The Tale of Despereaux
This funny, original story brings four different strands into a narrative whole, with well-developed fairytale characters. There's Despereaux, the heroic young mouse who would rather read books than gnaw them; Chiaroscuro, a rat living in a dark dungeon, who aspires to a life filled with light; Miggery Sow, a serving girl who longs to be a princess; and, of course, the princess herself, who looks and acts just like the princesses in Despereaux's beloved book of fairytales. The ways in which all these characters' lives intersect is the basis for a multilayered story that deftly draws on multiple literary traditions. The absurd idealism and romantic chivalry of Despereaux, for example, suggest that he may be a direct descendant of Don Quixote. DiCamillo's use of the intrusive narrator who directly addresses the reader harkens back to Henry Fielding's Tom Jones. The story is at once sophisticated and wholly accessible to children, particularly as a read-aloud. Beautiful book design and numerous black-and-white line drawings add to the old-fashioned feel of the satisfying story. ©2003 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 7-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Action/Adventure
Animals (Fiction)
Books and Reading
Courage
Fantasy
Folk and Fairy Tales
Friendship
Historical Fiction
Hope and Healing
Humor
Meta-narratives
Publisher:
Candlewick
Publish Year: 2003
Pages: 267
ISBN: 0763617229
CCBC Location: Fiction, DiCamilo