(2) K-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. In this Mercy Watson pictre-book spinoff, young Stella Endicott is feeling the Christmas spirit. She asks her neighbors to go caroling, but all the humans are either too busy or not interested. Eugenia Lincoln even closes the door in her face. So it's just Stella, pig Mercy Watson, cat General Washington, and horse Maybelline who raise their voices in song. "It was very loud, and very joyful, and not very musical." When the other residents hear them, they all join in--even Eugenia Lincoln. As usual, Van Dusen's humorous, sharply characterized illustrations pair well with DiCamillo's mix of down-to-earth language and transporting lyricism. "They stood together, and above their heads, above Deckawoo Drive, above the tired and hopeful earth, the stars were shining, shining, shining down."

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) 1-3 Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. This fifth entry in the series (Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, rev. 9/14, and sequels) stars young Stella Endicott. Stella is enchanted with her new second-grade teacher, Miss Liliana (whom she likens to a good fairy); annoyed by smug know-it-all classmate Horace Broom; and excited about the homework assignment: to write a poem containing a metaphor. Then she and Horace argue loudly in class (a Miss Liliana no-no) and are sent to the principal's office, resulting in an unlooked-for adventure, new understandings, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Several fellow residents of Deckawoo Drive (including pig Mercy Watson) make guest appearances, but ­DiCamillo keeps the focus tightly on Stella; and the familiar and successful DiCamillo recipe of humor mixed with wisdom is much in evidence here. As Stella and Horace are making their trepidatious way to see the principal, the school maintenance engineer shows them his neatly organized supply closet to illustrate a point about life: "'Are you speaking metaphorically, Mr. Murphy?' said Stella. 'I'm speaking janitorially,' said Mr. Murphy." And: "There's always surprises...There's patterns, and there's surprises, and that's good. It makes things interesting." As ever, Van Dusen's frequent illustrations add so much, capturing with apt exaggeration all the drama, humor, and emotions of Stella's adventure- and metaphor-filled day.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(3) 1-3 Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Stern, rigid Eugenia and her sweet sister Baby are back for a fourth transitional-reader adventure, in which Eugenia mysteriously receives an accordion in the mail. When her various schemes for getting rid of the "frivolous" instrument are foiled, Eugenia finally unbends enough to experience the satisfaction of making music. The writing is as lively as ever, as are the frequent black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis

(3) PS Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. A mischievous little blue monster reluctantly settles down for the night as her father reads to her. The book-within-a-book's message: even Bigfoot, aliens, dragons, giants, and the like "need to sleep." Although the deftly wrought rhymes, with their repeated refrain, are soothing, the big, bold art is anything but. Perfect for small children who--like this monster--are not quite ready for bedtime.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(2) 1-3 Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. In this third entry, the Lincoln sisters--hard-nosed, humorless Eugenia and soft-hearted, oppressed Lucille ("Baby")--take center stage. On a train trip by herself, Baby makes friends and gains self-confidence, and Eugenia unbends enough to admit that she missed her. Generous illustrations add to our understanding of the characters in this story, a portrait of timeless small-town America that takes pleasure in language.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(2) 1-3 Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Animal-control officer Francine receives a call about an unusual raccoon on a roof. Unfortunately, she loses her confidence, then her balance; a three-story fall ensures that neither will be easy to regain. The wacky plot comes smartly together with humorous insights and lively illustrations. The Mercy Watson spinoff series' second volume continues to explore the neighborhood and expand on its comical characters.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2015

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. The apocryphal story referred to in the title is what most people know about Taft. Whether or not it's based on fact, it's a good subject for a picture book, and Van Dusen's gouache cartoons suit the escalating silliness detailing progressively more absurd proposals of methods to dislodge the portly Chief Executive from the tub. A refreshing look at presidential indignity.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(2) 1-3 Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Leroy Ninker, the "reformed thief" from the Mercy Watson books, dreams of being a cowboy. "Every cowboy needs a horse," so he purchases "old but good" and "very exceptionally cheap" Maybelline. Unfortunately, acquiring a horse and keeping one turn out to be two different challenges, but Leroy rises to the occasion. Van Dusen's shiny-faced characters infuse the multi-layered tale with extra energy and expression.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2014

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Mr. and Mrs. Watson take pet pig Mercy to a drive-in movie. There, Mercy smells hot buttered popcorn and hops out of the family's large-finned pink convertible to investigate. She samples popcorn from every car, creating an uproar as the townsfolk, many of whom were introduced in earlier books, chase after her. The story's slapstick chaos is echoed in humorous gouache illustrations.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Mischievous pet pig Mercy eats grumpy neighbor Eugenia Lincoln's pansies. Furious, Eugenia calls in animal-control officer Francine Poulet to find and capture the pig. A spirited search ensues, as Poulet tries to "think like a pig." As usual, the cheerful gouache illustrations portray Mercy's comical adventures, as well as the Watsons, the neighbors, and Poulet, with great humor.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. In Mercy’s fourth appearance, the "porcine wonder" dons a princess costume for Halloween and looks forward to her favorite treat: hot buttered toast. Nasty Eugenia’s new cat almost spoils the night, but because "Mercy loved a chase," the cat ends up stuck in a tree. The vibrant gouache illustrations with retro details match the text's energy.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. In her second and third adventures, Mercy, the buttered-toast-loving "porcine wonder" and almost-human pet of the Watson family, unexpectedly foils a robber (Crime)and drives a pink Cadillac (Ride). The bright, cheery gouache paintings, with their caricatures of the shiny, chubby Watsons and the thin Lincoln sisters, winkingly portray a sunny world of suburbia. Review covers these titles: Mercy Watson Fights Crime and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. In her second and third adventures, Mercy, the buttered-toast-loving "porcine wonder" and almost-human pet of the Watson family, unexpectedly foils a robber (Crime)and drives a pink Cadillac (Ride). The bright, cheery gouache paintings, with their caricatures of the shiny, chubby Watsons and the thin Lincoln sisters, winkingly portray a sunny world of suburbia. Review covers these titles: Mercy Watson Fights Crime and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt