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Mercy Watson #6
Mercy Watson: Something Wonky this Way Comes
"Youngsters are sure to delight in the exploits of this butter-loving pig, savoring the 'wonky in the extreme' text and energetic, innocent art." -School Library Journal
Some may find it wonky to take a pig to the drive-in. But not the Watsons, who think the movie's title, When Pigs Fly, is inspirational. And not their beloved Mercy, who is inspired by the scent of real butter from the theater's Bottomless Buckets of popcorn. As they pull up in their convertible, Mercy lifts up her snout and becomes a pig on a mission, leading a delirious chase that's trailed by hapless rescuers reunited from Mercy's earlier adventures.
Some may find it wonky to take a pig to the drive-in. But not the Watsons, who think the movie's title, When Pigs Fly, is inspirational. And not their beloved Mercy, who is inspired by the scent of real butter from the theater's Bottomless Buckets of popcorn. As they pull up in their convertible, Mercy lifts up her snout and becomes a pig on a mission, leading a delirious chase that's trailed by hapless rescuers reunited from Mercy's earlier adventures.
96 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2009
63 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
About the author
Kate DiCamillo
163 books11k followersKate 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
February 19, 2018
I read a review where someone pointed out that all the people are the same color as the pig - pink. How interesting. I haven't read the Mercy Watson's before this. This story revolves around how much a pig loves butter. The Watson's are going to see a drive in movie where they serve real buttery popcorn - bottomless even. Hijinks ensue. The pig becomes more entertaining than the movie.
This is Kate, so the writing is great. It is a beginning reader for ages 6-8 maybe depending on the kid. It is a lighthearted fun story that a child would be interested in.
That's some Pig.
This is Kate, so the writing is great. It is a beginning reader for ages 6-8 maybe depending on the kid. It is a lighthearted fun story that a child would be interested in.
That's some Pig.
October 18, 2020
Mr and Mrs Watson are going to the drive-in to see When Pigs Fly, which may be a love story or inspirational, or perhaps even a figure of speech. Whatever it is, the Bijou Drive-In concession stand most definitely sells popcorn.
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She’s in! So are some of the other residents of Deckawoo Drive. They all pile into the Watson’s pink car and make their way to the drive-in. Once there, the buttery popcorn smell is irresistible. Mercy needs to investigate.
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Not everyone is happy about a porcine wonder investigating their buttery popcorn though. Pretty soon Mercy is the entertainment, not the movie.
It seems like pretty much every character you’ve met in this series shows up in this book. This is the first Mercy Watson book I’ve read (other than the prequel) but I knew some of the characters from the couple of Tales from Deckawoo Drive series I’ve already enjoyed.
Kids will enjoy Mercy’s antics, although young readers may have trouble with the pronunciation of some of the characters’ names. Bonus adult nostalgia points for the drive-in setting.
I absolutely adore the illustrations. They’re colourful and fun, and all of the characters are very expressive. Interestingly, the humans are the same colour as Mercy.
I wish my library had the first five books in the series so I could binge them all! This pig is so cute!
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
“Yes,” said Mr. Watson, “it says here that the Bijou proudly serves real butter on every Bottomless Bucket of popcorn.”Butter, you say? All you can eat? That sounds like a job for Mercy Watson!
[image error]
She’s in! So are some of the other residents of Deckawoo Drive. They all pile into the Watson’s pink car and make their way to the drive-in. Once there, the buttery popcorn smell is irresistible. Mercy needs to investigate.
[image error]
Not everyone is happy about a porcine wonder investigating their buttery popcorn though. Pretty soon Mercy is the entertainment, not the movie.
It seems like pretty much every character you’ve met in this series shows up in this book. This is the first Mercy Watson book I’ve read (other than the prequel) but I knew some of the characters from the couple of Tales from Deckawoo Drive series I’ve already enjoyed.
Kids will enjoy Mercy’s antics, although young readers may have trouble with the pronunciation of some of the characters’ names. Bonus adult nostalgia points for the drive-in setting.
I absolutely adore the illustrations. They’re colourful and fun, and all of the characters are very expressive. Interestingly, the humans are the same colour as Mercy.
