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.
