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By: Samantha McGinnis,
on 5/31/2016
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This summer, kids can access great books, go on adventures to faraway places and even win prizes – all at their local library.
Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux and the recently released Raymie Nightingale, appreciates the importance of reading – especially during the summer.
As she visits schools throughout the country, answering questions about her new character Raymie and her journey to conquer remarkable things, she’s also letting kids know that all summer long their local libraries offer great opportunities for summer fun as the 2016 Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) National Summer Reading Champion.
We had the opportunity to talk to Kate about what inspired her to become a children’s author, the importance of books and imagination and which books she loved to read during summer break as a kid.
Your books are very imaginative. Why is important for kids to explore their imagination through books?
Because you find that anything is possible – and the feeling of possibility gets into your heart. That’s what books did for me.
As a kid, I was sick all the time and spent so much time alone. It was super beneficial to read because I was convinced that the things I didn’t think were possible actually were! That’s incredibly important for kids in need, but also for all of us.
Your stories are very relatable for children. Why is it important for kids to see parts their lives in the books they read?
I feel this as an adult reader too. Books give me an understanding not only of the world and other people’s hearts, but my own heart. When you see yourself in a story, it helps you understand yourself.
During my school visits, so many kids tell me stories of how they connect with my characters – Despereaux and Edward Tulane and Raymie. It’s so humbling to see that connection.
And when you see other people, it introduces you to a whole new world. I think of a story I read as a kid, which was actually just reissued, called All of a Kind Family. It’s about a Jewish family in turn-of-the-century New York. That couldn’t have been more foreign to me growing up in Central Florida but I loved every word of it.
Did you like to read during the summer as a kid?
Yes! I loved reading. I could spend all day reading. I’d go up into my tree house with books and sometimes didn’t come down until dusk.
If you gave me a book as a kid, I loved it. I read without discretion. But I did have my favorites I’d come back to again and again: Beverly Cleary’s books, Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books.
It’s so crazy to stand in front of groups of kids and tell them this. There’s always a murmur of “oh, yeah, yeah! I read that!” That’s the staying power of books.
How can kids access books and learning activities over the summer?
That is the beautiful thing about CSLP summer reading programs at public libraries: it makes it easy for parents, caretakers and kids themselves to access all kinds of materials and activities for free. The 2016 summer reading theme is “On your mark, get set, READ!” and I think that’s an open invitation to readers of all ages to take advantage of everything their library offers.
Want more Kate DiCamillo? Listen to her talk about the fantastic summer fun you can find at your local library!
The post Author Kate DiCamillo Finds Summer Fun at The Local Library appeared first on First Book Blog.
Today we look at the work of Antoine Birot, Cartoon Brew's Artist of the Day!
#51 The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, A Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo (2003)
41 points
The perfect modern day fairytale. I also love how she broke the fourth wall and addressed the reader directly. - Amy Miele
Charming, engaging, lovely, imaginative, and a great read aloud! – Charlotte Burrows
The synopsis from the publisher reads, “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. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.”
From her Newbery Award speech DiCamillo once said of creating the book, “Four years ago, when he was eight years old, my friend Luke Bailey asked me to write the story of an unlikely hero. I was afraid to tell the story he wanted told: afraid because I didn’t know what I was doing; afraid because it was unlike anything I had written before; afraid, I guess, because the story was so intent on taking me into the depths of my own heart. But Luke wanted the story. I had promised him. And so, terrified and unwilling, I wrote The Tale of Despereaux.”
The starred Booklist review said, “Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul-stirring as it is delicious.”
The starred Kirkus review said, “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.”
School Library Journal said, “This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books said, “There is a classic charm to this picaresque tale of an idealistic mouse suffering unrequited love for a princess; that and a pace that lends itself to reading aloud will make this novel a favorite among those ready for some gentle questing.”
Horn Book said of it, “The metaphor becomes heavy-handed only in the author’s brief, self-serving coda. Many readers will be enchanted by this story of mice and princesses, brave deeds, hearts ’shaded with dark and dappled with light,’ and forgiveness.”
And The New York Times said, “Here we might see DiCamillo’s own career, her ascent from full-time clerk in a store selling used books to author of a much-praised first novel for children, ‘Because of Winn-Dixie,’ which won a Newbery Honor Award and climbed the best-seller lists. Some might see kinship with G. I. Gurdjieff’s mystic parable about humans being captives in a prison but only a few recognizing this is so and, hearing rumors of another place, arranging an escape. In any event, she sets the stage for a battle between the forces of Darkness and Light in ‘The Tale of Despereaux,’ and the book is a terrific, bravura performance.”
