The Tale of Despereaux: the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread
2004 Newberry Award Winner
Written by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Candlewick Press, 2003
Animal Fantasy, 3-5
Summary: Despereaux is not like any other mouse in the castle. He is much smaller with very large ears. He also has no desire to be like other mice. His brothers and sisters try to teach him how to be a mouse, but he just does not conform to their ways. Instead of eating the paper of a book, he reads it. He also breaks the rules for every mouse, for he not only allow humans to see him, he speaks to them! When the king is playing his guitar for the princess, Despereaux believes that the sound is sweeter than honey. Soon, he finds himself at the foot of the king. Despereaux falls in love with Princess Pea tells her his name and also says, “I honor you,” because this is what happens in the book that he reads about a knight in a shining armor. Soon Despereaux was found by his brother and taken to the Mouse Council, who took him to the dungeon, where mouse do not come out of alive due to the rats. There is a certain rat that lives in the darkness who longed to live in the light. His name is Chiaroscuro, also called Roscuro. When he leaves the dungeon, he causes trouble because he falls into the queen’s soup, which kills her. Roscuro then longs to have revenge on the princess because she gives him a hateful look. The king then outlaws soup for the whole kingdom. Everyone in the kingdom is to give their spoons and kettles to be taken to the dungeon. When an attendant came to a certain house collecting spoons and kettles, he brings a girl named Miggery Sow back to the castle with him. She has had a hard life, for when her mother died her father sold her for a red tablecloth, a handful of cigarettes, and a hen. Her “uncle” mistreated her, making her do all the chores and not caring about what she wanted. When she comes to the castle, she has a hard time finding a job in which she could do without trouble. She gets the job of taking the jailor in the dungeon’s food. While he is eating, she talks to him. She tells him that she longs to be a princess. Roscuro hears her and decides that this is his chance to seek revenge on the princess. He tells Miggery Sow an awful plan. Meanwhile, Despereaux hides under a napkin, listening to this horrible plan. He realizes that he is to be the knight in shining armor to rescue the princess. That night, Roscuro and Miggery Sow lead the princess into the darkness of the dungeon with a knife. Princess is patient and tries to be kind. In the dungeon, when Roscuro tries to trick Miggery Sow into putting the princess in chains, she begins crying. The princess is caring and asks Miggery Sow what is wrong. She also holds her hand while she cries. About this time, Despereaux finds them in the darkness of the dungeon. He is armed with a sewing needle to protect himself from the rats. Roscuro begins crying because he realizes that he just wanted some light of his own. The princess promises him that if will lead them out of the mazes of the dungeon, she will allow him in the light of castle. In the end, Miggery Sow meets her father again, who treats her like a princess for the wrong he treated her. Roscuro was allowed free access to the whole castle. Despereaux and Princess Pea became the greatest friends who shared many adventures.
Response: This book was very unlike anything I have ever read. The characters are very unique with different types of personality traits. Despereaux was my favorite character because followed his heart. He was very courageous and brave in the face of danger in the dungeon. He also risked so much for love. The fact that he fell in love with the princess is so sweet. I also like how DiCamillo talks to the reader during the story. This is similar to what it would be like if she was telling the story. Also, I like how she addresses issues of everyday life. This includes issues the issues of love, forgiveness, bravery, and friendship.
Teaching Ideas: Teachers can have students make character logs of the different characters in which they compare and contrast the different characters of the story. Students can also discuss different issues the character face as well the difference between light and darkness as it is discussed in the book. Also, students can discuss how the author portrays love and forgiveness. Students can also compare the way that castle life is portrayed in this tale and the vision that other stories portray castle life-for example, Cinderella.
Students will greatly enjoy reading this unique fairy tale.
Written by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Candlewick Press, 2003
Animal Fantasy, 3-5
Summary: Despereaux is not like any other mouse in the castle. He is much smaller with very large ears. He also has no desire to be like other mice. His brothers and sisters try to teach him how to be a mouse, but he just does not conform to their ways. Instead of eating the paper of a book, he reads it. He also breaks the rules for every mouse, for he not only allow humans to see him, he speaks to them! When the king is playing his guitar for the princess, Despereaux believes that the sound is sweeter than honey. Soon, he finds himself at the foot of the king. Despereaux falls in love with Princess Pea tells her his name and also says, “I honor you,” because this is what happens in the book that he reads about a knight in a shining armor. Soon Despereaux was found by his brother and taken to the Mouse Council, who took him to the dungeon, where mouse do not come out of alive due to the rats. There is a certain rat that lives in the darkness who longed to live in the light. His name is Chiaroscuro, also called Roscuro. When he leaves the dungeon, he causes trouble because he falls into the queen’s soup, which kills her. Roscuro then longs to have revenge on the princess because she gives him a hateful look. The king then outlaws soup for the whole kingdom. Everyone in the kingdom is to give their spoons and kettles to be taken to the dungeon. When an attendant came to a certain house collecting spoons and kettles, he brings a girl named Miggery Sow back to the castle with him. She has had a hard life, for when her mother died her father sold her for a red tablecloth, a handful of cigarettes, and a hen. Her “uncle” mistreated her, making her do all the chores and not caring about what she wanted. When she comes to the castle, she has a hard time finding a job in which she could do without trouble. She gets the job of taking the jailor in the dungeon’s food. While he is eating, she talks to him. She tells him that she longs to be a princess. Roscuro hears her and decides that this is his chance to seek revenge on the princess. He tells Miggery Sow an awful plan. Meanwhile, Despereaux hides under a napkin, listening to this horrible plan. He realizes that he is to be the knight in shining armor to rescue the princess. That night, Roscuro and Miggery Sow lead the princess into the darkness of the dungeon with a knife. Princess is patient and tries to be kind. In the dungeon, when Roscuro tries to trick Miggery Sow into putting the princess in chains, she begins crying. The princess is caring and asks Miggery Sow what is wrong. She also holds her hand while she cries. About this time, Despereaux finds them in the darkness of the dungeon. He is armed with a sewing needle to protect himself from the rats. Roscuro begins crying because he realizes that he just wanted some light of his own. The princess promises him that if will lead them out of the mazes of the dungeon, she will allow him in the light of castle. In the end, Miggery Sow meets her father again, who treats her like a princess for the wrong he treated her. Roscuro was allowed free access to the whole castle. Despereaux and Princess Pea became the greatest friends who shared many adventures.
Response: This book was very unlike anything I have ever read. The characters are very unique with different types of personality traits. Despereaux was my favorite character because followed his heart. He was very courageous and brave in the face of danger in the dungeon. He also risked so much for love. The fact that he fell in love with the princess is so sweet. I also like how DiCamillo talks to the reader during the story. This is similar to what it would be like if she was telling the story. Also, I like how she addresses issues of everyday life. This includes issues the issues of love, forgiveness, bravery, and friendship.
Teaching Ideas: Teachers can have students make character logs of the different characters in which they compare and contrast the different characters of the story. Students can also discuss different issues the character face as well the difference between light and darkness as it is discussed in the book. Also, students can discuss how the author portrays love and forgiveness. Students can also compare the way that castle life is portrayed in this tale and the vision that other stories portray castle life-for example, Cinderella.
Students will greatly enjoy reading this unique fairy tale.
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