Module 10: The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux: 

Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

written by: Kate DiCamillo

illustrated by: Timothy Basil Ering

Publisher: Candlewick, 2003

Price: $17.99

Author Kate DiCamillo effectively weaves four stories within the life of a very tiny extraordinary mouse named Despereaux Tilling in her adventurous novel the Tale of Despereaux, winner of the 2004 Newbery Award. Readers will cautiously turn each page in anticipation of what lies in store for the tiny mouse who refuses to be "just an ordinary mouse" willing to expect nothing more out of life or others. More is what he gets and so does the reader of the tale.

Review:

School Library Journal: "With memorable characters, brief chapters, and inventive twists, this fast-paced romp is perfect for reading alone or sharing aloud."

"The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread." School Library Journal50 (2004): 28. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=12773960&site=ehost-live.

Booklist: Ilene Cooper writes, "Part of the charm comes from DiCamillo's deceptively simple style and short chapters in which the author addresses the reader: "Do you think rats do not have hearts? Wrong. All living things have a heart." 

Cooper, Ilene. "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread." Booklist99, no. 21 (2003) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=10407834&site=ehost-live.