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The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread
The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.
Hardcover, Large Print, 255 pages
Published
June 10th 2004
by Thorndike Press
(first published June 28th 2001)
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I picked this book up on a whim in the Barnes & Noble because I liked the look of the cover and the jagged edges of the paper that gave it a "classic" feel. I was looking for a new bedtime book to read to my children - 2 and 6 at the time. We like to read a bigger book, one chapter each night - for bedtime stories. I read the description and thought it sounded like a good idea so I went ahead and bought it (which is REALLY unusual for me - I can be a cheapskate!) It is by far some o...more
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OK, so now that I've thought about what I really think about this book, I'm changing my rating from 3 stars to 2 stars. There was more that I didn't like than I liked. After hearing a lot good reports about this book, I think I was expecting something different. I liked the idea of the light versus dark. I liked the unlikely friendship between the mouse and the princess. I liked the forgiveness. And I liked that it ended up "happily ever after", for the most part.
I started...more
I started...more
jzhunagev
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Kids at heart!
Recommended to jzhunagev by:
the "Voice"
Seeing the Light
(A Book Review of Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Desperaux)
Despereaux Tilling is the most unusual mouse you’lll likely meet. Conspicously small with considerable large ears, he has always been seen as different, an outsider among his own — a mouse drawn to music, fascinated with stories, and breaks the strict rule of their kind by falling in love with a human, the Princess Pea.
Roscuro leads a normal, rotten rat life in the dungeon, his is a world of ut...more
Gloria
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Older children, younger teens
Recommended to Gloria by:
Teacher
Shelves:
young-adult
This book left me with the feeling that this story may not appeal to all readers. There were several important themes addressed in the story, yet little emotional attachment to the characters. The only character that many might relate to is Despereaux himself. He is ‘different’ both physically and emotionally from his peers which at first mostly works against him, though ultimately these unique qualities eventually save the day.
I did really appreciate the way this author drew in the...more
I did really appreciate the way this author drew in the...more
Suzanne
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Roald Dahl fans
Recommended to Suzanne by:
Laura Forde
I saw the upcoming movie previews and thought I should read the book. This edition is a slim volume with ragged edged paper and lovely charcoal illlustrations.
It certainly is an original work. Young Despereaux is the youngest mouse, born of a french mouse mother and father. He is the runt, small and undersized with big ears. He was born with his "eyes wide open". These ears allow him to hear things other mice don't hear and his eyes observes things other mice don't see....more
It certainly is an original work. Young Despereaux is the youngest mouse, born of a french mouse mother and father. He is the runt, small and undersized with big ears. He was born with his "eyes wide open". These ears allow him to hear things other mice don't hear and his eyes observes things other mice don't see....more
A perfect combination of sweet and dark. Or light and dark, would be a more fitting description, I suppose. And by that I don't just mean that there were good deeds and bad deeds, right and wrong and everyone learned a lesson. Everyone didn't learn a lesson and some people/rats/mice were bad, cowardly, or just plain stupid. This is nothing like Roald Dahl, but they share a quality that I very much appreciate, particularly in children's lit: they let you dislike the unlikeable. Everyone is not ni...more
A beautiful, touching, at times bittersweet book--it can be read as the simple fairy-tale it appears to be, or one can find deeper meaning in the acts of Despereaux, the mouse, Roscuro, the rat, and the other characters that make up this tale. In a way, it is a story of light versus dark, and is a very fine book.
I should add that I listened to the story on tape--the reading undoubtedly added to my enjoyment and appreciation of it.
I should add that I listened to the story on tape--the reading undoubtedly added to my enjoyment and appreciation of it.
Confession: I finished this book in one day. Why could I read so quickly? Definitely not because of my speed-reading capabilities! It’s because, despite being nearly 300 pages, it is short. :-)
I wouldn’t say it’s a truly compelling read (though it did win the Newbery Award), but it held my attention even if it truly was a book written for children. I read a lot of children’s and young adult books, but plenty of them are meaty enough that I don’t feel sheepish saying I've read them....more
I wouldn’t say it’s a truly compelling read (though it did win the Newbery Award), but it held my attention even if it truly was a book written for children. I read a lot of children’s and young adult books, but plenty of them are meaty enough that I don’t feel sheepish saying I've read them....more
A talking mouse falls in love with a beautiful princess, and, armed with only a needle, vows to rescue her from the clutches of an evil rat and a dull servant-girl. Admittedly, it sounds a bit (okay, very) trite. That was my mindset too, even after the librarian had gushed on and on about what a wonderful book it was (did she think I was going to read some LITTLE KIDS' fairytale?).