0 Comments on Top 100 Children’s Novels #51: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo as of 1/1/1900
By: Bonnie J.,
on 9/7/2009
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Is summer over already??
Many months ago some of you may remember a post called What’s on Your Summer Reading list? Throughout the summer my focus has been on classic titles. I am happy to report throughout the last few months I have been able to tackle a few big name titles such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, A Farewell to Arms, and The Grapes of Wrath.
I still have a few classics on my list, but I tend to get sidetracked by modern fiction so I also read She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb, re-read The Time Traveler’s Wife as well as squeezing in the wonderful children’s novel The Tale of Despereaux which I picked up at Book Expo America this year. With much of my reading list completed, and summer quickly coming to a close, instead of putting my classics reading list back on the shelf I am sticking to my plan and have started reading Gone With the Wind as my last read for the summer!
Other First Book employees are finishing off the last few weeks of summer with titles such as The Hottest State by Ethan Hawke, The Forever War by Dexter Filkins and the big read around the First Book office, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! This title is still on my reading list, and I may just get to it by Christmas…any other end of summer reading recommendations?
The world is dark, and light is precious.
Come closer, dear reader.
You must trust me.
I am telling you a story.
Overview: Despereaux's story might never have been told except for the request of the author's friend's son. He asked Kate DiCamillo to write a story about an unlikely hero with "exceptionally large ears." And so, The Tale of Despereaux: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread was born.
This is the story of Despereaux, a mouse who is not like the other castle mice. He does not love crumbs, and scurrying, and the taste of library paste. He loves music. And reading stories. And then, he falls in love with the human Princess Pea. This is also the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who dreams of becoming something that surely she cannot. And, it is also the story of the dungeon rat Roscuro, who lives in the dark but longs for the world above his dreary abode, the one bathed in light. Three different characters. Three different quests. Yet all their paths are destined to cross. To what end?
For Teachers and Librarians:
First and foremost, your little charges - and the not so little ones - will find themselves completely immersed in this tale of love, and castles, and royalty, and quests, and bravery, and fear, and loyalty, and grief, and learning who one is and where one fits in the world. A side-study of medieval castle life would be an interesting avenue to take along with reading The Tale of Despereaux. Have your students create labeled drawings of what they think the castle Despereaux lives in is like. Or how about completing reports of what the life of a medieval knight was like? Let the kids prepare skits acting out a quest they devise for a young knight in a kingdom of their own imaging. You can discuss themes of being different, of not fitting in, and how to deal with that. Or, since soup figures prominently in this story, how about a fun (and nutritional) aside of creating their own classroom soup? Work together to write up the recipe, then actually make it at school and let them sample their efforts. There are loads of references to dark and light. Perhaps a discussion - or whole-class experiment - on what their feelings are when sitting in a dark classroom with all shades drawn and lights off, as opposed to one with all blinds open and lights on? So many possibilities, but unfortunately not enough space here to list them all. What ideas come to you after reading this book?
For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:
Whether you read this one aloud to your sweeties, or whether they read it on their own, The Tale of Despereaux is a book that just has that certain...something. It's a story that grabs you and pulls you in. Despereaux and Miggery Sow and the Princess Pea and Roscuro and all the other characters are so deftly described and shown, that you feel as if you've known them all your life. Your kids will be totally drawn into the story. Be prepared for calls of, "Just one more chapter? Pleeeeeease?" Especially for those kiddos who might feel a bit "out of the loop," a bit "different," or who feel they're not who or what everyone wants them to be, they will see in Despereaux's story what they've been hoping was true: that it is OK to be different. That everyone is here for a reason, and so are they. And that is a good thing.
For the Kids:
Despereaux knows what he likes. He likes books, and music, and he falls in love with the human princess who lives in his castle. But here's the problem: Despereaux is a mouse. And all the other mice make sure he knows he's different. Miggery Sow is a poor human girl who has lived a hard life. Through a happy accident, she finds herself living in the castle, where she believes her life will change in a wonderful way that most others believe is totally not happening. Roscuro is a dungeon rat who wants to live in the light, but can never seem to get there, and he's made fun of for wanting that. All three of these characters don't know it, but their destinies are all twined together. How? You'll have to read The Tale of Despereaux (or get someone to read it to you) and find out!