I wish my library had the first five books in the series so I could binge them all! This pig is so cute!
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
July 24, 2019
In this fifth and final entry in Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson series, about the (mis)adventures of a butter-loving pig, the Watsons head to the Bijou Drive-In, where Mercy (once again) gets into trouble. Following the enticing scent of butter, Mercy causes chaos as she chows down on multiple movie-goers' popcorn. As a growing string of people pursue her, Mercy, who thinks it all a good game, goes on the run. Eventually (as is often the case) the local firemen are called...
A worthy conclusion to this amusing chapter-book series, Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes features all of the secondary characters who appeared throughout the earlier books, from Officer Tomilello to firemen Ned and Lorenzo. Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet and reformed thief and would-be cowboy Leroy Ninker, who star in the subsequent Tales of Deckawoo Drive series, also appear. The artwork is every bit as colorful and entertaining as in the previous books, adding to the sense of frenzied fun. Recommended to anyone who has read the previous titles in the series, or who is looking for engaging tales for those just getting started with chapter-books.
A worthy conclusion to this amusing chapter-book series, Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes features all of the secondary characters who appeared throughout the earlier books, from Officer Tomilello to firemen Ned and Lorenzo. Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet and reformed thief and would-be cowboy Leroy Ninker, who star in the subsequent Tales of Deckawoo Drive series, also appear. The artwork is every bit as colorful and entertaining as in the previous books, adding to the sense of frenzied fun. Recommended to anyone who has read the previous titles in the series, or who is looking for engaging tales for those just getting started with chapter-books.
December 12, 2013
Tried to use this one as our read out loud selection but I think the author is foreign or something because she had many very difficult names and words in this book. My son got frustrated very quickly. Some examples were: Officer Tomiello, Bijou Drive-In, faux, wiliest, fascinating, Eugenia Lincoln, inspirational, and figure of speech to name a few. Perhaps for older children this wouldn't be so difficult, but my avid reader 6 yr old had a hard time of it.
January 12, 2024
We loves these books a lot. In this one, the whole gang goes to the drive in movie theater to see "when pigs fly". It's cute and fun. I recommend for Mercy Watson lovers!
November 24, 2024
Mercy Watson always makes me laugh. In this adventure, the porcine wonder is in pursuit of hot, buttered popcorn at the drive-in movie!
January 9, 2019
I'm kind of sad that this is the last Mercy Watson book. I still need to read #4 (hurry up, library!) and there's the spin-off series to finish, but I'm going to miss reading about this porcine wonder and her wonky adventures.
In this tale, the Watsons decide to go to the drive-in to see a movie called When Pigs Fly. They take the Lincoln sisters, as well as Stella and Frank (who I'm assuming were introduced in Book 4). Officer Tomilello and Francine Poulet are also at the drive-in, along with Leroy Ninker, and eventually the firemen Lorenzo and Ned show up, too... so it's a big reunion of all the characters of the series. Mercy ends up using the drive-in as a buttered-popcorn buffet, and everyone ends up chasing her. Of course, Mercy loves a chase...
For some reason, I found the dialogue a little clunky in spots, especially with Francine Poulet's date, Alfred P. Tomkins. It almost seemed comma-splicey to me. Other than that, though, this book had the same sort of style as the others, with plenty of new words to keep kids stimulated (e.g., Leroy Ninker singing the praises of real butter on the popcorn: "Yippie-i-oh! There's nothing faux.").
I'm so glad I read this series. I'll read Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise at some point in the future. I wouldn't miss it! I just wish these books--along with the Bink & Gollie series by the same author--had been around when I needed early-reader chapter books. I know I would've gobbled these all up... like hot toast with a great deal of butter on it!
Quotable moment:
In this tale, the Watsons decide to go to the drive-in to see a movie called When Pigs Fly. They take the Lincoln sisters, as well as Stella and Frank (who I'm assuming were introduced in Book 4). Officer Tomilello and Francine Poulet are also at the drive-in, along with Leroy Ninker, and eventually the firemen Lorenzo and Ned show up, too... so it's a big reunion of all the characters of the series. Mercy ends up using the drive-in as a buttered-popcorn buffet, and everyone ends up chasing her. Of course, Mercy loves a chase...
