I've consistently loved the Mercy Watson/Deckawoo Drive books, but this might be my new favorite.
I read it aloud to my 10-, 7-, and 5-year-olds and they all loved it. It's a sweet story with great new characters (at least I think they're new.... I don't recall meeting Stella or Horace before, but I could be wrong) and some fun with language (metaphorical and literal, lol).
Overall, highly highly recommended and huge thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for the opportunity to read it early!

We loved this book. I read this book with my third grade and kindergarten age girls and they loved it. We've read all the Mercy Watson books and loved the continuation of characters, though from a different perspective--Stella's. This book is great for all elementary age kids. Short enough chapters to hold attention, big enough font for non frustrating reading, as well as pictures throughout. We love Kate DiCamillo's writing and this was no exception.

Super cute! We all enjoyed seeing more stories from Deckawoo Drive. Wish there had been more of Mercy, but that’s just how it is 😂 Stella is adorable, and the art was cute. We can’t wait for more Mercy!

I'm a big Kate DiCamillo fan and a Mercy Watson fan. In Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem, we are transported back to Deckawoo drive. If you are familiar with the series you will see many familiar faces. I liked this book, Stella is one of my favorite characters. In this book Stella finds unexpected friendship in an unexpected place. Cannot wait to own my own copy.

As always, Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen delivered a delightful story. I will pick up anything Kate has written and anything Chris has illustrated and/or written.

I absolutely love the Mercy Watson books, but I haven't yet gotten to read the others from Deckawoo Drive. I enjoyed the new characters while the old still played parts in the story. Stella is spunky and imaginative and her antagonist is the opposite. If you read Kate, you know what you're getting with her, a great story. What I did love about this book is the fun focus on metaphors. Stella has to write a poem with metaphor in it and she loves it. The whole book, she is thinking in metaphor and it's not only fun, but really beautiful. Horace, the antagonist, is a know it all and he uses a lot of big words that are defined throughout. This book teaches, but the fun thing about Kate is that she's just writing a story. The teaching simply happens and it doesn't feel burdensome. She is just wonderful and this is a fun book!

Stella was a strong heroine who gave me Anne of Green Gables vibes with her imagination and way of speaking. Read this with my 4 year old and she enjoyed it. She enjoyed that they became friends. If you like unlikely friendships or enemies to friends trope, you may enjoy this. There are some good vocabulary words to introduce as well.

Wasn't a fan of the principal and his being the "toughest sheriff in town." He wasn't really a character in the book except to incite fear into Horace, and his character was never shown to disprove the fear. Especially for Black readers and people of color who may read this, it does nothing but reinforce the stereotype that sheriffs and principals are scary.

This was okayish read for me .The illustrations are beautiful and the story is somewhat engaging but I am Sorry this book is not my cup of tea .

**Thankyou Netgalley and publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review**

This book is part of the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series and includes characters from the Mercy Watson series. Before reading this book, I was only familiar with the Mercy Watson series of books. However, after reading this, I feel as if the Tales from Deckawoo Drive books should also be added to my classroom library.

This book has some really great moments that can be hammed-up when reading this to a classroom of children. Horace Broom and Mrs. Shirley are both over-the-top characters that can really be played for laughs with students. I am really eager to read those characters aloud.

As for the content of the book, this would be a great book to read for similes and metaphors. There are also a lot of words in this book that could be unknown to students but they are defined within the book. I think there is a lot of lessons that could be done with this book but it is also a book that I feel students would enjoy listening to the story elements.

Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem by Kate DiCamillo is a delightful new chapter in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series.

Stella Suzanne Endicott is in the second grade, and she loves everything about school--except for Horace Broom, the know-it-all boy who sits next to her in class. Tasked by her teacher to write a poem using a metaphor, Stella ends up finding inspiration in her next door neighbor, Mercy Watson, who also happens to be a pig. The next day, an argument between Stella and Horace (over pigs of all things) lands them in hot water, and what should have been a good day turns into a "the opposite of a poem day," also known as a very bad day indeed.

