Mercy Watson to the Rescue (review)
2005; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 59; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2005.0342
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Publishing and Scholarly Communication
ResumoReviewed by: Mercy Watson to the Rescue Hope Morrison DiCamillo, Kate Mercy Watson to the Rescue; illus. by Chris Van Dusen. Candlewick, 200568p ISBN 0-7636-2270-2$12.99 R Gr. 2-3 In the opening pages of this easy reader, Mercy Watson, beloved pig of Mr. and Mrs. Watson, experiences the familiar nighttime sequence of getting tucked into bed, starting to feel scared, and sneaking into the safety of her caretakers' bed. When the bed starts to fall through the floor, the three sleepy Watsons are suddenly faced with an emergency. Unbeknownst to the Mr. and Mrs., Mercy's gallant leap from the falling double bed is not in fact motivated by bravery but by a sudden hankering for "hot toast with a great deal of butter on it." No matter the intent, Mercy manages to wake the next-door neighbors (a cranky old lady, who believes ardently that "pigs belong on farms," and her more compassionate sister), who call the fire department, who eventually get the Watsons safely out of the bed and into the kitchen, where the Watsons, the firefighters, and the sisters all join together for toast. The simple plot trajectory of this short novel is supported by the careful placement of recurring motifs (most notably, toast), while the Watsons' resounding love for their pig carries the emotional weight. DiCamillo employs enough creative word choices to elevate the story beyond the controlled vocabulary of a first reader, yet the short chapters, large font, double spacing, and easygoing narrative make it approachable for transitional readers. Van Dusen's compositions have a retro feel—the palette revels in 1950s peaches, teals, and golds, while the figures have a Fisher-Price roundness—and they exude life and energy; the slick highlights give shine to the wide-eyed, open-mouthed faces of the cast. Young readers are likely to anticipate seeing more of this "porcine wonder" in future titles. Copyright © 2005 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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