But two years ago, I was waiting backstage during a piano concert, bored out of my mind, when I found Th...more
But two years ago, I was waiting backstage during a piano concert, bored out of my mind, when I found Th...more
Yes, this book is a perfect Newberry winner.
Yes, I thought this was a good book. That is not to say, I always thought it was a real pleasure to read. I didn't. The darkness of the dungeons and of the stair and the life of Miggery Sow were not things I wanted to explore, and I didn't often come to this book wanting to delve back in.
I read this book to my kids, and the darkness was really rather dark. I was always surprised the darkness wasn't as dark to them as it was ...more
Yes, I thought this was a good book. That is not to say, I always thought it was a real pleasure to read. I didn't. The darkness of the dungeons and of the stair and the life of Miggery Sow were not things I wanted to explore, and I didn't often come to this book wanting to delve back in.
I read this book to my kids, and the darkness was really rather dark. I was always surprised the darkness wasn't as dark to them as it was ...more
Lara's
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Parents and 3rd-5th grade.
Recommended to Lara's by:
Jean O'Shea
Shelves:
tween-books
Synopsis: Three anti-heroes embark on separate journey's that will lead each of them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and ultimately, into each other's lives.
Review: Each of the three main characters in this book share the common trait of being the odd one always looking in. Readers will enjoy the undertow of impossible hopes and dreams possibly coming true in this tale of Despereaux.
Being strange to look at, large footed, big eared, slow to catch on to what...more
Review: Each of the three main characters in this book share the common trait of being the odd one always looking in. Readers will enjoy the undertow of impossible hopes and dreams possibly coming true in this tale of Despereaux.
Being strange to look at, large footed, big eared, slow to catch on to what...more
Malbadeen
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Malbadeen by:
Sarah
Shelves:
childrens-young-adult
I love this book! I love, love, love this book! Which is something, because I don't typically love, love, love books and most certainly not books about mice. And I'm not a big reader of fantasy/fairy tales But this book: this book I LOVE!
I read the first few chapters of this book several times before actually reading it. I'd see it in the library (where I work) or at home (waiting to be read) or in a teachers classroom and I always felt compelled to re-read the beginning purely for the enjo...more
I read the first few chapters of this book several times before actually reading it. I'd see it in the library (where I work) or at home (waiting to be read) or in a teachers classroom and I always felt compelled to re-read the beginning purely for the enjo...more
Jon
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who appreciate overwrought children's books.
Some children's books are wonderfully odd. Others are just odd.
The story of Desperaux (a mouse who doesn't just want to be a mouse) is told through the eyes of several different characters. As the stories weave in an out of each other, they draw closer together until the predictably improbably ending.
Unfortunately, the characters in the world of Desperaux are all two dimensional; we are repeatedly told how bad the bad guys/rats are, and how good the good guys/mice a...more
The story of Desperaux (a mouse who doesn't just want to be a mouse) is told through the eyes of several different characters. As the stories weave in an out of each other, they draw closer together until the predictably improbably ending.
Unfortunately, the characters in the world of Desperaux are all two dimensional; we are repeatedly told how bad the bad guys/rats are, and how good the good guys/mice a...more
I'll tip my hat to fellow Minnesotan Kate DiCamillo for this book: the characters are interesting and have a lot of depth, the story is both very sweet and equally disturbing at times, and there is ample proof of DiCamillo's ability to weave quite the "fairy tale"-like adventure story. Everything feels fresh and new while the theme remains in the classical realm.
I did not, however, understand the purpose of the 2-page long chapters. The book is beautifully and maturely wr...more
I did not, however, understand the purpose of the 2-page long chapters. The book is beautifully and maturely wr...more
A award winning book about a mouse, a love, a rat, and some soup.
The only mouse baby to survive the litter, his mother names him Despereaux, for all the sadness and despairs in the world. His ears are too big, his body too small, and his eyes too bright. “There’s something wrong with him,” his father claims. “He will be dead soon.”
