"A New Home" and "A Piglet Named Mercy" from Candlewick Press children's picture books [Review & Giveaway - USA/CANADA]

A New Home by Tania de Regil 4-8 years

My thoughts:  This is a lovely and gentle look at the loss and gain of moving from one location to another as experienced by children. Two children, with their families, make major moves. One move is from Mexico City, Mexico to New York City, NY. The other child and family makes the move from New York City to Mexico City.

The are grieving over the pleasures, friends, sights, activities they have in their present locales that they will be leaving behind. The story is told two-fold - one page is the boy moving from New York and the opposing page shows the same line of the story and picture for the girl moving from Mexico City to New York.

Much is quite similar.

Quite a nice look at the thoughts that pass through a child's mind when confronted with a major change.

About the book: As a girl in Mexico City and a boy in New York City ponder moving to each other’s locale, it becomes clear that the two cities — and the two children — are more alike than they might think.

But I’m not sure I want to leave my home.
I’m going to miss so much.

Moving to a new city can be exciting. But what if your new home isn’t anything like your old home? Will you make friends? What will you eat? Where will you play? In a cleverly combined voice — accompanied by wonderfully detailed illustrations depicting parallel urban scenes — a young boy conveys his fears about moving from New York City to Mexico City while, at the same time, a young girl expresses trepidation about leaving Mexico City to move to New York City. Tania de Regil offers a heartwarming story that reminds us that home may be found wherever life leads. Fascinating details about each city are featured at the end.

A Piglet Named Mercy by Kate DiCamillo 3-7 years PS-2nd gr

My thoughts:  The author Kate DiCamillo is responsible for bringing joy and pleasure to a multitude of children through her thoughtful and fun books. Her chapter book series about the pig, Mercy Watson, was published by Candlewick Press 2005-2009 ranks on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Now, we have a prequel to that famous pig's story - A Piglet Named Mercy. And in this children's picture book we have the initial introduction of Mercy to the Watson household. They lived on Deckerwoo Drive where absolutely everything was ordinary. But one day Mrs. Watson was wondering a bit about wishing for something "different" in their lives.

And that evening something different did happen. A piglet happened! And things were never the same for then things started happening..... especially with the neighbors.

This series of books was published long after my children were grown. Looking at the books online, I see that they would be highly sought after by kids and parents alike. The original series consisted of early reader chapter books. Highly illustrated. This newest book, being a younger child's picture book, is really scaled down in story line but the illustrations are larger versions of the same great style and development of characters that the chapter books held. The picture book just has larger pictures and less text.

A real win for introducing Mercy to the very young child in preparation for the entire chapter book series.

About the book: Can Mercy Watson outwit Animal Control? The porcine wonder’s on the lam in her latest tongue-in-snout adventure! #1 Best Sellerin Children's Adoption Books

Mercy's appetite has got her into trouble again. When Eugenia Lincoln's pansies go missing, Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet arrives on the scene. But as she soon discovers, not just anyone can think like a pig. Especially when that pig is porcine wonder Mercy Watson!

GIVEAWAY

Enter to Win Both Books
2 Winners!
Begins May 11

Ends June 9 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA and Canada addresses only.

(No P.O. Boxes, please. Phone Number required for Canadian winner)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE:I received complimentary copies from Candlewick Press to facilitate this review.Opinions are mine alone and are freely given. Winners' prizes are provided and shipped directly to the winner by the publisher.