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A Very Mercy Christmas

Part of Mercy Watson

Author Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Hardcover

$18.99 US

Candlewick

10"W x 10.94"H x 0.38"D | 17 oz | 26 per carton

On sale Sep 27, 2022 | 32 Pages | 9781536213607

Age 3-7 years

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For fans of Mercy Watson, old and new, comes a joyful crescendo of favorite characters in a picture-book celebration of the quiet miracles the holidays bring. Mercy ornament included!

Stella Endicott felt joyful. She felt like something miraculous might happen. She wanted to sing.

When Stella gets the sudden idea to go caroling, she has a little trouble getting someone to join her. Her brother, Frank, is not good at spontaneity. The Watsons are very involved in a precarious fruitcake attempt (but happy to send their pig, Mercy, out for the occasion). Eugenia Lincoln declines, a bit rudely, to accompany on her accordion, and Horace Broom is too busy studying planetary movement. Will Stella need to sing by herself—with enthusiastic contributions from the pig, the cat, and the horse she picks up on the way? Or does the evening hold a miracle Stella hadn’t expected? With tender affection for Mercy Watson and all her Deckawoo Drive friends, Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen offer a picture-book homage to the season that is perfectly suited for family sharing—perhaps with some cups of hot cocoa and a stack of well-buttered toast.

Kate DiCamillo is the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, which received the Newbery Medal; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, which received a Newbery Honor; and THE TIGER RISING, which was named a National Book Award Finalist. She says, "Mercy Watson had been in my head for a long time, but I couldn't figure out how to tell her story. One day, my friend Alison was going on and on and on about the many virtues of toast. As I listened to her, I could see Mercy nodding in emphatic agreement. Sometimes you don't truly understand a character until you know what she loves above all else." View titles by Kate DiCamillo

Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE, and IF I BUILT A CAR. He says, "When I first read Mercy Watson to the Rescue, the characters were very vivid in my mind, and they just came to life when I started painting. This is exactly the type of story I love to illustrate – a wonderfully silly adventure with lots of action." This is his first book with Candlewick Press. View titles by Chris Van Dusen

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Thanks to DiCamillo’s quirky and endearing characters and subtle use of scene, [this story] feels like a bit of Christmas magic. . . . This celebration of community lit from the spark of just one joyful child anchors this familiar, warm story. . . . Has to be said: It hits all the right notes.
—Kirkus Reviews

Expressive, pink-flushed characters sparkle in scenes bedecked with festive cheer in the winsome illustrations of this holiday tale.
—Foreword Reviews

Van Dusen’s cool tones, saturated colors, and expressiveness pair well with the written words, providing nuance. . . a heartwarming Christmas story that emphasizes being kind to one another.
—School Library Journal

In this latest Deckawoo Drive picture-book spin-off, young Stella Endicott is feeling the Christmas spirit. . . . As usual, Van Dusen’s humorous, sharply characterized illustrations pair well with DiCamillo’s mix of down-to-earth language and transporting lyricism.
—The Horn Book

Singing Christmas carols with kids is one of the great joys of the season and this sweet picture book will inspire even the most tuneless among us to join in.
—Amazon Book Review

For both newcomers and fans of Mercy Watson and the characters of Deckawoo Drive alike, this Christmas tale is sure to put a smile on your kid’s face. . . . With fun, colorful illustrations, it’s a celebration of the small miracles the holidays bring. Best of all, when you order this book, a Mercy ornament is included!
—Romper

Fans of the Mercy Watson series will love this holiday installment.
—VeryWell Family

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