With her typical charm, DiCamillo tells a wonderful story. Full of adventure (and metaphors), this book is a warm hug on a rainy afternoon, I read it aloud to my three boys, and they were all huge fans. It's a short story that teaches a big lesson about friendship and courage and curiosity.

As a mama and a life-long reader, I give it all the stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this cute chapter book, the latest in the Deckawoo Drive series that is like a spin off of Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson. As is the case with all of the books in this series, it is rich in language and big ideas with a character or two undergoing a significant change in thinking. Stella learns what it means to live with curiosity and courage. Her classmate Horace learns that anything is possible. Another great addition to this series.

This was a cute little continuation of the Deckawoo Drive/Mercy Watson series. I'm sure my DiCamillo loving students will be excited to read this one. Great beginning chapter book option, just like the rest of the DD and MW books.

Kate DiCamillo is one of my very favorite authors. This book does not disappoint. A very sweet story that will have you smiling and laughing out loud. Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC. This book would be perfect in any classroom grade three and below.

I enjoy this series and this author. The pictures are great and the vocabulary make the book so easy to integrate into curriculum. The author introduced metaphors which is hard even for older kids and did great job of weaving them into the story. I wish I would have had this book this spring when my second grader was working in poetry. Another home run by this author!

It’s Kate so the storytelling is going to be well done, and it is!

Fun and cute and a great small book club one or follow along type read aloud for younger readers. Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, it was heart warming like everything Kate DiCamillo touches. I think it’s a great books to get a clear understanding of using metaphors, learning to be friends with those who are different or annoy you, and trying to look at life with a positive attitude. I also loved that there was an epilogue in a children’s book :)

This is book 5 in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series where the other neighborhood characters from the Mercy Watson books get their own stories. It is Stella's turn this time. Stella is a second grader in Miss Liliana's class. The class gets an assignment to write a poem and Stella is thrilled. She writes a wonderful poem and brings it back to school the next day. Then she gets into a loud argument with an irritating classmate Horace Broom and is sent to the principal's office. Adventure ensues.

I will openly admit that, even as an adult, I am excited every time I see anything from Kate DiCamillo and rush out to pick it up. Yes, my two boys (ages 6 and 10) really like her books too but she writes in a way that speaks to all ages. She reminds me a little of how Mr. Rogers was like on his TV show--meeting children at their level. This book does the same thing, showing how Stella stood her ground when Horace argued, showing kindness to others and the small wonders and curiosities of the world. This book is another winner.

Very cute and light early reader with sweetly stylized illustrations. Has a sort of modern Beverly Cleary vibe to it. Some high level vocabulary (often explained in the text) but with humor, length, and flow that makes it a nice option for a child-to-adult readaloud as well as more traditional adult-to-child reading or for readers just starting on their own.

A short but adorable read.
Stella has a trepidant imagination, for that reason when her teacher assigns them writing a poem she is very excited, until Horace her irritating classmate calls her a liar and they end up in the principal's office.
An entertaining story and with beautiful illustrations.

I adore Mercy Watson and the whimsical Tales from Deckawoo Drive. Kate DiCamillo brings her trademark storytelling and humor to this little book starring sweet Stella Endicott. Deckawoo Drive fans will fondly remember Stella from previous stories, but this is also a lovely stand-alone book. Stella is pleased to practice poetry, hoping to win the approval of her teacher, Miss Liliana. Stella's biggest problem in school is annoying, know-it-all Horace Broom, who argues with Stella and gets her into Trouble. I love this series because in less than 100 pages, Kate tells a funny, sweet story packed with fabulous vocabulary (abscond, entomb, juncture), fascinating characters, and layers and layers to explore. Teachers will love it for its wonderful metaphor lesson and examples, kids will love the humor and characters - as well as Chris VanDusen's inimitable illustrations.

My daughters and I have absolutely loved the whole Mercy Watson series and Deckawoo Drive spin-off series and this new edition to the series does not disappoint! Kate DiCamillo has done it again with her fun, clever writing and the illustrations are bright, lively and lovable - just too cute.