Author: Kate DiCamillo
Title: The Tale of Despereaux
Illustrator: Timothy Basil Ering
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Fiction
Theme: The size of the person does not matter only the size of their heart.
Primary and Secondary Characters: Despereaux Tilling, Princess Pea, Miggery Sow,Roscuro, Botticelli
Remorso, Gregory
Awards: Newberry Medal
Publishing Company: Candlewick Press
Date of Publication: 2003
Brief Summary of How to Use With Students:
This is a tale full of twists and turns that children will be captivated by. A mouse named Despereaux has a love for all things human which comes with consequences. We also meet a rat called Rosuro and a serving girl, Miggery Sow who wishes to be a princess. These three characters embark on a journey that leads them into a dungeon, a glittering castle, and ultimately, into each other’s lives.
This book is directed towards a fourth or fifth grade audience and would be perfect to use for a literature circle. The following link provides a guide that can be used for a classroom literature circle.
Other ideas are to have students take on job roles. Students can be:
An artist and sketch a representation of Despereaux.
A Designer and design a kingdom like Dor. Students can also incorporate math by having to create a scale for the kingdom, or geography by placing the kingdom on a map and including a key.
A journalist and report on the events that took the Queen’s life.
Students can also create a love interest for the Princess, or create a trap that the King’s men could have used.
