I use this book in my class of grade 4/5s as a read-aloud. The conversations that result-- about conformity, loyalty, good v bad-- are almost limitless given the right approach. I also recommend reading Jeff Wilhelm on using Guided Inquiry and Action Strategies to deepen comprehension!

I read this when I was just an iddy biddy kid. The story was original and kept me interested but there was just nothing that wowed me so this is a solid 3 stars for me.

*Je m'excuse, je n'ai pas de accidentales (accents, cedis, ou chapeaux)* Cette livre est un tres bon livre pour tous le monde, mais maintenant tu peux voir la video. Mais si tu vois la video je sugere de lire cette livre en premier, parce que vraiment les livres sont plus bon que le film. Le livre generale etait tres interesant, et pres que impossible de s'arreter de lire. c'etait un bonne livre

This book was just fantastic...Kate DiCamillo writes in such a unique and charming voice that it just invites you into the story. The Tale of Despereaux is the story of an extraordinarily small mouse who falls in love with a princess and the consequences of such a relationship. The tale is a simple one but again DICamillo's literary voice is so magical that the tale just leaps off the page into your heart. The story is great for parents to read together with their younger children or for older children looking for a bit of magic in their stories. Just fantastic!

Readers beware: don't judge this book by the movie, for though the cinematic version was cute, thus book is a highly different matter. In fact, within the first few pages, I was shocked at the directness of the calculating implications about family values, social hierarchy and parental attitudes! Nevertheless, it was a very interesting read, not the least because it provides a picture of the Everyman Underdog from his point of view, and not from that of the usual overlord. As a constant student of literature, I would recommend this book be read with a parent or older sibling in order to explain some of the bluntness of life found within. It is an interesting and excellent work of literature, standing outside of the Children's Literature conventions and for this very reason, is highly worthy of note.

Written in a tradition fairy tale manner this is the story of four characters, two good and two evil (or shall we say mislead). They include a princess, a mouse, a serving girl and a rat. All good ingredients for a fairy tale. We learn the background lives of all four characters then we are told how they met up with each other and created this story which ultimately is about the mouse, being a knight in shining armour, and how he rescued the princess and helped the evil doers as well. I know there are a million reviews of this book and many raves. It also won the Newbery in 2004. It is one of the better Newberys that have won in the 21st century but I wasn't that taken with it. Perhaps I am too grown up and cynical for this type of story but I found it very sickly sweet. Even though I am a great fan of fairy tales I found here that the good were too good and the evil were not all that evil, simply mislead. It is a very fast read so certainly worth the effort. I think girls in particular will enjoy the story but it's a bit too much "honey" for my tastes.

When I read The Tale of Despereaux, I couldn't stop reading it! It was the most extraordinary, well written and interesting book I have ever read. When I finished the book, I had to tell everyone about it and why it was so good. I recommend this book for people of all ages. I assure you that anyone will really enjoy this magnificent tale about a young mouse who goes on a quest to save his beloved princess. So, read it, and love it!

My 9 year old is currently working on this as his silent reading project and he absolutly loves this book (so far) I read it first to make sure it was a good book for his reading level and I too really enjoyed this novel. The story follows the tale of a smallest mouse Despereaux, his misfortune in the mouse community of being so small with such big ears and the gifts that his different mind and small ears bring to him. The story also follows his princess Pea, the rats of the dungeon and a 12 year old village girl who stumbles into the story. Its a wonderful tale of love, bravery, friendship and kindness. Its something I would love to read out loud as a family or just to my little guy. Its something I am definatly going to go back to @ story time. Also I only just discovered that it is about to become a cinematic adventure so it will be great for the kids to see this little hero on the big screen.

This is truly a story of magic. The little mouse Despereaux, with courage and love, embarked on his journey to save his beloved princess. Is this a typical fairy tale? No, far more complicated than that, and far more realistic than that. A story that talks of love, betrayal, choices, dreams, respect and all that is part of being human. Adults and children alike would all learn something special from it.

. I recommend this book for 5 year olds and up its very happy then sad.Its great because in the begining they tells us about the character. in the middle theres a problem and the end the promple gets solved.