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    The Tale of Despereaux - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4
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    The Tale of Despereaux - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4
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    The Tale of Despereaux - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4
    Ebook118 pages31 minutes

    The Tale of Despereaux - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4

    By Marie-Helen Goyetche

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Learn the value of courage and fortitude with this twist on the classic fairy tale. Our comprehensive resource has response questions and activities that are great for guided reading and independent work. Use clues to match vocabulary words from the novel to a crossword puzzle. Show understanding of details from the book by answering short questions. Imagine the inner qualities Roscuro has by describing why he decides never to torture another prisoner again. Compare the expression, "not the sharpest knife in the drawer," with the character Mig. Organize a character's actions and thoughts as they happened in the story on a graphic organizer. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included.

    About the Novel:

    A story of a special mouse who is on a dangerous quest to rescue the princess. Despereaux falls in love with a princess, even though mice and humans are not supposed to! Caught, Despereaux is sentenced to the dungeon; however, he escapes and goes looking for his beloved princess. Unfortunately, the Princess has already been tricked and has been taken to the dungeon. Despereaux must save his love, and together with the help of his friends, eventually rescues her. As his quest comes to a close, Despereaux realizes that he still cannot marry the Princess, but they become friends. The story ends with the King, the Princess and Despereaux eating a feast and living happily together forever.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherClassroom Complete Press Ltd
    Release dateDec 1, 2006
    ISBN9781553198567
    Unavailable
    The Tale of Despereaux - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4

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    Reviews for The Tale of Despereaux - Literature Kit Gr. 3-4