For Everyone Else:
Children's book it may be, but The Tale of Despereaux is a story that you will not be able to put down. Who among us hasn't felt at one time or another to be the odd one out, a little bit different, or longing for a different life? Careful - you may love this one so much, you'll start seeking out other kid's novels to read. But then, isn't that a good thing? A great story is a great story, no matter who it's written for.
Wrapping Up:
The Tale of Despereaux is the kind of book that can connect to almost any reader of any age, and will have you so engrossed, you'll quite forget where you are for a minute once you're finished reading. You may even find yourself a little sad that it's over. Find your copy today, and you'll see what I mean.
Title: The Tale of Despereaux
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Timothy Basil Ering
Pages: 272
Reading Level: 7-12 years
Publisher and Date: Candlewick Press, 2003
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Published In: United States
Price: $17.99
ISBN-10: 0763617229
ISBN-13: 978-0763617226
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Aline Pereira,
on 6/17/2008
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We’re delighted to hear from two British boys who responded to our plea for information about books that children love. Alistair, who is nine and a half, says that books he has recently read for fun are books in the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson, Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon, and The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. His favorite authors are Michael Morpurgo, Charlie Higson, and Francesca Simon, with Hurricane Gold (in the Young Bond series) and Tiger of the Snows by Robert Burleigh among the books that he has discussed with his friends. Morpurgo’s The Wreck of the Zanzibar is one of the books he has read for school that he enjoys and among his favorite books in a series are The Chronicles of Narnia, the many adventures of Harry Potter, and Young Bond. Books he has read more than once are volumes of Tintin, Asterix, Harry Potter, and The Making of Monkey King and Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven, both by Debby Chen. A book that he found in the library that he longed to keep is one about BMW motorcycles–and, he assures us, although he’s a boy, he does enjoy reading books in which girls are central characters!
Ben, who is seven and a half, loves to read pop-up books, encyclopedias, stories with pictures, and Adam Frost’s Ralph the Magic Rabbit. Books that he has read more than once are Tintin books, Steve Parker’s Larger than Life, which he says is amazing and has recommended to his friends, Surprising Sharks by Nicola Davies, and If I Didn’t Have Elbows by Sandi Toksvig. His favorite writers are J.K. Rowling, Julia Donaldson, Herge, Francesca Simon, and Dick King-Smith. When it comes to books that he has borrowed from the library and wishes he could keep, he simply admits there are “loads.” He too enjoys books about girls, but not ones about sports!
Thanks to Alistair, Ben, and Evan for responding to our questions, which can be found at The Tiger’s Bookshelf: Asking the Kids
We would love to hear from more readers–perhaps a girl or two?
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (April 11, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0763625299
ISBN-13: 978-0763625290
I’m coming in with a day to spare to complete my March reading for the Young Adult Challenge hosted at
Thoughts of Joy. For this challenge, I committed to read the last 12 Newbery Medal winners in effort to read more Newbery books. So far, I’ve read
Kira-Kira and
The Higher Power of Lucky.
This month, I read the 2004 Winner, The Tale of Despereaux, and I was not disappointed.
The Tale of Despereaux has everything I look for in a good fairy tale: a hero, a damsel in distress, an evil villain, and an exciting plot, full of suspense, where ultimately good triumphs over evil. Kate DiCamillo brilliantly includes all of these elements in an unconventional and quirky way that kids will love.
Our hero, Despereaux is a tiny mouse with “obscenely large ears” who lives in a castle with his large mouse family. The runt and only survivor of his mother’s last litter, he has always been different and a source of embarrassment for his family. In addition to his size, he doesn’t enjoy hunting for crumbs and prefers reading books instead of eating them. He even commits the ultimate offense of talking to humans and even let one, the beautiful Princess Pea, touch him. GASP! It’s this offense that sentences him to be eaten by rats in the dungeon. He manages to escape this sentence but soon has to return as he sets upon his quest to save the Princess.
Our villain is the rat, Chiaroscuro, Roscuro for short. He led a normal and rotten rat life in the dungeon until a match was lit in front of his face, and he began to crave light. It’s this craving for light that brings him up into the castle and ultimately results in the Queen’s death. Something happens during this incident that causes him to hate the Princess Pea, and he develops a plan to destroy her.
