Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen
Book 2 in the Mercy Watson series
Pages: 80
Published: 2006
Age: 6+
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!
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Nominee (2007)
About the Mercy Watson Series
Books in series order
- 1.Mercy Watson to the Rescue(2005)
- 2.Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride(2006)
- 3.Mercy Watson Fights Crime(2006)
- 4.Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise(2007)
- 5.Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig(2008)
- 6.Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes(2009)
Reading age: 6+ years
Mr and Mrs Watson have a pig named Mercy. Mercy enjoys driving cars, going trick-or-treating, and a good chase. But above all else, Mercy enjoys toast with a great deal of butter on it. It is her search for toast that often gets Mercy into all sorts of hilarious trouble.
With gorgeous illustrations and a wicked sense of humour, the Mercy Watson series is sure to engage young readers with a mischevious streak and a love of animals.
Readers who enjoy this series will also enjoy the companion series, Tales from Deckawoo Drive.

