- Mercy is not a talking pig. She is a “porcine wonder,” as her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Watson, often say, but she is a pet living in the real world, and as such, she does not have any magical powers that make her talk. We are privy to many of her thoughts - most of which involve her love of buttered toast - but even these are related in the third person and do not resemble sophisticated human thoughts.
- Most of the human characters in the series are not children. The story is set on Deckawoo Drive where the Watsons live, and the most involved characters are the Watsons, their elderly next door neighbors, Eugenia and Baby (so named because she is the younger sister), and the various emergency personnel involved in rescuing Mercy from her various adventures, including a police officer, two firemen, and an animal control officer. Each of the characters often behaves in a way that is very child-like, but they are all grown-ups, with the exception of two children who appear briefly in a couple of the books.
- The language in the books is very rich. Kate DiCamillo has such a distinct voice, and I hear it loud and clear in these books, in the same way that I hear it in Bink and Gollie. The sophistication of the vocabulary she uses, and of the way she puts together sentences makes it hard to categorize these books. My previous library had them in easy readers; we treat them as fiction in my current one. But neither category is a perfect fit because the books are just so unique. No one else writes like this, and Cynthia Rylant is the only other author I can think of who writes about adults as her main characters.
- Mercy Watson is living in the 1950s. The references are very subtle, but they’re there. The convertible which Mercy accidentally drives in Mercy Watson Goes For a Ride is obviously old-fashioned, and the Watsons’ kitchen has a definite 1950s decor. Chris Van Dusen’s illustration style and color palette are even kind of retro, making the series stand out as unusual - and delightfully so - even more.
I borrowed all six Mercy Watson books from my local public library.
Find the series on Goodreads and Worldc
7 Comments on Getting to Know... The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen, last added: 5/7/2012
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By: Katie,
on 3/21/2012
Blog: Secrets & Sharing Soda (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: genre: realistic fiction, source: netgalley, level: easy reader, format: ebook, publisher: candlewick, published 2012, read 2012, series: bink and gollie, author: alison mcghee, author: kate dicamillo, Add a tag
Bink and Gollie are back in their second set of adventures, all of which take place at the state fair. The first story, "Whack a Duck," introduces the girls to the perils of carnival games when Bink decides she absolutely must win a large donut in exchange for whacking a duck. In the second story, "You're Special, Aren't You?" Gollie enters a talent show without actually preparing a talent. Finally, in "Without Question" Bink and Gollie have their fortunes told by Madame Prunely, who has messages about their past and future.
This is another strong, funny, and heartwarming collection of vignettes, which portrays not just the ups and downs of life, but the support and constancy of true friendship. As in the first Bink and Gollie story, Tony Fucile truly captures each girl's personality with the wonderful way he draws facial expressions and body movements. I was particularly struck by the way I could almost hear each girl's manner of speech just from looking at the illustrations. Alison McGhee and Kate DiCamillo also keep the story fresh with lots of humor, which comes across most often in the characters' dialogue, not just with each other, but with supporting characters as well. Especially memorable is the man who runs the Whack a Duck booth; he takes a baseball to the face when Bink throws just a bit too hard.
At first glance, the writing in this book seems very sophisticated, which made me question whether it would truly work for early readers. When I went back to analyze the text more closely, though, I realized that the vocabulary of the story, with few exceptions, is actually very basic. Many words such as "duck," "Whack," "stage", "talent," and "friend" are introduced and then repeated over and over again, reinforcing their meaning. Sentence structure, particularly where there is dialogue, is very simple, and the speaker is always identified. The story itself is so entertaining that it's easy to miss its simplicity, but the authors have done a really thorough job of making sure their intended audience will truly be able to read their book. I imagine a couple of words - "scepter" and "tragedy", for example - might pose a challenge for newer readers, but I don't think it's a challenge that couldn't be met by a child accustomed to reading Level 2 and Level 3 easy readers. I also love the inclusion of signs and other printed material in the illustrations themselves. What a great way to foster print awareness, which is one of the important early literacy skills kids need to develop before learning to read.
Sequels sometimes turn out to be mistakes, and they can create a formula out of what was previously fresh, exciting material. Bink and Gollie: Two for One, is decidedly not one of those mistakes. Every bit as lovely and satisfying as the first, this second book about these irresistible best friends explores further their connection, and also gives kids a look into the world of state fairs, which for some kids will be a foreign concept.
In addition to the original Bink and Gollie, also pair Bink and Gollie: Two for One with Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad series, The Friends for Keeps chapter book series by Julie Bowe, and Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie books.
Bink and Gollie: Two for One will be published on June 12, 2012, just in time fo
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I'm really glad you read this books and enjoyed them. You know, I didn't even notice that all the human characters are adults but you are definitely spot on.
I encourage you to check out the website we created for the series www.mercywatson.com if you haven't already. We added fun games and interactive elements for kids and a Teachers and Parents section for adults.
We absolutely love these books at our house. My son is 3.5, and they were the perfect introduction to chapter books for him. Even my 2-year-old will sit through them. We make references to "toast with a great deal of butter on it" in our everyday conversation. And we LOVE it when old characters reappear in the later books. I totally agree with you about Kate DiCamillo's writing style, and Chris van Dusen can do no wrong in our eyes. Such a great series.
Hi, Raquel. Thanks for commenting! I had a great time reading these. The website is great! I'm considering a library program about Mercy, so these resources will definitely come in handy. :-)
I'm glad to hear your little ones will sit through these - it helps to know what works when families ask at the library for chapter books for preschoolers. And I love that you reference the toast - how cute!
Thanks for clearing up the "talking pig" issue - I assumed Mercy was a talking pig which is what put me off the series, but now I want to read them!
You're so welcome! I was surprised by how different the books were from what I expected. I bet you'll enjoy them, too!
Is it a good idea to read all Mercy Watson books? Why yes, it IS a good idea to read all Mercy Watson books, recommends Officer Tomilello, especially when eating a Butter Barrel candy! Yippee-Ei-Oh!
Sorry couldn't help myself...Mercy is indeed a porcine wonder. Our kids/family loves them. Pure folly!