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Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Sweet Story Introduces Much-loved Pig Mercy of Series



A Piglet Named Mercy
Written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press, 2019

Mr. and Mrs. Watson live ordinary lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary town. They are happy, but one day Mrs. Watson wishes something different would happen.

Her wish comes true when a piglet shows up at their door. Mr. and Mrs. Watson fall in love with the adorable piglet.



Their neighbors Eugenia Lincoln and Baby Lincoln see the piglet arrive. Disagreeable Eugenia doesn’t approve, but Baby is delighted and warms a bottle of milk for her.

The piglet turns out to be anything but ordinary as she leaps out of Mrs. Watson’s arms, jumps onto a chair, and swipes a piece of toast from the kitchen counter.


The Watsons are charmed by the piglet’s antics and name her Mercy because she is a wish come true.

The characters are expressive and the gouache illustrations bright, bold, and colorful.

Kids who love the Mercy Watson chapter books and their younger siblings will enjoy this picture book, a prequel to the popular series.

About the Author


Kate DiCamillo has written many books for children, including the Mercy Watson and Deckawoo Drive series. Her books, “Flora & Ulysses” and “The Tale of Despereaux,” are both Newberry Medal recipients. A former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, she lives in Minneapolis.

About the Illustrator


Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of many children’s books, including “The Circus Ship” and “Hattie & Hudson,” and the illustrator of the Mercy Watson and Deckawoo Drive series. He lives in Maine.