The Tale of Despereaux: Summary and book reviews of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, plus links to an excerpt from The Tale of Despereaux and a biography of Kate DiCamillo.
The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread
by Kate DiCamillo, Timothy Ering
Hardcover: Aug 2003,
272 pages.
Paperback: Apr 2006,
272 pages.
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. And 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, featuring twenty-four stunning black-and-white illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering, in an elegant design that pays tribute to the best in classic children’s books and bookmaking traditions.
Amazon.com - Karin Snelson
Children whose hopes and dreams burn secretly within their hearts will relate to this cast of outsiders who desire what is said to be out of their reach and dare to break "never-to-be-broken rules of conduct." Timothy Basil Ering's pencil illustrations are stunning, reflecting DiCamillo's extensive light and darkness imagery as well as the sweet, fragile nature of the tiny mouse hero who lives happily ever after. (Ages 9 and older)
Kirkus Reviews
... a tale with twists and turns, full of forbidden soup and ladles, rats lusting for mouse blood, a servant who wishes to be a princess, a knight in shining-or, at least, furry-armor, and all the ingredients of an old-fashioned drama. (Fiction. 7-12)
Publishers Weekly
[Kate DiCamillo] shifts gears, demonstrating her versatility while once again proving her genius for mining the universal themes of childhood.... I must tell you, you are in for a treat. Ages 7-12.
School Library Journal - Miriam Lang Budin
Gr 3 Up-This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun.
Booklist - Ilene Cooper
Starred Review. Gr. 3-6. Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious....Ering's soft pencil illustrations reflect the story's charm.
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by unknown my review This is a amazing adventure story that lures you in. It is one of the best books I've ever read actually , it is the best book I've ever read. This book is actually 4 books in one. The first story is about Desperaux tilling. The second book is... Read More
Rated of 5
by book fan despereaux This book is incredibly good. I like the dark and scary language.
Rated of 5
by Lollipop great I think this is a fantastic book. Filled with many details and adventure. It might be kind of hard to write a book report on it though. Anyways, I think the author did a great job :D
Rated of 5
by Me Some For Harry Potter type of person it is not good. For biography type of person, it is great.
It is very good for some parts. But boring for some. If you are going to write a book report with this book, you will have to read long to write sentences. Read More
Rated of 5
by cccc good It was a wild and amazing ride !! :) You and your kids will adore it!!
Rated of 5
by Sarah Despereaux Delights The tale of Desperaux is fantastical, and, read aloud, sounds like honey as Despereaux describes music. I recommend it for 3-6 graders because through that era, children are feeling that they need adventure.
The last few years have been golden for Kate DiCamillo, and rightly so.
Her run of success started with
Because of Winn Dixie in 2000, followed by the not so successful,
The Tiger Rising. The came
The Tale of Despereaux in 2003, Mercy Watson To The Rescue in
2005 and the very wonderful,
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane in 2006.
She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised in Clermont, Florida, and
currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She says that "I hate to cook and love
to eat. I am single and childless, but I have lots of friends and I am an aunt
to three lovely children (Luke, Roxanne, and Max) and one not so lovely dog
(Henry)."
Tim Ering illustrated Despereaux. His artwork has appeared in books, magazines, theater sets, private murals, and fine art galleries. The invariably paint-splattered artist lives and works in Somerville, Massachusetts. You can read more about him at BookBrowse.
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