Independent Reading Level: Grades 3-5

Independent Reading Level: 1-3

Leroy Ninker is a small man with a big dream: he wants to be a cowboy, but for now he's just a thief. In fact, Leroy is robbing the Watsons' kitchen right this minute! As he drags the toaster across the counter -- screeeeeech -- and drops it into his bag -- clannngggg -- little does he know that a certain large pig who loves toast with a great deal of butter is stirring from sleep. Even less could he guess that comedy of errors (not to mention the buttery sweets in his pocket) will soon lead this little man on the wild and raucous rodeo ride he's always dreamed of! Nosy neighbors, astonished firemen, a puzzled policeman, and the ever-doting Watsons return for a tongue-in-snout adventure about Kate DiCamillo's delightfully single-minded pig.

Independent Reading: 5-8

I’m reading through these books as part of the read-aloud program I’ve put together for my three year-old son. I firmly believe he’s still too young for any kind of formal education, but I also passionately believe that the most powerful thing I can do to shape their education is read aloud with them. That being said, the Mercy Watson series are PERFECT for kids ages 3-6. My three year-old giggles all the way through, and even my five year-old is engaged and chuckling the entire time. I read no more than three chapters per day in order to accommodate the limited (read: almost nonexistent...) attention span of a three year-old. But my five year-old always begs for more! ( )