 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread
- By Kate DiCamillo
- Genre: Animals
Common Sense Media says
A great read-aloud or discussion group book.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that by directly addressing the reader, the author introduces many concepts to think and talk about. This book is an excellent read-aloud or discussion group book. It could be read to children as young as 6, but parents need to know there is some violence -- Despereaux's tail is cut off, and a girl's ears are boxed until she's partially deaf.
What's the story?
Listen, dear reader, to Kate DiCamillo, and you will hear of Despereaux Tilling, a half-sized mouse with giant ears who is "such the disappointment" to his mama because he won't act like other mice. He is sickly, faints at loud noises, loves music, bright light, and reading books. Worst of all, because he has fallen in love with a human princess named Pea, he talks to humans. For this transgression he is condemned by the other mice, including his own father, to be sent to the dungeon to be eaten by the rats.
You will also, dear reader, hear of Roscuro the rat, who also loves light, but has a grudge against the princess. And of Miggery Sow, an abused, dimwitted, partially deaf serving girl who wishes to be a princess. And you will hear how the strange stories of these three outsiders intersect in a most unusual way. Reader, do you believe in happily ever after?
Is it any good?
Kate DiCamillo can do charming. Her debut novel, "Because of Winn-Dixie," was simple and enchanting. Despereaux's tale is more complex and stylized: The author directly addresses the reader throughout, and the hero disappears for nearly a hundred pages. But it has charm in buckets, perfectly matched by Timothy Ering's delightfully weird illustrations.
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX hits the trifecta for a children's book: It makes a great read-alone, read-aloud, or reading group book. It's easy to read, despite its length and sometimes advanced vocabulary, and perfectly paced and plotted to hold a middle-grade reader's interest. The direct address makes it perfect for involving listeners in the reading. And that same way of talking to the reader allows the author to raise questions that would make for interesting literature group discussions.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about outsiders and the role they play in society.
Why are underdog tales so appealing?
What makes you root for this
little mouse and his friends?What other stories of brave and noble
misfits can you think of?Are they all "happily ever after"?
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AGE
tweens & teens
to much talk on *** and i love how my family is not failing
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AGE
MY FAVORITE BOOK!!!! <3
I read it when i was seven so i have no problem with the age, but there was some violence involed. Despareaux is a good role because he follow his heart.
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AGE
I LOVE theis Book!!!!
I love this book! I read in the third grade and its was kind of easy. But I've read this book @ least 4 times.I love the book and the movie!!
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AGE
HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT
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Kid, 12 years old
November 3, 2011
AGE
it's a one-day book, but its tale is very long
I actually read this book in one adventure-filled day, and I was glued to the book the whole way through. The book may be about a force smaller than your hand, but it was very energetic, exuberant, and especially detailed. Although sometimes it tripped up with its old-schooled royal talk, it's definitely a book I aim for kids days away from becoming official tweens.
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Kid, 9 years old
October 19, 2011
AGE
a kids pespective
this book is relay good I am reading it at school
it takes it,s time to relay explane detale and show who the cariktors are I am in year 3 and have only read 3 chapters but so fare it is fabulous.
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AGE
good for 7+
I read this book twice and I love it. It's got a positive message that is good for people of any age to read. It helps kids to feel compassion for those they don't understand. Miggery Sow is my favorite :)
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AGE
We are a household of avid readers. I read many genres, and would list reading as my most preferred recreation. Since I do have sensitive children, I try to pre-read many of the books they receive or that we buy for them. Let's see: rejection at birth, betrayal by family, rat-infested dark dungeon, weapon-wielding abduction of a little girl from her bed, rejection of another little girl by her mother and then she is sold by her father to an abusive household, .... Not a happy read by any of my standards. I don't get the appeal.
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AGE
One of my favorite books of all time
This book is amazing. I've read 3 or 4 times already. It does get a little violent when the rats tail is cut off, and when the uncle clouts the girl in the ear, but it's a fun read.
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| Author: | Kate DiCamillo |
| Illustrator: | Timothy Basil Ering |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Animals |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | January 19, 2004 |
| Number of pages: | 270 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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