Have you ever been told what to do and what not to do because it's the way things have always been? Well, a small mouse named Despereaux Tilling is a great example of breaking these rules. He was born as a disappointment to the family. He was small, had huge ears, and did not act how a mouse should. He doesn't scurry off to find food; he's more distracted by reading and stories of knights and princesses.
When Despereaux break sacred rules, the Mouse Council sends him into the dark dungeon as a punishment, and to be at the mercy of the terrifying rats. Despereaux later overhears the demise of his love and sets on a quest for rescuing her--which will require a large amount of courage and bravery, especially from a mouse like Despereaux. Can a small mouse really go against fate, save the day, and become a hero?
Review:
I enjoyed how Despereaux went against everything a mouse was. It's a great example of how one has to be who they really are, despite the fact that it's different from others. What I didn't like about the book was that Despereaux fell in love very suddenly and appeared to be more infatuated with Princess Pea. Then again, it's a tween fantasy book that focused more on the quest than the relationship between Despereaux and his princess. Perhaps the best part of the book, or the reoccurring theme in the book, was how DiCamillo expressed that each character each had some dark and light in them. Many of the characters were realistic in this sense and weren't purely good or bad.
DiCamillo, K. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux (Ering, T.B., Illus.). Cambridge: Candlewick Press.
ISBN: 0-7636-1722-9
Grades 3-6
Art cover link from kidsblog.nationalgeographic.com
No comments:
Post a Comment