Every porcine wonder was once a piglet! Celebrate the joy of a new arrival with this endearing picture book prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mercy Watson series. Mr Watson and Mrs Watson live ordinary lives. Sometimes their lives feel a bit too ordinary. Sometimes they wish something different would happen. And one day it does, when someone unpredictable finds her way to their front door... In a delightful origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series, a tiny piglet brings love (and chaos) to Deckawoo Drive - and the Watsons' lives will never be the same.

Yippie-i-oh! Saddle up for the first in a spin-off series starring favorite characters from Kate DiCamillo s "New York Times" best-selling Mercy Watson books. Leroy Ninker has a hat, a lasso, and boots. What he doesn t have is a horse until he meets Maybelline, that is, and then it s love at first sight. Maybelline loves spaghetti and sweet nothings, and she loves Leroy, too. But when Leroy forgets the third and final rule of caring for Maybelline, disaster ensues. Can Leroy wrestle fate to the ground, rescue the horse of his heart, and lasso loneliness for good? Join Leroy, Maybelline, and a cast of familiar characters Stella, Frank, Mrs. Watson, and everyone s favorite porcine wonder, Mercy for some hilarious and heartfelt horsing around on Deckawoo Drive."

Mercy is dressed up in a pink princess dress for Halloween - but when the neighbours' cat leads the Watsons on a hysterical parade, all manner of tricks, treats and toast ensue.

With stunning artwork and a rhyming text, the illustrator of the Mercy Watson books tells a tale of human-animal connection full of humor and heart.
When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community -- and a rare hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

"From the Hardcover edition."

It's the best thing since buttered toast -- Mercy Watson in paperback! "
"Mercy loves nothing more than a ride in the convertible, with the wind tickling her ears and the sun on her snout. But one day the Watsons' elderly neighbor Baby Lincoln pops up in the backseat in hopes of some "folly and adventure" -- and in the chaos that ensues, an exuberant Mercy ends up behind the wheel!

The porcine wonder is off to the drive-in -- and driven to follow that buttery smell -- in a comic crescendo that reunites a familiar cast of characters.
Some may find it wonky to take a pig to the movies. But not Mr. and Mrs. Watson, who think the title of the film, WHEN PIGS FLY, is inspirational. And not their beloved Mercy, who is inspired by the fact that the drive-in proudly serves real butter on its Bottomless Bucket of popcorn. So when they pull up in their convertible, Mercy lifts her snout and becomes a pig on a mission -- for what is more heavenly than being hot on the trail of a true butter smell? Masterful slapstick director Kate DiCamillo sends Mercy on a delirious chase, followed by a trail of hapless rescuers whom fans will recognize from prior episodes. And Chris Van Dusen's comic retro illustrations perfectly capture a nostalgic pastime -- along with the newest antics of a charmingly single-minded pig.

From a master of visual comedy comes the royally satisfying tale of a head swollen out of proportion and a blowhard brought down to earth.
Hugo is a tiny king with a very large ego. But when he mistreats a villager who also happens to be a sorceress, the spell she casts causes his head to literally swell. The more he boasts, the bigger it gets, until it finally topples the mini monarch right off his castle Who will cut this royal pain down to size? And, more important, will anyone live happily ever after? Chris Van Dusen's hilarious story is matched only by his outrageous illustrations. Together, they make for a picture book that is sometimes fairy tale, sometimes cautionary tale, and always laugh-out loud funny.

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and 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 Watson's bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash to alert the fire department, her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind like a sudden craving for their neighbor's sugar cookies. Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson an ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that's destined to be a classic.

The amiable Mercy Watson takes an automobile ride she'll never forget in the second tale of an ebullient first chapter-book series by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson's porcine wonder, Mercy, loves nothing more than a ride in the car. It takes a fair amount of nudging and bribing and a "You are such a good sport, darling" to get the portly pig out of the driver's seat, but once the convertible is on the road, Mercy loves the feel of the wind tickling her ears and the sun on her snout. One day the Watsons' motoring ritual takes an unexpected turn, however, when their elderly neighbor Baby Lincoln pops up in the backseat in hopes of some "folly and adventure" -- and in the chaos that ensues, an exuberant Mercy ends up behind the wheel Soon there's a policeman on her tail, a struggle for the brake, and a blissfully airborne Mercy. Of course, it's nothing that an extra helping of buttered toast can't fix

With enough lunch for three, Mr. Magee and his dog Dee head out to the sea. But what begins as a fun day in the sun turns a bit bumpy when onel playful whale decides to say hello. Soon the crew that once was floating finds themselves flying! How will they get down? Who will come to their rescue? And when will they ever get to eat lunch? "Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee" is a great read-aloud, sure to provide fits of giggles.

Oh, Mercy Pig out on the first six adventures in the New York Times best-selling series, all tucked together in one enticing box--the perfect gift
Foiling a robber, driving a car, squeezing into a tutu--is there anything the porcine wonder won't do in her single-minded pursuit of treats, buttered toast, or just a rollicking fun time? And who knows what other adventures twinkle in her mischievous eyes? Here, for Mercy Watson's loyal fans and new friends, comes a big fat paperback collection of pig tales that will have readers squealing with delight. Included are:
MERCY WATSON TO THE RESCUE
MERCY WATSON GOES FOR A RIDE
MERCY WATSON FIGHTS CRIME
MERCY WATSON: PRINCESS IN DISGUISE
MERCY WATSON THINKS LIKE A PIG
MERCY WATSON: SOMETHING WONKY THIS WAY COMES

In this exuberant companion to If I Built a Car, a boy fantasizes about his dream school--from classroom to cafeteria to library to playground. My school will amaze you. My school will astound. By far the most fabulous school to be found! Perfectly planned and impeccably clean. On a scale, 1 to 10, it's more like 15! And learning is fun in a place that's fun, too. If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels and a trampoline basketball court in the gym, a robo-chef to serve lunch in the cafeteria, field trips to Mars, and a whole lot more. The inventive boy who described his ideal car and house in previous books is dreaming even bigger this time.

One winter morning, Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee, head out bright and early to learn how to ski. But what begins as a pleasant day in the snow quickly goes downhill when a run-in with a curious moose sends them flying through the air and hanging above an abyss How will Dee and Magee find their way out of this snowy situation? Chris Van Dusen, the creator of Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee and A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, has craftedyet another fun-filled adventure for Magee fans old and new.

Mercy's appetite gets her into trouble again in this tale. 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.

With stunning artwork and a rhyming text, the illustrator of the Mercy Watson books tells a tale of human-animal connection full of humor and heart.
When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community -- and a rare hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

Mercy turns crime-fighter to track down the thief who has stolen the Watsons' precious toaster, thus denying her her favourite snack. Nosy neighbours, astonished firemen, a puzzled policeman and the ever-doting Watsons return for a ham-tastic adventure.

The beguiling porcine wonder turns bucking bronco to snare a robber in this hilarious new addition to the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series.
Leroy Ninker is a small man with a big dream: he wants to be a cowboy, but for now he's just a thief. In fact, Leroy is robbing the Watsons' kitchen right this minute As he drags the toaster across the counter -- screeeeeech -- and drops it into his bag -- clannngggg -- little does he know that a certain large pig who loves toast with a great deal of butter is stirring from sleep. Even less could he guess that comedy of errors (not to mention the buttery sweets in his pocket) will soon lead this little man on the wild and raucous rodeo ride he's always dreamed of Nosy neighbors, astonished firemen, a puzzled policeman, and the ever-doting Watsons return for a new tongue-in-snout adventure about Kate DiCamillo's delightfully single-minded pig.