2006
WISE Score
Amazon
A pig in a pink convertible chasing the dream of buttered toast—it’s the ultimate low-stakes gateway drug for early readers.
4.8
4.8View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
If you’re trying to move a kid from picture books to chapter books, this series is the gold standard. It’s not 'brain rot' and it’s not homework; it’s just a very funny book about a very spoiled pig.
It’s 20 years old but feels timeless because buttered toast and car rides never go out of style. Mercy is a chaotic neutral icon who just wants what we all want: snacks and a breeze in our hair. Highly recommended for any home library.
Perfect for the 5-to-8 crowd. If your 4-year-old has the patience for a short chapter book read-aloud, they'll love the pictures and the pig's antics.
It’s a warm, hilarious story about a family that loves their 'porcine wonder' unconditionally. The stakes are low, the buttered toast is plentiful, and the tone is perfectly balanced for young children.
A pig who thinks she's a person and wants to drive a pink convertible is the right kind of absurd. The retro-style illustrations add a layer of visual whimsy that sparks curiosity.
Zero red flags. The most 'dangerous' thing that happens is a pig sitting in a driver's lap, which is played for pure slapstick comedy. No scary themes or inappropriate language.
Kate DiCamillo is a master of using 'big' words (like porcine and wonder) in a way that early readers can actually grasp. It’s a perfect bridge from picture books to longer fiction.
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