Beginning chapter-book reader
Start with Mercy Watson to the Rescue for short chapters, large type, and plentiful full-color illustrations.
Book Series · 6 Books
Mercy Watson Books
In order from Mercy Watson to the Rescue to Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes.
Mercy Watson is a cheerful, impulsive pig whose devotion to buttered toast turns ordinary life on Deckawoo Drive into warm, fast-paced comedy. Short chapters and Chris Van Dusen's colorful pictures make the original adventures a gentle bridge into independent reading.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Mercy Watson Books
Begin with Mercy Watson to the Rescue and read the six original chapter books in order. Each adventure stands on its own, but neighbors and running jokes accumulate through Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes.
Tales from Mercy Watson's Deckawoo Drive is the next chapter-book series. Its seven longer stories give familiar neighbors starring roles, and Volume 7, Mercy Watson Is Missing!, brings the whole neighborhood together for the chapter-series finale.
The Mercy Watson picture books are shorter read-aloud stories for younger children. Love and Mercy joins that line on December 8, 2026 and is not included among the currently published books on this page.
Sources: Candlewick's complete six-book Mercy Watson set, Candlewick's Deckawoo Drive finale page, Candlewick's Love and Mercy page.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The stories include slapstick accidents, a collapsing floor, a car taken for a joyride, a comic burglar, animal-control chases, ghosts that may not be ghosts, and Mercy becoming lost. Suspense resolves reassuringly, injuries are not graphic, and warmth for the eccentric neighbors outweighs the danger.
Mercy herself often follows food rather than instructions, so successful outcomes are not always the result of good judgment. The narration lets children enjoy that joke while recurring adults and neighbors model care, persistence, and community.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Choose between short chapter books, longer neighborhood stories, and picture-book read-alouds.
Ready for a longer story
Move to Leroy Ninker Saddles Up after the original Mercy books. Deckawoo Drive follows familiar neighbors in longer adventures.
Preschool read-aloud
Try A Piglet Named Mercy for a picture-book introduction to how Mercy joined the Watson family.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1597
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2005
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
By Kate DiCamillo, Chris Van Dusen (Illustrator)
A family's life is turned upside down when their bed falls into a hole in the floor
68 pages· 1,939 words· Est. 22 min read
5.4/7 Bookroo
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Meet Mercy, a pig with a penchant for buttered toast and mischief. When the Watsons' bed crashes through the floor, Mercy dashes off, supposedly to get help. But is she really after their neighbors' sugar cookies? Dive into Mercy's whimsical world where every night holds a new adventure and a hint of chaos. Will Mercy's escapades bring help or just more hilarity? Discover the delightful antics of this porcine wonder in a tale that promises laughter and surprises at every turn.
Complete original series · 6 early chapter books
Mercy Watson's Adventures
6 books · Published 2005–2009
Six short, fully illustrated stories about Mercy, the Watsons, their neighbors, and an enduring love of buttered toast.
#1
Sale price
$1597
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2005
A family's life is turned upside down when their bed falls into a hole in the floor
#2
Sale price
$1597
Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride
Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2006
A pig named Mercy loves to ride in the car with her owner Mr. Watson every Saturday, but things take a turn when she decides to take the wheel
#3
Sale price
$1498
Mercy Watson Fights Crime
Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2006
A pig named Mercy thwarts a thief's plans and leads a wild chase through the neighborhood
#4
Sale price
$1498
Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise
Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2007
A pig named Mercy goes trick-or-treating with her owners on Halloween night, but things don't go as planned when they visit the Lincoln Sisters' house
#5
Sale price
$1498
Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig
Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2008
A pig named Mercy gets into trouble when she eats her neighbor's flowers and must be caught by an animal control officer
#6
Sale price
$1498
Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes
Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2009
A pig named Mercy goes on a wild adventure at the movies with her owners and their friends
Complete follow-up series · 7 longer stories
Tales from Mercy Watson's Deckawoo Drive
7 books · Published 2014–2023
Familiar neighbors take center stage in seven numbered volumes for readers ready for longer chapters and a little more emotional depth.
#1
Sale price
$759
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2014
A man working at a drive-in theater dreams of being a cowboy and gets a horse
#2
Sale price
$759
Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2015
A highly decorated animal control officer must confront her fears and doubts after a traumatic event forces her to reevaluate her career and identity
#3
Sale price
$759
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2016
A young girl embarks on a journey to discover herself and find her place in the world
#4
Sale price
$759
Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2018
A practical and sensible person receives an unexpected package that changes her life
#5
Sale price
$674
Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2021
A young girl navigates the challenges of second grade with the help of her teacher and her own imagination.
#6
Sale price
$674
Franklin Endicott and the Third Key
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2022
A young boy named Frank Endicott tries to overcome his many worries and fears with the help of his friends and neighbors.
#7
Sale price
$1597
Mercy Watson Is Missing!
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2023
A beloved pig goes missing and a community comes together to find her
Stories for younger read-alouds
Mercy Watson Picture Books
2 books · Published 2019–2022
Short, unnumbered picture books that introduce Mercy's world to preschoolers. The forthcoming Love and Mercy should join this section after December 8, 2026.
Sale price
$1797
A Piglet Named Mercy
Picture Book · Ages 2–5 · 2019
A piglet shows up at the Watsons' house and changes their lives.
Sale price
$1797
A Very Mercy Christmas
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2022
A young girl tries to spread joy by going caroling with her friends and neighbors.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Mercy Watson series?
There are 6 books in the Mercy Watson series. It began with Mercy Watson to the Rescue in 2005, and the newest book, Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes, was published in 2009.
What order should you read the Mercy Watson books in?
Start with Mercy Watson to the Rescue and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #6.
What ages are the Mercy Watson books best for?
The series is best for ages 5–9, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Mercy Watson book is the longest?
Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes (Book #6) is the longest book in the series at 2,238 words (86 pages).
Which Mercy Watson book is the shortest?
Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Book #4) is the shortest at 1,833 words (70 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Mercy Watson to life.
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