MWC editorial selection · Updated
By Kate DiCamillo
What is it about?
A toast-loving pig turns an ordinary night into a household emergency. Kate DiCamillo makes Mercy’s appetites the engine of the story, with Chris Van Dusen’s pictures supplying much of the comic timing.
Who might enjoy it?
A friendly first chapter book for a reader who wants a complete adventure without a wall of text. Try taking turns: one person reads the narration and the other gives the characters their voices.
Things to consider
Comic household danger and a collapsing bed; read together if sudden accidents feel frightening.
A question to take into your reading
What do the humans think Mercy is doing, and what does Mercy actually want?
Premise and publication context: Publisher: Mercy Watson to the Rescue. Reading-fit suggestions and discussion questions are MWC editorial guidance.
Keep exploring
- Great books for ages 6–8
Five first chapter books for ages 6–8, from funny pigs to junior detectives. Compare reading fit, illustrations and themes, then explore each book.
- The Princess in Black
Pick this for superhero energy in a manageable chapter-book format. It offers an easy way into a continuing series if the first adventure clicks.
- How many words are in a book?
Multiply the number of pages by an estimated average of words per page. At Million Word Club's transparent default of 250 words per page, a 200-page book is estimated at 50,000 words.
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