Synopses & Reviews
Yippie-i-oh! Saddle up for the first in a spin-off series starring favorite characters from Kate DiCamillo's
New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson books.
Leroy Ninker has a hat, a lasso, and boots. What he doesn't have is a horse — until he meets Maybelline, that is, and then its love at first sight. Maybelline loves spaghetti and sweet nothings, and she loves Leroy, too. But when Leroy forgets the third and final rule of caring for Maybelline, disaster ensues. Can Leroy wrestle fate to the ground, rescue the horse of his heart, and lasso loneliness for good? Join Leroy, Maybelline, and a cast of familiar characters — Stella, Frank, Mrs. Watson, and everyone's favorite porcine wonder, Mercy — for some hilarious and heartfelt horsing around on Deckawoo Drive.
Review
"DiCamillo's use of inventive and colorful language and Van Dusen's stylized gouache illustrations make this story click; give this to graduates of the earlier series looking for a bit more of a challenge. Booklist
About the Author
Kate DiCamillo, the author of six books about Mercy Watson, is the beloved and renowned author of many books for young readers, including
Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures and
The Tale of Despereaux, both of which won Newbery Medals. In 2014 she was named the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature. She lives in Minneapolis.
Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of The Circus Ship and King Hugos Huge Ego, and the illustrator of all six books about Mercy Watson. He lives in Maine.