THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

By Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
ISBN: 9780763625290

Bibliography:
DiCamillo, Kate, and Timothy B. Ering. 2006. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Plot:
The Tale of Despereaux, set within a castle, describes what happens when three worlds collide: the mouse world, the world of humans, and the rat world. This story describes a mouse who doesn’t seem to fit into the mouse world. As Despereaux follows the sweet sound of music, he stumbles upon Princess Pea, with whom he falls in love. Then he breaks the unforgiveable rule of not speaking to humans, which has him banished into the rat-filled dungeon where he is fated to meet his doom until he tells a story that saves his life. Despereaux learns of a plot to “bring the princess to darkness” and bravely plans to save her.

Analysis:
Despereaux fills the role as the unlikely hero in this story and immediately draws sympathy from the reader when he is described as being a disappointment to his family upon birth. Readers will identify with Despereaux’s need to be different and his quest to find his place in a mouse world in which he doesn’t feel he belongs. This tale touches on themes of loss, forgiveness, and friendship as DiCamillo draws the reader into the story by directly addressing them: “Reader, do you believe in such a thing as happily ever after? Or like Despereaux, have you, too, begun to question happy endings?” The story is arranged in short, manageable chapters at the end of which DiCamillo often encourages the reader to continue reading: "Poor Mig. What will become of her? You must, frightened though you may be, read on and see for yourself. Reader, it is your duty."

Review Excerpts:
Kirkus Review: "And so unwinds 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."

Booklist: "Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious."

Connections:
*Check out The Tale of Despereaux Movie Website: http://www.thetaleofdespereauxmovie.com/

*Kate DiCamillo's website: http://www.katedicamillo.com/