But little Despereaux didn’t die. The smallest mouse who ever lived, he shocks the mouse community with his differences, especially his lack of interest in the things a mouse should show interest in. Despereaux is fascin...more
But little Despereaux didn’t die. The smallest mouse who ever lived, he shocks the mouse community with his differences, especially his lack of interest in the things a mouse should show interest in. Despereaux is fascin...more
This is my all-time favorite book to read aloud to my classes. It's beautifully written, full of figurative language students can practice identifying, and is perfect for teaching theme and archetypes. My students hang on the edge of their seats to hear what's going to happen next to little Despereaux and the other wonderfully-written characters in this fairy tale-style adventure. The message of this book involves a love of learning and reading, which is, of course, great to sneak in wherever...more
”Tahukah dua hal yang berciri-ciri indah, kuat dan konyol?”
cinta dan maaf.
Dua ekor tikus yang berbeda perangai dibandingkan dengan tikus-tikus lainnya akan mengantarkan kita pada jawaban di atas.
Teruskanlah cerita ini, karena cerita ibarat cahaya. Dan bukankah kita memerlukan cahaya untuk menerangi dunia yang gelap ini.
cinta dan maaf.
Dua ekor tikus yang berbeda perangai dibandingkan dengan tikus-tikus lainnya akan mengantarkan kita pada jawaban di atas.
Teruskanlah cerita ini, karena cerita ibarat cahaya. Dan bukankah kita memerlukan cahaya untuk menerangi dunia yang gelap ini.
Pelajaran yang bisa diambil dari buku ini:
- Jangan mengatakan pada anak bahwa dia mengecewakan, hanya karena dia berbeda dari anak lainnya, seperti yang terjadi pada Despereaux.
- Jangan melakukan atau mengatakan hal2 yang menyakitkan hati orang lain, karena kita tidak tau dengan cara apa hatinya akan menyembuhkan diri, seperti yang terjadi pada Roscuro.
- Dengarkan dan pedulikan apa keinginan anak, jika tidak ingin anak kita tumbuh seperti Miggery.
- Bahwa kehilangan seseor...more
- Jangan mengatakan pada anak bahwa dia mengecewakan, hanya karena dia berbeda dari anak lainnya, seperti yang terjadi pada Despereaux.
- Jangan melakukan atau mengatakan hal2 yang menyakitkan hati orang lain, karena kita tidak tau dengan cara apa hatinya akan menyembuhkan diri, seperti yang terjadi pada Roscuro.
- Dengarkan dan pedulikan apa keinginan anak, jika tidak ingin anak kita tumbuh seperti Miggery.
- Bahwa kehilangan seseor...more
this story is so cute! it is about a little mouse.
the end
haha. no it is about a mouse, but a mouse who goes on a big adventure and if you dont laugh out loud while reading this book, then this is not for you.
the end
haha. no it is about a mouse, but a mouse who goes on a big adventure and if you dont laugh out loud while reading this book, then this is not for you.
This book was one of the best books i have read to date, that is why i just finished reading it for the second time. This book is about a little mouse who is in love with a princess. But they are seperated when Despereaux is sent to the dungeon. This book is so touching because one stong love is enough to rescue her and risk his life to do it. It has taught me to work hard for what you love even when another wall hits you, you push harder and don't stop. Also it has taught me that your apperance...more
An easy read, rather nice...Good for 8 to 10 year old group.
Soup saves the day!!
Soup saves the day!!
"Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform."
"But, reader, there is no comfort in the word 'farewell', even if you say it in French. 'Farewell' is a word that, in any language, is full of sorrow. It is a word that promises absolutely nothing."
"Reader, do you think that it is a terrible thing to hope when there is really no reason to hope at all...more
"But, reader, there is no comfort in the word 'farewell', even if you say it in French. 'Farewell' is a word that, in any language, is full of sorrow. It is a word that promises absolutely nothing."
