ages 9-12

I just finished reading this one out loud to my daughter (5 years old) and it was a HUGE hit, even though I think it was really meant for older kids who can read it on their own. It is the story of a lonely little mouse, rejected by his family, who falls in love with the young Princess who rules the castles in which he lives.

Here are some reasons we really liked the book:

1) DiCamillo is a true romantic; Despereaux the mouse loves Pea the Princess with a love that is overwhelming and courtly (like a medieval knight), a love that makes him want to be a better person. At the same time, the author is not afraid to toss in some real Adventure and even Peril - the mouse must brave the dungeon, its murderous clan of rats, and a sad but frightening orphan girl named Miggery Sow who means to kidnap the princess and take her place. Scary enough to be exciting but not scary enough for nightmares.

2) Although DiCamillo's writing style is highly sophisticated, she stops along the way to explain the unusual and interesting words she uses ("perfidy," for one), so the book is comprehensible even to kids too young to read it themselves.

3) The illustrations are charming and many, to keep younger listeners/readers entertained. The chapters are also short enough to make good bed-time stories by themselves.

One caution though - although my 9-year-old son would have been able to tackle this on his own, the heavy romantic nature of the story (even though it's between a mouse and a girl) put him off. It's probably a much more appealing book to girls than boys. But even for some boys, the adventure will make it worth the while.

Dear Reader, The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread is a 2004 Newberry Medal Book winner and that was what caught my eye in choosing this book. It is fun and easy to read, and would be especially fun to read with a child 6-10 years old. Children love being read to and even if they are wonderful readers it is good to share a book by reading to them.

Reader, there are some subjects that come up that may need explaining to a younger child, such as how the mother mouse could be so mean to abandon her deformed baby mouse. The father mouse sends the baby mouse off to the dungeon rather than being supportive of it. The young maid girl, Miggery Sow, is abandoned and clouted by her parents and uncle. Clouted, reader, means she was struck repeatedly in the ear area causing her to be deaf. It seemed a little much for young children to have to endure in the name of fun; I think reading should be fun to pleasant for all. So, dear reader, keep this in mind while reading this book and use it as a teachable moment to confirm your love and concern for you child.

I liked the writer's dear reader narrative. As a new and
unusual word was introduced the author questioned the reader on it and then often would share the meaning. Such as saying, "Reader, you do not have to go to the dictionary; I will tell you the meaning of perfidy. It is the state of being disloyal." I enjoyed this personal aspect of the book.

Reader, let's go back to the plot. The characters are outcasts that have dreams and goals just like everyone else. The book covers this in four books within a book. The last book brings it all together and everyone lives happily ever after. This does not mean marrying the princess, even in this strange world but reader; it means contentment, acceptance and forgiveness. Aren't these more important anyway dear readers?

Please do not read this book, reader!!! Reader, I had just finished reading Because of Winn-Dixie, and I found it to be a wonderful book and story. But, reader, Tale of Despereaux did not come anywhere close to what I expected a good, or worthy of reading children's book, should be. I also, reader, feel that anyone who has to tell a child what is going on without letting them think for themselves or create their own meanings should not bebale to get their books published. I have always felt the point of getting children to read is to, get them to read! Then the stories and meanings can be discussed later. Children always bring something new the table, and this book ruins a childs creative and imaginative mind.