Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in helping struggling readers build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.
  • Email this page
  • Print-friendly version of this page
 

Featured books by

Kate DiCamillo

Memorable characters find themselves in sometimes unusual places — literally and figuratively — in DiCamillo's books. Meet mice and pigs and a china doll, each with human characteristics as well as humans with large problems but lots of heart. Enjoy these alone or with a friend.

Because of Winn-Dixie
Because of Winn-Dixie
By: Kate DiCamillo
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Soon after India Opal and her father, a preacher, move to a small Florida town, Opal meets an ugly stray mutt in the local grocery store, and names him after it. Opal and Winn Dixie build a unique family from an assortment of town residents for a poignant and very funny novel told from Opal's point of view.

Bink & Gollie
Bink & Gollie
By: Kate DiCamillo & Allison McGhee
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Bink and Gollie are as different as possible in appearance, likes, and styles. In spite of their dissimilar approaches, the girls remain the best of friends in what may be the first of a fresh new series.

Bink & Gollie: Two for One
Bink & Gollie: Two for One
By: Kate DiCamillo & Allison McGhee
Illustrated by: Tony Fucile
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Best friends don't have to be alike, just look at tall Gollie and short Bink! They share a day at the state fair playing Whack-a-Duck, a talent show, and a visit to Madame Prunely. The line drawings capture the humor, the fun of a fair and the solid friendship of this appealing duo first introduced in Bink & Golly.

Great Joy
Great Joy
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Bagram Ibatoulline
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

When Frances sees an organ grinder and his monkey sleeping outside of their apartment, she can think of little else — even during the Christmas pageant. It is then she finds just the right words. Soft, evocative illustrations enhance this touching story about concern and caring.

Mercy Watson Fights Crime
Mercy Watson Fights Crime
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Chris Van Dusen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Mercy loves buttered toast, so she assumes someone is making it when she hears the noise in the kitchen. What she finds, however, is a thief trying to steal the toaster! What follows is funny, fast, and very much in keeping for Mercy Watson.

Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig
Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Chris Van Dusen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

When Mercy Watson, the Watson's beloved pet pig, eats the neighbors' flowers Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet is called in to capture the culprit. In order to do so, Officer Poulet finds she must think like a pig! Humor abounds in this easy novel with a very satisfying conclusion for all.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Chris Van Dusen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

This is the first of the series of entertaining and engaging books about Mercy Watson, a charming pig adopted by a human couple. Here Mercy inadvertently saves the day, or at least her humans, amid a humorous series of events.

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise
Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Chris Van Dusen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

What should a pink pig don for Halloween? A pink princess costume, of course. Mercy is reluctant until the mention of treats is made. This is as lively and funny as the other books about this porcine prima donna.

The Mercy Watson Collection: Volume 1
The Mercy Watson Collection: Volume 1
By: Kate DiCamillo
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Mercy, the delightful pig adopted by the Watson family, gets mixed up in all kinds of humorous adventures in this collection from Newbery winner Kate DiCamillo.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Bagram Ibatoulline
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Edward Tulane is a vain and selfish china rabbit whose memorable journey teaches him what love is as well as the pain it can cause. This sparsely told tale is evocative and comes full circle bringing Edward and his story to a satisfying resolution.

The Tale of Despereaux
The Tale of Despereaux
By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Timothy B. Ering
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Family

Distinct stories which involve a mouse, a human princess, and a rat seamlessly come together to surprise and absorb readers as they see the struggle between light and dark in this Newbery-winning novel.

Interested in wonderful interviews with tween and teen authors? Hop on over to our sister site, AdLit.org, and browse the library.

Proceeds from the sale of books purchased at Amazon.com help support the Reading Rockets project. Thank you!

Get our newsletters!

Follow Reading Rockets

Become a fan of Reading Rockets on Facebook! Watch our videos on YouTube Check out our podcasts in iTunes

Daily Lit Quiz

How does his great grandson take Grandpa Green down memory lane?

Walking quickly
Through his well-tended garden
By the hand

Every day you get an answer right, you'll be entered into our monthly drawing for a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com!

Donate to Reading Rockets online

The Literacy Calendar

Find out what's happening! Read Across America, D.E.A.R., día de los niños, and more...

Quotable Quotes

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."
— Dr. Seuss
Reading Rockets Podcasts