The Tale of Despereaux

John Newbery Medal 

" Once upon a time. Yes.
 Once upon a time, 
there was a mouse

 who was very, 
very small.                
Exceptionally small.  

And there was 
a beautiful human princess
 whose name was Pea.  
And it so happened
 that this mouse 
was the one 
who was selected by fate
 to serve the Princess, 
to honor her, 
and to save her 
from the darkness
 of a terrible dungeon." - Despereaux




The Tale of Despereaux is: Riveting, Motivating, Amusing, Brilliant, Thought-provoking

The Tale of Despereaux
being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread

Written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering

Published by Candlewick press, 2003

Reading Level:

Lexile: 670 L

Grade Level: 4.8

DRA: 50

Suggested Delivery: Read aloud, Independent read, Small group read

Summary: The Tale of Despereaux, is about a young mouse who creates his own path in life.  He is unlike all of his mice friends, he isn't interested in eating crumbs off of the floor or walking in zig-zagging patterns.  This mouse wants to read, listen to music, and chat with his beloved, Princess Pea.  His choices get him in BIG trouble with the mouse community and he is sent to the dungeon! While the mouse prepares for life in the dungeon, fate is preparing for him to meet two other characters.  Despereaux will meet Chiaroscuro, a rat who oddly enjoys light places and doesn't enjoy making others suffer until a tragic event that makes him crave revenge on the Princess Pea. Chiaroscuro will make use of the not so bright Miggery Sow, who has never been asked what she wants and was sold for a Hen and a blood-red cloth.  Despereaux the brave, small mouse will defy the odds and teach readers what love and forgiveness truly mean. 

Electronic Resources for Educators:

Book trailer

http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763617229.btg.1.pdf

This link is connected to a teacher's guide created by the publishing company, Candlewick Press.  There are different pre-reading, during reading, and post reading activities to help students grapple with the text.  There are also key vocabulary words, discussion questions, and many other activities to help teachers plan thoughtful lessons with this book.  

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/tale-despereaux-extension-activity

This is a great post reading activity for teachers to extend students ideas of the book and to check on their understanding of setting and characters.

Teaching Suggestions:

Key Vocabulary:

Despair-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despair

Perfidy-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfidy

Empathy-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathy

Gor-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gor

Obscene-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscene

ornate-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate

Comprehension Activities for the Classroom Teacher:

Before Reading Activity: Preview the book with your students. Look at the title, the picture on the front, read the inside flap, and look at the titles of some of the chapters.  Make a list of predictions on the board with your students.  Ask them what they think is going to happen? What do you think the title might mean? Who might be the main character? What might be the setting? What is the genre of the book?

During Reading Activity: Have your students fill out a concept map as they read. It can be confusing for students to read this book because there are three separate stories that are all happening at the same time.  Using a concept map helps students to remember what is happening in each individual character's story. Have your students write the main character for the chapter they are reading in the center oval. I would also describe the character in the main oval.  For example, Despereaux is a very small mouse who likes to read and enjoys the princess's company. As students read have them fill out different events or feelings that the character is experiencing. For example one oval might say that Despereaux was sent to the dungeon for speaking to the princess.

Post Reading Activity: Student Book Talk-
     A student or group of students share with their classmates about the book. This demonstrates their understanding of the book and it may encourage other students to read the book.  It also may be fun for a student or group of students to create a book trailer for The Tale of Despereaux.  

Writing Activity:  Follow the Light with Despereaux
To help children understand the themes and deeper issues of
The Tale of Despereaux, reread the parts of Book the First where
Kate DiCamillo uses images of light.

"The light was shining onto the ceiling in an oval of brilliance, and
he was smiling up at the sight." (Despereaux’s birth, p. 13)

"He was staring at the light pouring in through the stained-glass
windows of the castle. . . . “What is this thing? . . . Are we in heaven?”
(Despereaux on tour with Furlough in the castle, just
before he goes into the library, pp. 20–21)

“You will die, then, with a black heart.” (Words of the Most
Very Honored Head Mouse to Despereaux, just before the
threadmaster ties the red thread of death, p. 56)

“Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark.” (Words
of Gregory, the jailer, to Despereaux, p. 81)

Engage children in a discussion about what they think light
might mean in the story. Goodness? Beauty? What does dark
mean? Does Despereaux really have a black heart? Let the children
write a few sentences about what light means to them.
Create a place in the classroom where you display children's writing.

http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763617229.btg.1.pdf