Our damsel in distress is the kind and lovely Princess Pea who manages to make Despereaux fall in love with her at first sight. But she’s actually kind of boring—the character I liked the most was Miggery Sow.
Named after her father’s favorite pig, Miggery Sow’s, Mig for short, mother died when she was a young girl. Her father sold her for a red tablecloth, a hen, and cigarettes to a cruel man who “clouted” her on the ear so much that she lost part of her hearing and ended up with ears that resembled cauliflowers. A stroke of luck gets the slow-witted Mig a job at the castle, where she desperately wants to become a Princess. Roscuro uses this to his advantage and tricks Mig into helping him execute his plan to destroy the Princess. Readers will feel sympathy for Mig as they learn about her background, but will also roll with laughter when she misinterprets what people say to her because her poor hearing.
These eccentric characters, along with an engaging, fast, and peculiar plot make The Tale of Despereaux a fantastic book that many children will love. I particularly liked the narrator’s frequent asides to the reader. While some criticize this as distracting, I think it actually draws readers in and makes for an excellent read aloud. For example, in one section, we learn about Mig’s arrival at the castle and her inability to find a job she was successful at completing. To help set the stage for this section, the narrator says,
“Reader, as the teller of this tale, it is my duty from time to time to utter some hard and rather disagreeable truths. In the spirit of honesty, then, I must inform you that Mig was the tiniest big lazy. And, too, she was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. That is, she was a bit slow-witted.” (p. 152)
So what made this book win the Newbery Medal in 2004? I think it’s because Ms. DiCamillo skillfully weaves in some great themes that can lead to many discussions, including accepting differences, living with honor, treating others with respect, the power of hope, and more. She manages to do all this through a charming story that children of a variety of ages will enjoy. It’s fast-paced and a great choice for a read aloud to younger children, and kids who are in the 8-10 range will be able to read it with ease.
Kids above ten may like it but pretend it’s too childish, but I don’t want to give off the impression that it’s meant solely for younger children. Along with its lighthearted and funny parts, there is death and a little violence. But here’s how the narrator explains one part that is particularly dark.
"The story is not a pretty one. There is violence in it. And cruelty. But the stories that are not pretty have a certain value, too. I suppose. Everything, as you well know (having lived in this world long enough to have figured out a thing or two for yourself), cannot always be sweetness and light." (p. 183)
If your kids are Harry Potter fans, these parts are certainly not as dark as scenes in those books—not even close in fact. I wouldn’t have a problem sharing it with younger children, but be prepared to explain these issues if your young kids have questions.
I finished this book about two weeks ago and have sat down numerous times to write my review, but I’ve actually a hard time explaining it and wrapping it up into a succinct little description because it’s different than any other book I’ve read, but in a good way. In fact, I don’t think I’m doing it justice now. The bottom line is that I highly recommend it, and I think you and your children will like it just as much as I did.
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By:
Mark,
on 11/11/2007
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In many respects, Kevin Hawkes was doomed to become a children’s book illustrator. His childhood was rich with children’s books and the inspiration of Paris with its grand forests and castles. In fact, one constant of his life as a child in a military family was the universal smell of libraries.
On this edition of Just One More Book, author and illustrator Kevin Hawkes talks about being inspired by a second grade art teacher and classic artists including N.C. Wyeth and Vermeer, telling stories through his artwork and the advice he offers to children in his school visits.
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Posted on 9/6/2007
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Author: Michelle Knudsen
Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes (on JOMB)
Published: 2006 Candlewick Press (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0763622621 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
We want them to follow the rules. We want them to think for themselves. This softly sweet and thoroughly entertaining book may help them understand why.
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For more information on Universal Truths, check out CBC radio journalist and father of Canadian podcasting Tod Maffin’s eBook From Idea To Air — or, better yet, his not-to-be-missed From Idea To Air presentation.
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Great review. It was fun to read and relive my memories of this wonderful book. I have a few more of her books sitting on the shelf to read now.
Thanks for dropping by, Framed! I haven't read any other books by Kate DiCamillo except for Great Joy, her first picture book that was released last year. However, because I enjoyed Despereaux so much, I'm adding more of her novels to my list of books to read.
Hi Jill! I really enjoyed this book as well. However, Young Adult books begin at age 13, so The Tale of Despereaux does not fit the challenge. I'm so sorry, especially since you just finished in time, but I'm going to have to delete it from Mister Linky. At least it was a good book! :) Please come back again to link any YA books you read in April.