For some reason, I found the dialogue a little clunky in spots, especially with Francine Poulet's date, Alfred P. Tomkins. It almost seemed comma-splicey to me. Other than that, though, this book had the same sort of style as the others, with plenty of new words to keep kids stimulated (e.g., Leroy Ninker singing the praises of real butter on the popcorn: "Yippie-i-oh! There's nothing faux.").
I'm so glad I read this series. I'll read Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise at some point in the future. I wouldn't miss it! I just wish these books--along with the Bink & Gollie series by the same author--had been around when I needed early-reader chapter books. I know I would've gobbled these all up... like hot toast with a great deal of butter on it!
Quotable moment:
Mercy discovered that there was hot buttered popcorn everywhere.
Every car had big buckets of popcorn!
Every car had open windows!
The popcorn was buttery.
The popcorn was crunchy.
The popcorn was delicious.
November 29, 2012
The kids and I usually enjoy a Mercy Watson book, but this one was not one of the better ones in the series. The story included far too many characters (everyone Mercy has ever met up to this point, I believe), and the story wasn't as funny as some of the other books in the series. The best part about the book was listening to my niece voice Mercy with her impression of a pig oinking (she does a remarkably good pig oink). My nephew and niece were each annoyed by a couple of the more eccentric characters (the policeman and the kid running the concession stand), and I just didn't think the story was that strong. To be honest, it felt like something that was written just to fill a publishing obligation. There are much better books in this series.
February 18, 2017
These Mercy Watson books are all fun. Love the senior ladies who live next door - Eugenia and "Baby" Lincoln. And Police Officer Tomilello. Love how every book ends with Mrs. Watson making Mercy's favorite treat for all present... hot toast "with a great deal of butter." These are simply fun and wholesome books!
July 30, 2009
Goofy, but not as cute as others in the series.
February 22, 2015
The last Mercy Watson book! Thank you Kate DeCamillo for turning my daughter into a reader!
December 8, 2016
Series: Great way to ease younger readers into chapter books. Vibrant pictures, wonderful story, and all around fun.
December 3, 2025
I love the Mercy Watson Series, and really most anything Kate DiCamillo writes. This was so cute. Mercy, the butter loving toast eater is creating havoc at the local drive in. All because she found out they have butter on the popcorn!
Enjoy the ride on this one. The illustrations are super cute!
Enjoy the ride on this one. The illustrations are super cute!
September 4, 2021
I never read books twice (I am flawed), but I kind of do as a teacher and as a mom I will make some exceptions. Mercy is one of them. Never enough!
December 27, 2015
This one was cute. I love Eugenia, as she reminds me of my cranky Granny. Other characters with fun names are introduced (Francine Poulet, Beatrice Leapaleoni, Leroy Ninker) as well as the drive-in movie theater.
The style of writing is easy for youngers to follow but she adds fun vocabulary they might not otherwise know (porcine, wonky).
Mercy sure does love butter and toast (Why toast? X asks. lol)
The style of writing is easy for youngers to follow but she adds fun vocabulary they might not otherwise know (porcine, wonky).
Mercy sure does love butter and toast (Why toast? X asks. lol)
February 1, 2018
docking one star because this book did not stand alone as well as the others. it brought together characters from previous books (all with awkward names, new readers beware!). it was still cute, but I think the many side characters negatively affected the story
March 9, 2014
I loved the illustrations! My boys liked the silliness of the story too.
February 7, 2019
Fantastic early chapter book! I actually read it out loud to my 3 boys- 6, 3 and 2- and we were all laughing out loud. We will read more!
February 5, 2024
A pig who loves butter going to a drive in movie theater where they sell bottomless buckets of buttery popcorn what could go wrong???
August 27, 2024
I really like that the book is about a pig named Mercy Watson. I also liked the pink convertible and the characters. I liked that the story took place at a movie theater.
August 30, 2025
Este libro es una buena conclusión para esta serie. Me gusta como todos los personajes se reúnen en una última aventura. Es alegre y gracioso, y estoy feliz que leí estos libros.
