This is the story is of a little mouse that does not live by the rules of the other mice, and finds great adventure. The little mouse’s name certainly does not sound like a brave, adventure seeking hero’s name, but that is the way it is supposed to be. DiCamillo talks directly to the reader at t... more

This is the story is of a little mouse that does not live by the rules of the other mice, and finds great adventure. The little mouse’s name certainly does not sound like a brave, adventure seeking hero’s name, but that is the way it is supposed to be. DiCamillo talks directly to the reader at the end of some of the chapters, which I feel added a personal touch. The animals and humans can talk to each other, and there is a little bit of French here and there. The chapters are very short, but at the end entice the reader to continue. The story reads fast, and is absolutely delightful the whole time. The cover seems to have been created with a pastel medium. The sewing needle might appear to the reader to be the mouse’s sword. Inside the book are several drawings in black and white, maybe pencil. The shading gives the illustrations great depth with the shadows and light variations. Some of the edges of the pages are torn

DiCamillo, K. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. 9780763625290 The Tale of Despereaux plays with both story structure and time to tell the tale of how an outsider and small mouse can save a human princess from a rat and misguided servant girl. The book, a Ne... more

DiCamillo, K. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. 9780763625290 The Tale of Despereaux plays with both story structure and time to tell the tale of how an outsider and small mouse can save a human princess from a rat and misguided servant girl. The book, a Newbery Medal winner, has also been recently made into a mediocre movie. The story includes a lot of religious symbolism that few readers will notice. They will, however, notice the narrator’s direct addresses to the reader and how the narrator guides the reader to a deeper understanding of the greatness of small Despereaux’s feats and to an expanded vocabulary. This book is a challenging read, expecting the reader to follow the narrator back and forth through time and to make connections among several stories that all come together. It is, however, a good step for a reader to learn how to read a book to themselves silently, since the narrator makes sure that no important aspect of the text goes unnoticed. Activities to do with the book: In the right circumstance, a teacher could draw out the religious symbolism to show The Tale of Despereaux to be an allegory for Jesus’s death and resurrection. The book could also lead to discussions about heroism, rules and bravery. The story could also be used to open up a discussion on abuse, since Miggery Sow’s condition as a victim is only examined at a shallow level. Favorite Quotes “The world is dark, and light is precious. Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story” (p. 7). “Once upon a time,” he said aloud, relishing the sound. And then, tracing each world with his paw, he read the story of a beautiful princess and the brave knight who serves and honors her” (p. 24). “Reader, you may ask this question; in fact, you must ask this question: Is it ridiculous for a very small, sickly, big-eared mouse to fall in love with a beautiful human princess named Pea? The answer is…yes. Of course, it’s ridiculous. Love is ridiculous. But love is also wonderful. And powerful. And Despereaux’s love for the Princess Pea would prove, in time, to be all of these things: powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous” (p. 32). FOR MORE OF MY REVIEWS, VISIT sjkessel.blogspot.com

Spend enough time with this book and the narrative may start to grate on your nerves; however, DiCamillo's mimicing of fairy tale narrative is effective and inspiring to the right reader as I found out first hand. The main characters are dynamic and actually fall outside the realm of a normal fairy... more

Spend enough time with this book and the narrative may start to grate on your nerves; however, DiCamillo's mimicing of fairy tale narrative is effective and inspiring to the right reader as I found out first hand. The main characters are dynamic and actually fall outside the realm of a normal fairy tale motif despite the surroundings and narrator who read much like a fairy tale. Overall, a very well crafted story about a Mouse who falls in love with a Princess named Pea.