Chris Van Dusen Books in Order

Where to Begin Your Journey with Chris Van Dusen

Chris Van Dusen is celebrated for his signature 1960s-inspired gouache illustrations, playful rhyming structures, and coastal Maine backdrops. For readers new to his work, there are three primary entry points: the whimsical adventures of Mr. Magee, the imaginative "If I Built..." series, and his collaborative illustrations for Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson books. Because most of his primary works are standalone picture books or episodic series, you can begin almost anywhere. However, following the recommended paths below will help young readers get the most out of his character dynamics, style progression, and overlapping universes.

The Mr. Magee Series

Mr. Magee and his loyal dog, Dee, are the characters that launched Chris Van Dusen's career as a children's book author. Inspired by a quirky doodle of a boat stuck high up in a spruce tree, Van Dusen crafted a series that has become a staple of early childhood classrooms. These books are best read in publication order to appreciate how the relationship between Mr. Magee and Dee deepens amidst increasingly wild mishaps:

• Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee (2000): The duo sets sail on a calm morning, only to be propelled high into a treetop by a curious and playful whale.
• A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee (2003): A wilderness getaway goes sideways when a marshmallow-loving bear accidentally unhitches their camper, sending them on a wild ride toward a rushing river.
• Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee (2010): The pair tries their hand at snow skiing, leading to a slippery encounter with a startled moose.

The "If I Built..." Series

Fueled by childhood dreams of futuristic cars and spaceships, this high-energy series features an imaginative young boy named Jack who designs fantastical, high-tech structures. Known for their fast-paced rhymes and detailed, retro-futuristic double-page spreads, these books can be read in any order, though reading them in publication order shows the expanding scale of Jack's structural ambitions:

• If I Built a Car (2005): Jack designs a custom vehicle complete with a snack bar, a pool, and autopilot capabilities. This book won the prestigious E.B. White Read-Aloud Award in 2006.
• If I Built a House (2012): Jack turns his attention to residential architecture, designing a home with a trampoline room, a giant slide, and a robot chef.
• If I Built a School (2019): Classroom learning gets a total makeover with hover-desks, animal parks, and outdoor zip-lines.
• If I Built a Town (2025): Jack takes on urban planning, creating a futuristic town filled with gravity-defying parks and interconnected slide tunnels.

The Mercy Watson Universe (Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen)

While Chris Van Dusen did not write the Mercy Watson books (they are authored by the award-winning Kate DiCamillo), his vintage-style illustrations are inseparable from the identity of the buttered-toast-loving pig. This expanded universe includes the main Mercy Watson early-reader series, prequel/holiday picture books, and the "Tales from Deckawoo Drive" spinoff series. For the complete narrative experience, it is highly recommended to read them in the following order:

1. The Mercy Watson Series

Start with the core series, which introduces the Watson household and their eccentric neighbors on Deckawoo Drive. These should be read in order of publication due to recurring characters and running jokes:

1. Mercy Watson to the Rescue (2005)
2. Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (2006)
3. Mercy Watson Fights Crime (2006)
4. Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (2007)
5. Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig (2008)
6. Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes (2009)

2. The Companion Picture Books

Once you finish the main series, these two picture books offer delightful companion stories that flesh out the Mercy Watson lore:

• A Piglet Named Mercy (2019): A prequel picture book that reveals how Mercy first arrived at the Watsons' home. It can be read first as a chronological entry point, but is often more rewarding after readers already know and love Mercy.
• A Very Mercy Christmas (2022): A festive holiday picture book focusing on caroling and community spirit on Deckawoo Drive.

3. Tales from Deckawoo Drive (Spinoff Series)

This transition series shifts the focus from Mercy to the human residents of Deckawoo Drive. Written as slightly longer chapter books, they feature prominent illustrations by Van Dusen and culminate in an epic crossover finale:

1. Leroy Ninker Saddles Up (2014)
2. Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon (2015)
3. Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? (2016)
4. Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package (2018)
5. Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem (2020)
6. Franklin Endicott and the Third Key (2023)
7. Mercy Watson Is Missing! (2023): The seventh book serves as the grand finale, bringing characters from across both series together in a mystery to find the missing porcine star.

Standalone Picture Books

Written and illustrated by Van Dusen, these standalone stories are perfect for readers looking for quick, self-contained adventures. They do not share continuity but carry his hallmark themes of community, ingenuity, and gentle humor:

• The Circus Ship (2009): Inspired by the real-life 1836 shipwreck of the Royal Tar off the coast of Maine, this story follows a group of circus animals that swim to a nearby island and win over the local residents. It is widely considered one of Van Dusen's finest standalone works.
• King Hugo's Huge Ego (2011): A cautionary, rhyming fairy tale about a boastful, short-statured king whose head literally inflates whenever he brags.
• Randy Riley's Really Big Hit (2012): A charming mix of science fiction and sports, following a boy genius who uses his love for space and baseball to save his town from an approaching fireball.
• Hattie & Hudson (2017): Van Dusen's first non-rhyming picture book, telling the story of a brave young girl who befriends a gentle lake monster and must convince her fearful town that he is friendly.
• Big Truck, Little Island (2022): Based on a real-life incident on a Maine island, this book shows how a gridlock caused by a stuck truck is solved by the cooperation and resourcefulness of local children.

Collaborations and Anthologies

Beyond his primary bibliography, Van Dusen has contributed to collaborative children's literature projects:

• The Exquisite Corpse Adventure (2011): A unique episodic project hosted by the Library of Congress and the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. Van Dusen illustrated the opening chapter, which was written by Jon Scieszka.
• Raising Readers: A Treasury of Tales from Maine (2010): A collaborative treasury curated for the Maine-based literacy organization, including a reprint of The Circus Ship.
• President Taft is Stuck in the Bath (2014): Written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, this humorous picture book tells a fictionalized version of the famous historical rumor.
• The Monster Series: Van Dusen provided the illustrations for author Sarah Fowler's bedtime books, Even Monsters Need to Sleep (2017) and Even Monsters Go To School (2020).