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Original Essays | December 12, 2009

Alexander McCall Smith: IMG The Courage of Others

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I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War... Continue »
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The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

by Kate DiCamillo

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread Cover

Awards

Winner of the 2004 Newbery Medal
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The beloved, best-selling Newbery Medal winner — now in paperback!

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.

From the master storyteller who brought us Because of Winn-Dixie comes another classic, a fairy tale full of quirky, unforgettable characters, with twenty-four stunning black-and-white illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering. This paperback edition pays tribute to the book's classic design, featuring a rough front and elegant gold stamping.

Review:

"Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul-stirring as it is delicious." Booklist (Starred Review)

Review:

"Reader, I will let you imagine, for now, how these witticisms of our omniscient narrator come into play; but I must tell you, you are in for a treat." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Review:

"[E]ntirely pleasing....[A] tale with twists and turns, full of forbidden soup and ladles, rats lusting for mouse blood...and all the ingredients of an old-fashioned drama." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Review:

"This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
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About the Author

Kate DiCamillo lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is the author of Because of Winn-Dixie, a Newbery Honor book, and The Tiger Rising, which was a National Book Award Finalist.

Timothy Basil Ering is the author and illustrator of The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone, and he also created the cover image and interior black-and-white drawings for 33 Snowfish by Adam Rapp.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 9 comments:
2me2, October 16, 2008 (view all comments by 2me2)
My son read this book last year for a book report (4th grade). He enjoyed the book so much, we purchased it for him for Christmas. He pulled the book back out again yesterday to re-read the story. He says that it is the best book he's ever read. It was a very good read and it is broken down into four separate "books" which made it that much easier to write the book report. I would recommend (and have) this book to anyone with children. It definitely stimulated the reading!
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johnsongini, September 4, 2008 (view all comments by johnsongini)
I purchased this book for a child, but what struck me as I read it was the brilliant symbolism that could connect to our social studies curriculum in middle school. For me, it was a flash of realization like the light the rat saw as Gregory the jailor lit the match with the nail of his thumb.

Even though, for Roscuro the rat, the flame was extinguished in a second, the light continued to dance inside him. The idea was born that "light was the only thing that gave life meaning." Once he had seen it, nothing was ever the same again. No longer was he content to be confined to the darkness of the dungeon. He was willing to brave anything to find the light. There are other threads and other lessons as well in this story. All one has to do is look for them.

As a curriculum specialist, I am recommending that teachers in our district use this wonderful book with all of its symbolism about light and darkness and people being kept "in their place" to connect literature to the issues of slavery and human rights in social studies. The glimmer of light, the hope of freedom -- and all is changed forever!

I highly recommend the book for middle school language arts and social studies as a collaborative piece.
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Lisa Combs, July 16, 2008 (view all comments by Lisa Combs)
Rarely authors make the reader part of the story but in Despereaux it is a quintessential element. Reading this tale is a journey into universal themes of forgiveness, love, the delight of fairy tales and the symbolism is beautiful. DiCamillo exposes young readers to literary elements and wonderful words. This is a treasure for readers of all ages to read, read aloud, share and revisit again. Make memories and read The Tale of Despereaux with someone special.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780763625290
Subtitle:
Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
Author:
DiCamillo, Kate
Illustrator:
Ering, Timothy Basil
Author:
Ering, Timothy Basil
Publisher:
Candlewick Press (MA)
Subject:
Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title
Subject:
Mice
Subject:
Fairy tales
Subject:
Fairy Tales & Folklore - General
Copyright:
2006
Edition Number:
Reprint ed.
Publication Date:
April 11, 2006
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Illustrations:
YES
Pages:
267
Dimensions:
7.70x5.25x.79 in. .55 lbs.
Age Level:
08-12
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