September 17, 2018
I love the Mercy Watson books! They are quick, simple and quite humorous. This one was about buttered popcorn, and of course, buttered toast. Yum!
September 28, 2009
Reason for Reading: Next and newest (2009) in the series.
Comments: The Watsons are off to the Drive-in to watch a movie but Mercy is more concerned about the strong smell wafting about. Butter! Her favourite smell because where there is butter there is often toast. So she quietly slips out of the car and walks through the drive-in putting her snout in everyone's popcorn and while it is deliciously buttery she is looking for the ultimate taste of buttered toast. Unfortunately for Mercy both Officer Tommilello (and wife) and Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet (and date) are taking in a movie that night as well. And thus we have another fun adventure of Mercy and the cast from previous books.
Another cute story about Mercy as we've come to expect. There are some really good laugh out loud moments in this book. A handful of new characters, one with a name that, for the life of me, I couldn't wrap my tongue around without trying two or three times! Along with the few new characters every single character ever introduced in the series is found within this story and the usual toast party at the end has them all. If you've read all the books in the series you can try and name them all as we did! This book does have a feeling of being the last in the series. First with all the characters gathered together, it seems impossible for the author to continue the tradition since she has a nice fine large cast as it stands now. Second the last several pages speak of happy endings, while this pertains to the story I had a feeling this was also a way of wrapping up the series. Finally, this last book is at a higher reading level than the previous books, it is longer at 86 pgs, there are whole two page spreads without pictures found throughout the book (which never occurred in previous volumes) as if pointing the child in the direction of moving onwards with their reading abilities. (Of course, I have no insider info. This is just my humble opinion.)
Another fine entry, though not our favourite, in the Mercy Watson series, which is perfect reading for kids who are at the age where they can read but are not ready to move away from large print or still want to have colourful pictures. While there is no need to read the books in order, there is a benefit. One being that #6 here is a higher reading level than the others but more importantly starting with #1 new characters are introduced with each book and occasionally reappear until the final few books where we have every old character making appearances and it's just a whole lot of fun to see them showing up again this way. If read out of order, you'd miss this fun.
Comments: The Watsons are off to the Drive-in to watch a movie but Mercy is more concerned about the strong smell wafting about. Butter! Her favourite smell because where there is butter there is often toast. So she quietly slips out of the car and walks through the drive-in putting her snout in everyone's popcorn and while it is deliciously buttery she is looking for the ultimate taste of buttered toast. Unfortunately for Mercy both Officer Tommilello (and wife) and Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet (and date) are taking in a movie that night as well. And thus we have another fun adventure of Mercy and the cast from previous books.
Another cute story about Mercy as we've come to expect. There are some really good laugh out loud moments in this book. A handful of new characters, one with a name that, for the life of me, I couldn't wrap my tongue around without trying two or three times! Along with the few new characters every single character ever introduced in the series is found within this story and the usual toast party at the end has them all. If you've read all the books in the series you can try and name them all as we did! This book does have a feeling of being the last in the series. First with all the characters gathered together, it seems impossible for the author to continue the tradition since she has a nice fine large cast as it stands now. Second the last several pages speak of happy endings, while this pertains to the story I had a feeling this was also a way of wrapping up the series. Finally, this last book is at a higher reading level than the previous books, it is longer at 86 pgs, there are whole two page spreads without pictures found throughout the book (which never occurred in previous volumes) as if pointing the child in the direction of moving onwards with their reading abilities. (Of course, I have no insider info. This is just my humble opinion.)
Another fine entry, though not our favourite, in the Mercy Watson series, which is perfect reading for kids who are at the age where they can read but are not ready to move away from large print or still want to have colourful pictures. While there is no need to read the books in order, there is a benefit. One being that #6 here is a higher reading level than the others but more importantly starting with #1 new characters are introduced with each book and occasionally reappear until the final few books where we have every old character making appearances and it's just a whole lot of fun to see them showing up again this way. If read out of order, you'd miss this fun.
March 12, 2013
With short chapters, brilliantly colored pictures and an exciting plot, Mercy Watson Something wonky comes this way by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen would make a great addition to any classroom and school library.
