3 Adventures on Deckawoo Drive: 3 Books in 1 (An Early Chapter Book Collection)

Tales from Deckawoo Drive

by Kate DiCamillo, Chris Van Dusen (Illustrator)

The first three tales of Kate DiCamillo’s hilarious and heartfelt Deckawoo Drive series are collected in a convenient, affordable bind-up.

Dive into a spin-off series starring favorite characters from Kate DiCamillo’s New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson books. Whether it’s bumbling cowboy Leroy Ninker getting his first horse, Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet wrangling raccoons, or sweet Baby Lincoln striking out on her own, the characters of Deckawoo Drive are sure to enchant early readers.

Included
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

About the author

Kate DiCamillo, the newly named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015, says about stories, “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another.” Born in Philadelphia, the author lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week.

Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."

Her second novel, The Tiger Rising, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Since then, the master storyteller has written for a wide range of ages, including two comical early-chapter-book series - Mercy Watson, which stars a "porcine wonder" with an obsession for buttered toast, and Bink & Gollie, which celebrates the tall and short of a marvelous friendship - as well as a luminous holiday picture book, Great Joy.

Her latest novel, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, won the 2014 Newbery Medal. It was released in fall 2013 to great acclaim, including five starred reviews, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Flora & Ulysses is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format - a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell. It was a 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner and was chosen by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Common Sense Media as a Best Book of the Year.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s better than a Kate DiCamillo book? A collection of three. Here are a delightful trio of middle- grade stories loosely linked, with comically sly illustrations and plenty of humor. In these crazy times, DiCamillo is a spot of sunshine.

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate is great! My children and I love her books. Great vocabulary meet humorous situations and memorable characters, you’re going to want to read all stories written by this author!

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first 3 books in the Deckawoo drive series.

The first book is about a person who wants to be a cowboy and needs a horse.

The second is about an animal control person who has to catch a ghost raccoon.

The third is about an older woman who goes on a necessary journey.

They are all quick reads for an adult. They are probably targeted to early chapter book readers.

[Heather Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with the deckawoo drive books. This was my first time reading Kate dicamillo and my daughter and I both loved these books. The characters are so enjoyable, and Kate dicamillo's style of writing just makes me smile. She is fun to read aloud as well, the text just flows so naturally.

[Alison LaMarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read these with the twins. They enjoyed them—mostly because we have read almost all the Deckawoo drive/Mercy Watson books and so these ones have a familiar and comforting feel to them. Plus the illustrations continue to be so charming. These are overall great beginning chapter books. Ages 5-7 seem to about right.

The Francine Poulet story is just weird though. And there is more story left to tell about Leroy Ninker so I hope this prolific writer gets back to him! Overall, the Baby Lincoln story was my favorite. I loved seeing the softer side to Eugenia, her grouchy big sis.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Fun read aloud with the kids, and we loved the illustrations. The first and third stories weren’t as engaging as for myself or my kids, though I did love the overall story and message of the third. Silly but thought-provoking anecdotes that are quick to read.

[Marlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories were a lot of fun. One or two of them we’d read years ago when we didn’t really know the characters. Now that we know more of the characters, they were great. Sweet, silly, easy to read, and funny.

[Minte · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories were fun read-alouds and more substantial than I expected; I guess I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Kate DiCamillo can really captivate her audience, and she's very good at tying in all her details!

[Teresa Witte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is another slice of wonderful from Kate DiCamillo! The reader will feel drawn to each character in their own unique way of revealing the world and heart's desires. I both laughed and cried reading this wholesome beauty.

[Angie Whittemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love Kate DiCamillo. The six-year-old especially loves this particular series.

[Jen Traub · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of Deckawoo Drive! ❤️

[Sharon Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd grade read aloud, they loved it

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun audiobooks for family road trip, especially for younger kids. Especially liked book 3. So cute.

[Mary Minkovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great next step after the mercy Watson series

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that some of these stories would be boring but no. I was wishing there was more from each of these books they were fantastic.highly recommended!

[Sara Moore Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I laughed and laughed.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was certainly burnt out by theirs books. The theme was too far reaching for children. The writer was trying too hard in my opinion.

[Butterfly McCurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. Very easy read.

[Samira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute stories. Great for young readers.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her characters are just so…,spacey?

[Chappyfamily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read aloud. Have read it to my kids twice. This is a classic