| | |  | Lions | Home » » The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread | | | | | | | Description: | | "Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul-stirring as it is delicious." — BOOKLIST (starred review)
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 the master storyteller who brought us BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE comes another classic, a fairy tale full of quirky, unforgettable characters, with twenty-four stunning black-and-white illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering. This paperback edition pays tribute to the book's classicdesign, featuring a rough front and elegant gold stamping. | | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780763625290
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Kate DiCamillo | | Paperback:
| 272 pages | | Publisher:
| Candlewick | | Publication Date:
| April 11, 2006 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0763625299 | | Package Length:
| 7.6 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.6 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.8 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.1 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 440 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 A Tale Failed to Deliver MessageMar 04, 2010
"Love is ridiculous. But love is also wonderful. And powerful."
That's what Ms. Dicamillo intended to deliver in her book "The Tale of Despereaux". Unfortunately, this message starts to blur as the plot unfolds gradually, and finally the story leaves the reader in a fog of sadness, disappointment and confusion.
Despereaux, a lovable, courageous mouse who ridiculously fell in love with a beautiful princess, was unintentionally overshadowed by the poor, tragic girl, Miggery Sow.
She was abandoned and sold by her father "for a tablecloth, a hen, and a handful of cigarettes"; she was so badly abused by her buyer "Uncle" so frequently that her painful ears "became about as useful to her as pieces of cauliflower"; miserably, under the author's pen, she was also fat, lazy and "her head stayed small".
All of these didn't seem horrible enough to her, the author abused her further by keeping ridiculing her ruthlessly through the demeaning narration with details in a sweet tone. How could she?! What's the purpose of all such cruelty to the poor girl? Serving as entertainment? I can't believe it.
Oh, if the world is dark, as Ms. Dicamillo said in her book, I would rather sit with my daughter outside watching the stars in the sky.
 Deapereaux - The Tale of Great Writing!Feb 23, 2010
I wanted to begin this review with a favorite passage from Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Award Winning book, but there were too many. How could I possibly pick one...or two...or twenty!
Besides, you already know the story...scrawny, big-eared mouse gets rejected by his family, falls in love with a princess, sent to a dungeon amid an overwhelming love for Princess Pea. Villaneous rats, "death by soup," a silly, reactionary king, blah, blah, blah. So, I won't go into that.
I do want to mention my only problem with this book. I became so enthralled with the writing, I had to remind myself of the story. About two-thirds through, I began to make comparisons to...dare I say it? Oh, why not? To Kill A Mockingbird. There. Call me crazy, but that's how the perfectly-tuned voice of DiCamillo struck me.
Despereaux is not only a great book for young readers, a great book for parents/grandparents to read to young ones, if you're an author, or planning to be one, read this book and study the ease, the wit, the charm and the total connection with the reader.
The Magician's Castle
The Magician's Castle (Cynthia's Attic)
WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty
great, but the movie was betterFeb 11, 2010
I read this after I saw the movie... the movie ended more satisfyingly... the end here is as if the author got tired suddenly.
Still, it was a nice read... from the movie, I was and remain a tremendous Despereaux fan.... I would give the DVD to someone first before I would give them the book, though.
It is a good book for children. Not too scary, and, I suppose, with a pleasant satisfying-enough ending.
wow just wowJan 22, 2010
If you love fiction you will love this book. I read it once and now i'm reading it again. the author has out done it... again
 The Tale of not-so-disappointingJan 19, 2010
Kate's books are always so refreshing, simple and well written. The tale of Despereaux is proof - although my favorite is The Magician's Elephant, this book was a great read. Very insightful with many wise words. Would highly recommend and read again!
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