Mercy the “Porcine Wonder” and her family decide to go to the local drive-in, enticed by the real butter used in the bottomless buckets of popcorn and the movie they think will literally be about pigs who can fly, quite an inspirational subject. They pick up many neighbors on the way to the drive-in, one after another piling into the convertible. While it’s in transit, DiCamillo does a great job of developing the atmosphere at the Drive-In that’s just waiting for the Watson’s to arrive. The story lines of everyone already at the Drive-In, to the boy in the concession stand, to the convertible, to the local firemen converge on an exciting chase that’s sure to keep the children of all ages entertained.
I would read this book aloud to kindergarten- 2nd grade, and 3rd-4th graders could read it on their own. I would use this, if read aloud, after recess when we try settle the classroom back down, or it could be used for literary technique. There are many literary terms in this book like onomatopoeia, syntax, and repetition among others that serve as real life examples and would only take a few minutes to read during a writing lesson.
The illustrations are vibrant and compliment the story well. All the characters had their own unique look, some with big ears, some with huge noses, and some with huge chins, just to name a few. Mercy was visually captured in such a way that made her that more loveable, and I admit I cheered her on a little during her popcorn-eating rampage. Overall, I think this is a really fun book I would love to have in my classroom library.
Mercy the “Porcine Wonder” and her family decide to go to the local drive-in, enticed by the real butter used in the bottomless buckets of popcorn and the movie they think will literally be about pigs who can fly, quite an inspirational subject. They pick up many neighbors on the way to the drive-in, one after another piling into the convertible. While it’s in transit, DiCamillo does a great job of developing the atmosphere at the Drive-In that’s just waiting for the Watson’s to arrive. The story lines of everyone already at the Drive-In, to the boy in the concession stand, to the convertible, to the local firemen converge on an exciting chase that’s sure to keep the children of all ages entertained.
I would read this book aloud to kindergarten- 2nd grade, and 3rd-4th graders could read it on their own. I would use this, if read aloud, after recess when we try settle the classroom back down, or it could be used for literary technique. There are many literary terms in this book like onomatopoeia, syntax, and repetition among others that serve as real life examples and would only take a few minutes to read during a writing lesson.
The illustrations are vibrant and compliment the story well. All the characters had their own unique look, some with big ears, some with huge noses, and some with huge chins, just to name a few. Mercy was visually captured in such a way that made her that more loveable, and I admit I cheered her on a little during her popcorn-eating rampage. Overall, I think this is a really fun book I would love to have in my classroom library.
June 3, 2017
http://pin.it/c61MXET
How did I not notice before that Can Dusen paints everyone with the same skin color, same highlights and shadows? Everyone, including Mercy Watson, the pig. Different hair, facial features, head shapes, clothes, but the exact same skin (old people are all highlights and shadows for the wrinkles, but the same colors). And unlike The Simpsons, it's not one color for all the White people, but different colors for people of color. It's an interesting choice.
I didn't notice before because I just assumed that the unnatural peachy-pink meant White, because that's how we roll: default = White. No one is really that color, but society has agreed to pretend, just to make it easier.
I've been thinking about this for hours now. I still don't know how I feel about it. Is it good to ignore actual melanin across the board to avoid dividing people into White or Other? Would I be comfortable with it if he'd chosen a default that wasn't already understood to be White? If everyone was green or grey, some color which doesn't have racial coding, the deliberate neutrality would have been obvious. As it is, Mercy seems to live in an idealized mid-century sundown town. I like the setting in general, with the sidewalks and big-time cars, I enjoy the same Imagineared quality in the art of William Joyce and Mark Teague. But now I can't stop thinking how middle-class suburban White it is, and getting creeped out.
Race isn't real, but racism is so horrifyingly visible right now, that a town of pink people isn't neutral, it's threatening.
Guess I finally figured out what I feel. I am not in the pink.
Library copy.
How did I not notice before that Can Dusen paints everyone with the same skin color, same highlights and shadows? Everyone, including Mercy Watson, the pig. Different hair, facial features, head shapes, clothes, but the exact same skin (old people are all highlights and shadows for the wrinkles, but the same colors). And unlike The Simpsons, it's not one color for all the White people, but different colors for people of color. It's an interesting choice.
