(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- If you want to know about a lovable pig named Mercy Watson, ask practically any juvenile reader. If you want to know how the character became a kids’ icon, ask creator Kate DiCamillo during her Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The event begins at 2:00pm.

The chat will coincide with the finale of the award-winning Mercy Watson early chapter book series about an adventurous pig with loving owners. Mercy lands in hilarious mischief but Mr. and Mrs. Watson always see the good in her, a marvelous metaphor for parent-child relationships.

Kate will discuss her creation of likeable, identifiable characters and situations in the series and its sequel, Tales from Deckawoo Drive. She is also the author of the Bink & Gollie and Orris and Timble books, available in print, audiobook and eBook versions at the Ocean County Library.

Kate’s children’s tales garnered the American Library Association’s Newbery Medal and Newbery Award, the Theodore Geisel Medal, and the Boston Globe Horn Book Award and have been adapted into movies and an opera. The Library of Congress appointed Kate a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita.

Please register at https://libraryc.org/theoceancountylibrary to attend this free program, to view the upcoming schedule, and to view previous talks. Registrants will receive links to the program by email and may submit questions for the author when signing up.