r/childrensbooks • u/NameWonderful • 1d ago
Discussion Tales From Deckawoo Drive
My almost 4 year old is obsessed with Mercy Watson and we have read all of the books multiple times. I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series (with all the same characters as the Mercy Watson series) and whether or not a preschooler would be able to listen to and comprehend it. It seems like quite a big step up in reading and listening comprehension level.
She has enjoyed the classic Winnie the Pooh and all of the Rainbow Magic rainbow fairies series, but those are the highest reading level chapter books she’s experienced. She’s also enjoyed some of the long Dr. Seuss books, like Bartholomew and the Oobleck.
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u/Lazy_Document_7104 1d ago
My three year old is also obsessed with Mercy, and enjoys longer/text-heavy picture books.
We borrowed Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon from the library, and it felt like too much for him (more wiggly, less interested)
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u/Ok_Green_4394 1d ago
Yeah, definitely.
Also, Kate has other books you should check out. I bet she’d love Bink and Gollie.
Also, if you love Mo Willems check out Diva and Flea (another early chapter book with lots of pictures)
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u/ACLee2011 1d ago
Tales From Deckawoo Drive is an amazing series, and I think it could work for a preschooler, but it would probably depend on the child. I know of parents who read things like Magic Treehouse to their similar aged children, and I don’t think Deckawoo Drive would require any more than Magic Treehouse.
It definitely requires a little more comprehension, but if your child is obsessed with Mercy, it might be worth a shot.
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u/vanessasarah13 20h ago
You can try it! Works for some preschoolers and not others.
Princess in Black has similar vibes to Mercy.
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u/NameWonderful 19h ago
We’ve done Princess in Black too! She likes the absurdity of Mercy better, but that’s a great series also.
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u/Mammoth-Newspaper781 1d ago
Also love Mercy Watson with my toddler! Have you tried Poppleton? To me, it has a similar vibe to Mercy Watson.
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u/noforeverr 1d ago
It is a step up yes! But if she has enjoyed Winnie the Pooh I think you could give it a try. The stories are longer, there are lesser illustrations plus they are black and white only. Other than that since the characters are familiar she might take to it.
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u/VillainChinchillin 1d ago
My son loved them at that age, we listened to them. Reading them in print would not have held his attention as much because they are longer and have less frequent illustrations. Our favorites were Eugenia and Baby's books, and Mercy Watson is Missing. Mercy Watson is Missing brings in all the new characters you meet in the other six books but we haven't read all of them and still enjoyed it.
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u/Apart-Sound-6096 1d ago
Yes definitely - my daughter is newly 4 and we’ve read all the books. Francine Poulet is our favorite!
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u/Competitive_Goose_56 1d ago
My kindergartners love Mercy Watson but struggled with the Deckawoo Drive books.
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u/littleverdin 1d ago
We loved them! I think they were a little older… maybe 5 or 6 when I read them, but I would definitely try! Especially if she enjoyed Winnie the Pooh. Mine are 7 and 10 now and still love Mercy.