I didn't notice before because I just assumed that the unnatural peachy-pink meant White, because that's how we roll: default = White. No one is really that color, but society has agreed to pretend, just to make it easier.
I've been thinking about this for hours now. I still don't know how I feel about it. Is it good to ignore actual melanin across the board to avoid dividing people into White or Other? Would I be comfortable with it if he'd chosen a default that wasn't already understood to be White? If everyone was green or grey, some color which doesn't have racial coding, the deliberate neutrality would have been obvious. As it is, Mercy seems to live in an idealized mid-century sundown town. I like the setting in general, with the sidewalks and big-time cars, I enjoy the same Imagineared quality in the art of William Joyce and Mark Teague. But now I can't stop thinking how middle-class suburban White it is, and getting creeped out.
Race isn't real, but racism is so horrifyingly visible right now, that a town of pink people isn't neutral, it's threatening.
Guess I finally figured out what I feel. I am not in the pink.
Library copy.
August 11, 2017
===================
My review of the series:
===================
This book is ridiculously humorous. Simply too good for this world, to stretch things into the realm of the untrue.
(Oh, look at that, it started to rain. Fun.)
All the characters are superb. And there being a pig in the series (in fact the series being about a pig) is astoundingly ingenious. I'll right off say that Kate DiCamillo is a natural at writing pigs. This is an expertly written pig. The humans are brilliantly fashioned as well. (Oh, its raining hard. I think I heard some thunder. More fun.) (Well, wouldn't you know it? The rain stopped.) Each individual has a distinctive hilarious quality or a quality that can be used to be distinctly hilarious.
Really, the whole thing just makes a person laugh.
But if you take away the comical aspect of the thing, is it destroyed? Well, it wouldn't exactly exist, but my point is, it is extraordinarily good writing. The very highest class of literature all in an "infinitely" amusing package.
The plots are relatively simple, but it is of no consequence for they work perfectly with this type of story.
So, if you want to experience the pinnacle of hilarity and all the virtues thereof and thereabout, I recommend that you read this, or far better, listen to this with the audiobooks that are read by Ron McLarty. He has reading Mercy Watson down to a fine art.
My review of the series:
===================
This book is ridiculously humorous. Simply too good for this world, to stretch things into the realm of the untrue.
(Oh, look at that, it started to rain. Fun.)
All the characters are superb. And there being a pig in the series (in fact the series being about a pig) is astoundingly ingenious. I'll right off say that Kate DiCamillo is a natural at writing pigs. This is an expertly written pig. The humans are brilliantly fashioned as well. (Oh, its raining hard. I think I heard some thunder. More fun.) (Well, wouldn't you know it? The rain stopped.) Each individual has a distinctive hilarious quality or a quality that can be used to be distinctly hilarious.
Really, the whole thing just makes a person laugh.
But if you take away the comical aspect of the thing, is it destroyed? Well, it wouldn't exactly exist, but my point is, it is extraordinarily good writing. The very highest class of literature all in an "infinitely" amusing package.
The plots are relatively simple, but it is of no consequence for they work perfectly with this type of story.
So, if you want to experience the pinnacle of hilarity and all the virtues thereof and thereabout, I recommend that you read this, or far better, listen to this with the audiobooks that are read by Ron McLarty. He has reading Mercy Watson down to a fine art.
April 6, 2012
Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes is an enjoyable finale to the Mercy Watson series. What happens when Mercy Watson goes to the drive-in theater for the first time? Adventure!
I enjoyed all of the Mercy Watson series, as did my just turned 7 year old daughter. I liked DiCamillo's witty story and the illustrations that further bring it to life. I highly recommend reading the stories in order as the characters from the earlier books are used throughout the series.
My daughter enjoys reading these books to herself and out loud to me. They fill the gap between traditional early readers and early chapter books. These books are chapters books, however, the vocabulary is not overly complex nor too simple. These are confidence building books for children who are bored with traditional early readers, what to read chapter books, like some of their peers, but are not quite ready to take that leap. They are enjoyable, fast pace books that are delightful to read out loud or to yourself.
