Mercy Watson checklist to your local library!
Kate DiCamillo is well known for writing books and series beloved by children, including Because of Winn-Dixie, the classic story of a stray dog who manages to change the lives of everyone he meets. She is also the author of New York Times Bestseller Great Joy and two Newbery Medal winners, The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses.
Charmingly illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, the Mercy Watson books are great first chapter books thanks to their short and exciting chapters, engaging characters, and fast-paced plotlines. They’ll introduce young readers to a variety of fun-to-learn and fun-to-use vocabulary words such as folly, carom, wily, and, of course, porcine! (By the way…in case you were wondering, that’s pronounced pôr-sīn!)
In the author bio of the final Mercy Watson book, Kate DiCamillo says, “Working with a pig (and Chris Van Dusen) has taught me that anything is possible.”
In the first book of the series, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, Mercy decides she doesn’t want to sleep alone in her own bed—she wants to snuggle in between the Watsons in their bed. But when the bed begins to creak, and the floor begins to moan, the Watsons realize something has gone terribly wrong. They think Mercy has gone off to find help to save them from their perilous perch over a huge hole in the floor, but is filling her hungry tummy the real object of her mission?
When Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride, you never know what might happen, especially when Eugenia Lincoln’s sister Baby stows away for an afternoon of fun. With a police officer in hot pursuit of their speeding pink convertible, things get even more out of hand when Mercy leaps into the driver’s seat and takes the situation into her own hooves!
In Mercy Watson Fights Crime, Mercy wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of a toaster screeching across the counter. That means someone is making toast, Mercy’s favorite treat! But when she creeps down the stairs to get her share of the snack, it isn’t hot buttered toast she finds. Instead, she finds a small man with a big bag, and he’s robbing the Watsons! Will he make his getaway while Mercy searches for a snack, or will she inadvertently bring his life of crime to a screeching halt?
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Genre: children’s fiction
Interests: animals, zany adventures, humor
Suggested age range: 5 to 10
Gender preference: boys and girls
In the series: 6 books, 80-96 pages
Do your kids need a little extra encouragement to read?
Take our free Mercy Watson series checklist to your local library and have your child check off books as he reads them!
Looking for more great chapter books? We’ve got you covered!
Nancy Owen
says:Both of my kids loved the Mercy Watson Books!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceWhat’s not to love? But thank you for letting us know that your kids have enjoyed these books.
Ernie Fairysha
says:It is useful
Jessica
says:We love Mercy Watson! The age range 5-10 is right on for our family. The kids were so excited to find some of the series characters had their own books too.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceIsn’t it wonderful when a great series prompts even more reading, Jessica? ?
Beth Anderson
says:Great series!
Rachelle
says:We love Mercy Watson!
Brigitte
says:These are some of our favorites!
Lisa
says:We love these!
Angela Kindiger
says:Thank you for all of this wonderful information!
Kate
says:I’ll have to remember this.
Merry
says: Customer ServiceHi Kate! I hope you can find some new favorite books for your kids!
Laura
says:These look fun!
Yamel
says:Thank You so much for this list!
We own the first in the series, we’ll definitely get the others!
Merry
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Yamel! I hope you enjoy the other books in the series too!
Mel
says:My kids love these books!
CJ Lamica
says:My grandsons love these books.
Stacey
says:We are excited to take the handy list to the library!
Merry
says: Customer ServiceHave fun at the library, Stacey!
Leah
says:We have heard such great things from fiends about Mercy Watson books!
Kirsten M
says:My older 2 loved this series. Can’t wait for my youngest to start them next year.
Pamela
says:I just read somewhere else about these books, I am looking into them now! These would be a great reading for naptime!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServicePamela,
I agree, these books will be great reading for naptime!
Chris
says:We’ve never used these with our older two, but I’d like to with my youngest!
Karianne
says:These are super fun and motivating for my kiddos!
Lydia H.
says:Such great, fun stories for my kiddos!
Stacey Hansell
says:We just started listening to the audio books…and let’s just say…the kids have asked for HOT BUTTERED TOAST each day since! Great books!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThis made me smile a huge smile, Stacey! Got to love hot buttered toast. ?
Rebecca
says:This sounds awesome!
Cara
says:My daughter loves animals. This will be a great addition to our reading collection! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Katrina Angele
says:These sound like a fun read with my son. Going to look them up next time we go to the library.
Laurie
says:My kids have enjoyed these books. They are amusing.
Judith
says:Sounds like they will be fun to read!
Sally Chancellor
says:My kids love these books, thanks for reminding me about them!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Sally. It’s always fun to revisit old favorites!
Christine Smith
says:These are adorable books!
Diana
says:Sounds like a series of books my girls will love. I will have to see if they are in the library system around here!
Jessi Ann
says:This sounds like a fun to read series.