"Reader, do you think that it is a terrible thing to hope when there is really no reason to hope at all...more
Wah, satu lagi kisah dongeng yang konyol, sederhana, tapi luar biasa indah dari Kate DiCamillo~~
Beberapa renungan yang bisa saia tarik dari kisah ini:
1. Saia jadi sadar, terkadang (ato sering) kita berharap menjadi sesuatu yang bukan diri kita. Berharap kita adalah orang lain. Kita lupa bersyukur pada apa yang kita miliki, pada kelebihan2 kita, dan hanya fokus pada kelemahan2 kita. Kita ingin menjadi orang lain. Karena kita hanya melihat kelebihan2nya. Tapi benarkah orang...more
Beberapa renungan yang bisa saia tarik dari kisah ini:
1. Saia jadi sadar, terkadang (ato sering) kita berharap menjadi sesuatu yang bukan diri kita. Berharap kita adalah orang lain. Kita lupa bersyukur pada apa yang kita miliki, pada kelebihan2 kita, dan hanya fokus pada kelemahan2 kita. Kita ingin menjadi orang lain. Karena kita hanya melihat kelebihan2nya. Tapi benarkah orang...more
Despereaux is a mouse, one of many in the castle, but he is different from the others. He was born with his eyes open (shocking!), his ears are too big (scandalous!) and he likes to read (unheard of!). Worse, he has fallen in love with Princess Pea and has even spoken to her. This is enough to get him banished to the dungeon where the evil rats dwell. This sets in motion a chain of events that will require Despereaux to be as brave as the knights he has read so much about in order to save the lo
...more
today is the first day i got this book.i am on page 45.
i like reading this book because it talks about a mouse and how he starts to wonder around a castle he lived in with hes sister and brothers .on chapter one it talkes about a mouse who was born whos name was despereux the reason hes name is that is because his mom had some babbeys and evry time she had them they had died expects this one so the reason why she named him that is because she said she fells depressd and she thougth that th...more
i like reading this book because it talks about a mouse and how he starts to wonder around a castle he lived in with hes sister and brothers .on chapter one it talkes about a mouse who was born whos name was despereux the reason hes name is that is because his mom had some babbeys and evry time she had them they had died expects this one so the reason why she named him that is because she said she fells depressd and she thougth that th...more
The Tale of Desperaux, a fantasy, is not a book I enjoyed very much. This was because of the age level at which it was recommended for. The story itself was a pretty good plot, but the characters were not a proper choice for this novel. This book is about a mouse named Desperaux Tilling who lives underneath a castle where another main character, Princess Pea, lives. Desperaux meets this princess, and they become friends quickly. However, the evil rats that also reside underneath the castle are ...more
Conner and I read it together and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. We were in the middle of reading Because of Winn Dixie for the second time and when Mechelle recommended this book and said the author is Kate DiCamillo I didn't hesitate to read this too. I was just as drawn into the story as my son was. I'm going to have to check out all of her other books now. Has anyone else read anything else by her besides Despereaux and Winn Dixie?
******listened to as unabridged audiobook********
Summary (CIP): The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.
Review:
This book was charming, funny, original, and entertaining. The performance by Graeme Malcom on the audiobook was fabulous. The characters were both endearing and flawed. The themes were complex, explo...more
Summary (CIP): The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.
Review:
This book was charming, funny, original, and entertaining. The performance by Graeme Malcom on the audiobook was fabulous. The characters were both endearing and flawed. The themes were complex, explo...more
A mouse falls in love with a princess…a rat hates living in the darkness of the dungeon and longs to live in the light…a serving girl wants to be a princess…The Tale of Despereaux is rife with impossible-to-resolve conflicts. Only in a fairy tale can a mouse find a way to marry a princess…a rat find a way to live in the light…a homely servant find a way to become a beautiful princess. Though much of the book feels like a fairy tale, the author chooses to go another direction at the end. No one l...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercier Magic: Despereaux | 53 | 9 | 5 hours, 4 min ago | |
| Discussion--The tale of Despereaux | 4 | 37 | Jan 27, 2012 07:09pm | |
| lets tALK | 25 | 88 | Dec 20, 2011 02:51pm | |
| SPSV Mrs. Rodgers...: Kevin Vidallon | 1 | 3 | Oct 06, 2011 09:19pm | |
| What?? | 2 | 24 | Jul 16, 2011 05:26pm |
Kate DiCamillo spent most of her childhood in the South, and moved to Minnesota when she was in her twenties. She was inspired to write Because of Winn-Dixie, her first novel, during a bout of homesickness one brutally cold winter. The book was an immediate success: it is a Newbery Honor Book, has won more than twenty-five state awards, and has been made into a popular family film. Kate DiCamillo’...more
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“There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name.”
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“Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light.”
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