I enjoyed all of the Mercy Watson series, as did my just turned 7 year old daughter. I liked DiCamillo's witty story and the illustrations that further bring it to life. I highly recommend reading the stories in order as the characters from the earlier books are used throughout the series.
My daughter enjoys reading these books to herself and out loud to me. They fill the gap between traditional early readers and early chapter books. These books are chapters books, however, the vocabulary is not overly complex nor too simple. These are confidence building books for children who are bored with traditional early readers, what to read chapter books, like some of their peers, but are not quite ready to take that leap. They are enjoyable, fast pace books that are delightful to read out loud or to yourself.
February 24, 2017
One of my favorite pigs of all time, Mercy Watson, stars in this adventure at the local drive-in movie theater. First off, I love the Mercy Watson series, I love buttered toast, I love how the illustrations make it look like everyone's got butter permanently slathered over their faces, I love grumpy Eugenia, I love the old-fashioned cars, and I love the small-town feel of all the Mercy Watson books. I should also say these make a great read aloud, especially when you're doing your Eugenia voice. The only negative thing I will say, is that in the context of the Mercy Watson series, this adventure is a little repetitive and doesn't bring anything newly lovable to the table. Basically Mercy, Mr. & Mrs. Watson, Eugenia, Baby, and some neighborhood kids go to the drive-in movie theater. Mercy gets distracted by the smell of butter and leads everyone on a merry chase as per usual. Even with the repetitiveness, it's still great fun and Mercy is never not charming.
June 26, 2012
DiCamillo, K. (2009). Mercy Watson Something Wonky this Way Comes. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Gr. K-3. Mercy Watson loves butter, on toast especially, but one day at the drive in, she discovers she loves buttered popcorn as well! Mercy makes her rounds of the cars to taste the lovely treat, but soon everyone at the drive in is looking for Mercy.
Curriculum: Another good beginning reading book with easy vocabulary and short chapters. This one would be good to talk about firefighting. This would also be a good book to use to talk about figures of speech and what those mean; the figure of speech “when pigs fly” is used in the story, and would make for a good discussion. This may also be a good book to use to ttalk about what “wonky” means and have kids write their own “wonky” stories.
Reviews: School Library Journal (August 1, 2009), Horn Book (April 1, 2010)
Gr. K-3. Mercy Watson loves butter, on toast especially, but one day at the drive in, she discovers she loves buttered popcorn as well! Mercy makes her rounds of the cars to taste the lovely treat, but soon everyone at the drive in is looking for Mercy.
Curriculum: Another good beginning reading book with easy vocabulary and short chapters. This one would be good to talk about firefighting. This would also be a good book to use to talk about figures of speech and what those mean; the figure of speech “when pigs fly” is used in the story, and would make for a good discussion. This may also be a good book to use to ttalk about what “wonky” means and have kids write their own “wonky” stories.
Reviews: School Library Journal (August 1, 2009), Horn Book (April 1, 2010)
December 14, 2009
2nd grade – 4th grade
The author uses larger font with very well spaced text. The author uses phrase of repetition however does include larger and hard words such as Francine Poulet and Eugenia Lincoln. This is a beginning chapter book and does include illustration on mostly every page. The illustrations are vibrant, full of detail and quite comical. This book would appeal to children because of the silly names in the book and the mishaps and adventures that Mercy goes through in attempts to get herself butter and popcorn her favorite things.
Classroom connection:
Math: I would make a chart with “Favorite Foods” and include buttered popcorn to find out everyone’s favorite food.
Science- learn about pigs and how they really can be pets and give example of pig pets.
The author uses larger font with very well spaced text. The author uses phrase of repetition however does include larger and hard words such as Francine Poulet and Eugenia Lincoln. This is a beginning chapter book and does include illustration on mostly every page. The illustrations are vibrant, full of detail and quite comical. This book would appeal to children because of the silly names in the book and the mishaps and adventures that Mercy goes through in attempts to get herself butter and popcorn her favorite things.
Classroom connection:
Math: I would make a chart with “Favorite Foods” and include buttered popcorn to find out everyone’s favorite food.
Science- learn about pigs and how they really can be pets and give example of pig pets.
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