Can one brave little mouse rescue the beloved princess from a terrible fate? Find out in Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning novel, The Tale of Despereaux.
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Can one brave little mouse rescue the beloved princess from a terrible fate? Find out in Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning novel, The Tale of Despereaux.
An Unusual Mouse
When Despereaux was born, he looked nothing like his brothers and sisters; he was the tiniest mouse they’d ever seen, but his ears were enormous. And he grew into the most unmousely mouse that his family could imagine. While his siblings scavenged for food crumbs, Despereaux read stories of fair maidens and knights in shining armor.A Honey-Sweet Sound
One day, Despereaux hears the most wonderful honey-sweet sound. It’s the sound of music. From a hole in the wall, Despereaux watches King Phillip strum his guitar and sing to his daughter, the Princess Pea. Captivated, the little mouse moves closer to the music. That’s when the princess spots him. Unlike most humans, she’s kind to Despereaux. And before he knows it, Despereaux falls completely in love with the Princess Pea.
Banished
According to the Mouse Council, mice must never, ever speak to humans. That’s why, when Despereaux is spotted talking to the princess, the Mouse Council banishes him to the dungeons where he must suffer a terrible death at the hands of the castle’s vicious rats.
A Brave Little Mouse
Luckily, Despereaux escapes the dungeons. While making his escape, he overhears an evil rat and a servant girl making plans to capture the Princess Pea. Despereaux knows that only he can save his beloved princess. But can a brave little mouse, armed with only a threading needle as a sword, conquer a dungeon full of rats and a greedy servant girl?”
The Bottom Line
The Tale of Despereaux has all the makings of a modern fairy tale. It’s the traditional story of a princess and a brave knight, but with a very unlikely hero. The novel is separated into four sections that blend together perfectly, each section giving history on Despereaux, the evil rat, Roscuro, and the near-deaf servant girl, Mig. The Tale of Despereaux is a touching story that will leave you with a smile on your face.
The Tale of Despereaux Rating:
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