Mercy Watson

Kate DiCamillo long since conquered children’s publishing with a Newbery, Boston Horn Book Award, and as a National Book Award finalist. 

Two films based on her books didn’t hurt her reputation any

(though I thought the animated Tale of Desperaux ill-advised to jettison most of the original story).

But the books which most appeal to my family are her starter chapter picture books starring the “porcine wonder,” 

Mercy Watson (Theodore Geisel award). 

Mr. and Mrs. Watson as depicted by illustrator van Dusen 

are rather round and pink themselves, so perhaps their adoption of a pig as surrogate daughter should

not surprise us.

Mercy’s immense fondness for buttered toast and willingness to sleep tucked up in a child’s bed may puzzle adults, 

but children rarely worry about such trifles,

focusing instead on Mercy's attempts to drive a car 

and capture a thief (among other exploits).

Again, the series format allows kids a chance to get familiar with the characters,

who include not only the Watsons, but their neighbors, 

the elderly Lincoln sisters (Eugenia and Baby, who both embody and defy older women in kids' stories stereotypes),

and various bit players like Officer Tomallelo.
I've mentioned Mercy before, as a librarian pick, and
if you're interested in finding other good choices for elementary readers, you may want to visit that blog 
entry. 

Catwings

Last year my 8 year old and I read 

Catwings, Le Guin's story of four

little kittens with something extra.

At the time he was still 

transitioning from full color 

pictures to sketches, and Schindler
includes both full page and smaller
ones tucked into the text. Most 
importantly, there are lots of pictures 
and they show the action.

So this year I brought home Catwings

Return, and my nine year old read the 
first chapter to me.

He just finished reading
the book with his dad last
night.


My boy has changed how he reads
aloud with us for school. 
When he was eight he
insisted we take turns. He would
read the left pages and Dad or I
would read the right.


Now he insists on reading all the 
pages himself. I don't know what
changed.


We both read when we're reading
for fun to his younger brother.


He does seem to understand more
of the story this time. With persistent
questioning, 
(I gently ignore "I don't know" 
and rephrase the question)
he described Catwings Return.
"They're looking for their mommy."


Ursula K. LeGuin is one of my favorite
authors. Her Earthsea series (starting
with A Wizard of Earthsea) is a 
wonderful choice for teens or 
advanced tweens, and with its
emphasis on names might well
appeal to teens with spectrum
disorders.



Catwings, of course, 
aims at a much younger group 
and is most appropriate
for elementary school readers.


"it was true that all the 
mastery of names Ged 
had toiled to win that 
year was the mere start 
of what he must go on 
learning all his life."
- A Wizard of Earthsea


Yours at the start,
Spectrum Mom