Mercy Watson to the Rescue

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she’s a porcine wonder. And to the good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons’ bed. BOOM! CRACK!

Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen have created something truly special here: a chapter book that makes early readers laugh out loud while building confidence with every page. This is the adventure that started it all — the first in the beloved Mercy Watson series that has captured hearts in classrooms and at bedtime across the country.

When the Watsons’ bed crashes through the floor in the middle of the night, it’s up to Mercy (and her love of buttered toast) to save the day. The story unfolds with perfect pacing for young readers transitioning from picture books to chapter books, with Van Dusen’s vibrant, expressive illustrations appearing on nearly every spread.

What makes this book shine:

• Short, digestible chapters perfect for building reading stamina
• Humor that works for kids and the adults reading aloud
• A lovable protagonist who happens to be a toast-obsessed pig
• The kind of gentle chaos that makes children giggle

Whether you’re looking for a first chapter book, a read-aloud that won’t bore you to tears, or simply a story about an unforgettable pig, Mercy Watson to the Rescue delivers. Fair warning: your child may start requesting buttered toast for breakfast. Daily.

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