The Tale of Desperaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Published by Candlewick Press in 2003

 “The world is dark, and light is precious. Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story.”

Awards: 2004 Newbery Medal Award winner

 

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud (3^rd -4^th Grade)

Reading Level:

Grade Level: 3-4
Lexile Measure: 670L
Fountas and Pinnell: U

Key Words:

1.      Courage
2.      Mouse
3.      Light
4.      Finding oneself
5.      Adventure

Vocabulary: speculation (16), conform (25), consort (43), perfidy (45), renounce (55), prophecy (86), clout (129), aspirations (170), empathy (198)

 

Summary: In a world where speaking mice are commonplace, The Tale of Despereaux follows the romantic character of Despereaux, a mouse with ears too large for his own good. After being shunned by his original mouse family, Despereaux finds companionship in a new friend, Princess Pea. Throughout the novel, readers will follow this mighty mouse in his noble efforts to protect his princess against the seemingly evil family of rats in the dark basement. In a tale of courage, redemption, and finding oneself, Despereaux proves to be a character worth fighting for.

Teaching Strategies

Before: Throughout this novel, there are multiple illustrations in each chapter, which follow this basic plot line of the story. In order to give the students a taste of what they will be reading, we will preview the pictures together as a class and make predictions as to what the story line will be. On the board, we will create potential timelines to reference and evaluate as we progress through the reading. Potential questions to ask include:

• Look at the cover, what does Despereaux look like he is doing?
• He looks like a hero…what are some qualities of heroes that you may expect Despereaux to have?
• From the illustrations, what are some of the heroic actions you expect will take place?

During: The Tale of Despereaux is told by an interactive and personable narrator. Calling the audience, “reader”, the narrator continuously calls for class participation. Examples of his remarks involve looking for definitions to important words throughout the story, making further predictions about what will transpire between the characters, as well as giving insights to the reader as to what each person is thinking. While there are multiple narrator questions in each chapter, some important ones include:

·  “Reader, do you recall the word ‘perfidy’? As our story progresses, how does ‘perfidy’ become an ever more appropriate word” (45)?

·   “And the mouse had fallen in love with her. Will there be consequences” (153)? What will these consequences be?

In addition to answering the narrator’s questions, students will start and maintain a word web for the word “light” throughout the reading. As light is a running motif for the entire book, students will use the web to record any uses of the word light (light source, the feelings that light inspires in each character, etc.).

After: Light is something that is extremely important to many of the characters in the book. For example, Despereaux finds hope in looking at the light, and with it, has the courage to carry on in his journey. Roscuro on the other hand, is a rat that must adapt to the nature of his breed, and deny the pleasure that light gave him. Instead, he is taught to relish in the darkness. With their completed word webs for “light”, students will make conclusions about the importance of this symbol, in a class discussion.

Writing: Despereaux is a character that shows tremendous courage throughout his journey. His courageousness is inspired by the fairytales he has read, and his hopes for his future with Princess Pea. What is something that gives you courage? Is there a person or thing you would fight for with as much determination as Despereaux?

Additional Teaching Recommendations:

·  Soon after the book was published, The Tale of Despereaux was made into a children’s movie. Teachers should prepare their students for the differences between the two platforms. Make it clear that predictions should not be made based on what they may have seen in the movie.

Electronic Sources:

Includes possible activities to be used during the read aloud
o   http://www.myladibug.com/a/file/news/Tale%20of%20Despereaux.pdf
Publisher’s Teacher Reading Guide – includes discussion topics and connection charts
o   https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:BsP6nGjVhfIJ:www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763617229.btg.1.pdf+the+tale+of+despereaux+teaching+guide&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgY3oF2BvhG74x0yMgftoMhof7sIvZFq_tZuMqK-SzSPk49B-qN7G1elctvO58XCO27OsP3JcjDCrmEorL3QO_SU0GXtruEeTzFGG0CGsrO6__qUJhlchLxstYehkOUWS-19B6u&sig=AHIEtbQmR2qYYqhnrRjcUj3WkQh1JY9dvg

DiCamillo, K. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread. Somerville: Candlewick Press.