Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig

Mercy Watson is back and this time she's actually done something wrong as opposed to just stumbling into trouble! Eugenia Lincoln has decided that living next to a pig is no reason to not live a gracious life as exemplified by brand-new pansies planted around the house. Unfortunately, Mercy's nose detects the new flowers and, while they don't compare to hot buttered toast, Mercy decides they're tasty enough to do. When Eugenia discovers Mercy's destruction, Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet enters the picture attempting to think like a pig in order to capture Mercy. While still lots of fun, this fifth Mercy outing is not her strongest, but remains an excellent selection for early chapter book readers. Chris Van Dusen's show more illustrations continue to be delightful with Eugenia's gardening outfit and the rather chicken-shaped Francine Poulet as special treats. show less

That buttered-toast-obsessed pig Mercy Watson returns in this fifth installment of Kate DiCamillo's chapter-book series dedicated to her adventures on Deckawoo Drive. Happily oblivious to the fact that she has once again displeased her next door neighbor, the fussy Eugenia Lincoln, by eating that lady's new pansies, Mercy heads to a tea-party with local children Stella and Frank. Eugenia, in the meantime, calls Officer Francine Poulet of Animal Control. Fortunately for all those involved, Officer Poulet's actions lead to the Watsons' belief that she has saved Mercy, and all ends happily with a large party...

As with the earlier volumes in this series, Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig was an entertaining tale, featuring a series of humorous show more hi-jinks that are captured through both word and art. The illustrations by Chris Van Dusen, done in vibrant gouache paint, greatly add to the sense of frenetic mad-cap fun. I particularly liked the picture of a disgruntled Mercy, deeply displeased to discover that the food at the tea party to which she has been invited is imaginary! The story itself is also hilarious - the Watsons are always so good-heartedly oblivious, and matters always end so well, despite Mercy's accidental misadventures - and makes for an engaging read. Recommended to young readers who are just getting going with chapter-books, and who appreciate tales with a silly and/or humorous sensibility. show less

This time Mercy is beset by Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet. After eating Eugenia's newly planted pansies, Mercy goes to a tea party hosted by her neighbor, Stella. Meanwhile Eugenia discovers the destruction to her garden, snaps, and decides to try and get rid of Mercy once and for all for setting animal control after her. Francine Poulet eventually discovers Mercy at the tea party and in an attempt to capture her, falls on her head, forgets what she was doing, and ends up joining Mercy, Mr. and Mrs. Watson, the Lincolns, and Stella and her brother for hot buttered toast.

I was noticing during this reading that the way the illustrator draws the characters' faces so shiny kind of makes me think they have been rubbing hot buttered show more toast all over their faces! There's an adorable image of Mercy in a fancy lady's hat looking grumpy while Stella pores her imaginary tea and serves her imaginary cake. All this imaginary food does not satisfy Mercy, I'm sure you can guess. Francine Poulet was excellently characterized, with a giant beak nose, and her dogged (heh) pursuit of Mercy is fun and funny. Enjoyable all around! show less

A book review from my 9 year old daughter who has been reading Mercy books since they first came out and even though they are under her grade level now, she still wants to read them to see what Mercy is up to: Mercy Watson is a very cool pig. I love how in every book they end with eating buttered toast. There is always a mystery like in the one I just read, Think like a pig, they wondered who ate the flowers. Mercy is a pig, so what do you think happened? I definitely recommend this book for kids like me who like funny books and cool pigs. I rate this one 5 stars!

Can Mercy Watson outwit Animal Control? The porcine wonder's on the lam in this tongue-in-snout adventure!

Mercy's appetite has got her into trouble again. When Eugenia Lincoln's pansies go missing, Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet arrives on the scene. But as she soon discovers, not just anyone can think like a pig. Especially when that pig is porcine wonder Mercy Watson!

Can Mercy Watson outwit Animal Control? The porcine wonder's on the lam in this tongue-in-snout adventure!

Mercy's appetite has got her into trouble again. When Eugenia Lincoln's pansies go missing, Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet arrives on the scene. But as she soon discovers, not just anyone can think like a pig. Especially when that pig is porcine wonder Mercy Watson!

Can Mercy Watson outwit Animal Control? The porcine wonder's on the lam in this tongue-in-snout adventure!

Mercy's appetite has got her into trouble again. When Eugenia Lincoln's pansies go missing, Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet arrives on the scene. But as she soon discovers, not just anyone can think like a pig. Especially when that pig is porcine wonder Mercy Watson!