    4/5

    2,533 ratings202 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The Tale of Despereaux is one of the finest novels I've ever read. It is a legend about the darkness and the light in human beings. The story of a heroic mouse in search not only of his fate,but of the fate of many others. Although one princess is his inspiration, the hope in Desperaux's own heart leads him to save his enemies, creating friends. Botticelli and Chiarascuro are doomed rats, who, we soon learn, were deprived of the highly symbolic lights of the castle. In this story of humanity at its best and worst, Desperaux and his Princess Pea demonstrate a world of love and kindness.
    • 4/5
      this was a cute story about a mouse who is an "unlikely hero". I enjoyed the story although I felt it was slow in parts. Both children and adults will take away their own significant meanings of the "light" and the "dark".
    • 5/5
      funny and good
    • 5/5
      Really cute!
    • 3/5
      Despereaux is an odd mouse. He is small with oversized ears and was born, the last of his mother's mouse babies, with his eyes open. According to his aunt, this simply is not done. Far be it that those are the only differences between him and his fellow mice, Despereaux is not content scurrying and nibbling and when his siblings go to show him how to properly consume of the tasty binding of a book, he reads it. And in reading it, Despereaux learns of honour and love. And in learning of love, he knows the strange feeling he gets when he meets the Princess, who is [quite noticeably] not a mouse. His tale grows tragic when he is banished from his family and clan for speaking with the humans of the castle, and he is sent to the dungeons to be eaten by rats. But Despereaux is not eaten, otherwise it would not be a very good tale. Instead, he comes across a nefarious plot to kidnap and subdue his love and must overcome the evils ahead of him. Despereaux escapes the prison and faces many dangers on this path, not the least of which is the rat who is nefariously planning, or the cook who does not like mice in her kitchen. Not content to merely entertain and edify with a single tale, Kate DiCamillo uses three seperate stories to adequately tell Despereaux's--starting with Despereaux, moving to Chiaroscuro and then Miggery Sow before bringing the threads together into the final book of the...book. Before we go any further, I would like to point out that my absolute favorite thing about this story is not the characters or the lines or the story...my absolutely absolute favorite thing about the story is the names therein. Despereaux Tilling, Chiaroscuro, Pea, Miggery Sow...even the author's name is astounding and generally awesome. Let me tell you that I don't remember things well, so I'm not remarkably into the history or source of names. This is a purely aesthetic appeal here. I like the way they sound, I like the way they look, and I like the way the slip into the character and help give them life. On one hand, the mean part of me is not even entirely sure why this book got a Newbery Medal. The way DiCamillo tells it is rather obnoxious, adressing the reader with too great a frequency and using too many rhetorical questions for my personal taste. On the other hand, I would almost be willing to grant her the honor for the names. Despereaux Tilling is the best example and since I can do it without risking too much of a plot spoiler, I'll explain with him. Despereaux Tilling is, as I said, a small mouse with big ears and the last of his mother's babies. Like his last name, he is simple and, to initial appearances, nothing remarkably special. Like his first name however, he is unexpected. He is brave, he is curious, he is daring to hope and believe like a human while the others are all contented with scurrying hither and thither. He is a combination of two seriously different worlds, half in one, half in the other. With such an extraordinary first name, the character cries out to do something astounding despite his humble origins. Here I am, rambling aimlessly because I finished the book several days ago and cannot remember anything else I wanted to write about. Ah well...forgive me friends.
    • 4/5
      Despereaux Tilling is a disgrace to his family with his very un-mouse-like behaviour: he likes music and reading stories, and falls in love with a princess. As punishment the mouse council send him to his death in the castle's dungeons. But Despereaux has the heart of a lion and in the end becomes the unlikeliest of heroes.This is a wonderful story about love, loyalty, courage and forgiveness with beautiful black-and-white drawings that enhance the narration. The reader, whom the author addresses directly, is introduced to three main characters: Despereaux, the rat Roscuro and the girl Miggery Sow, with a part each dedicated to their particular storyline before they all converge. It is a gentle tale that takes its time in the telling, but even so the pace could have picked up here and there, and I feel some children may lose interest before the end, which would be a shame as all the individual threads come together to form a satisfying conclusion.
    • 4/5
      This is such a sweet and cleverly written book with unlikely heroes and diabolical evil-doers. We recently went to see the movie, which was nowhere near as wonderful as the book. The literary tale of Despereaux is destined to be a classic and rightfully so.
    • 3/5
      I am reading this out loud to my children. So far, it is quite entertaining and a good book for readers around the 5th -6th grade to read. It is not a simple book for them to read as there are words they will not know, but the author is doing a great job in pulling them into the story. I am reading 4 chapters an evening to my kids and they always want more. I tell two of my children that they are strong enough readers at this point to read this on their own if they want to. Hopefully, reading stories like this will help to draw out their desire to read on their own a bit more.
    • 5/5
      A very sweet touching story of a brave little mouse. Better than the movie (of course).
    • 3/5
      A very good children's book, I could tell I would have enjoyed this book very much as a tween. But I was expecting more of the movie.
    • 3/5
      It was okay. Instead of the mice, I wish they used different animals. The character's names are great.
    • 4/5
      A wonderful, sad story.
    • 4/5
      Very cute.
    • 4/5
      I loved Despereaux. He is timid, but brave, and a great problem solver.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of a tiny little mouse, Despereaux, whose big ears and gentle sensibilities cause him to not be accepted by his peers or even by his family. He loves the beautiful things of life, music, stories, sweetness and friendship. He is drawn towards light and beauty. He falls in love with the sweet princess who lives upstairs. The story tells of their adventure upstairs in the light and down in the dreary dungeon where live some horrible rats. It's a tale of self-sacrifice as Despereaux risks his own life to save the Princess Pea. Might be an opportunity to talk with children about ways to accept people who are different or not like them.
    • 5/5
      "The Tale of Despereaux" is a story of adventure and forgiveness. It is a story that breathes life into the modern tropes of the fantasy genre. I love this novel and appreciate it even moreso now that I have read it for the second time (the first being in 5th grade). Only now do I realize how short the book actually is. This has expanded my understanding about just how much is contained within this book. This book is very good to read to 4th,5th, and even 6th graders wither by itself, or as a read aloud. One aspect of the book that I really liked was the author's introduction of vocabulary words throughout the novel. It provides the words and their context without actually defining them. For example, in the book, the author introduces the word "perfidy" with out giving a definition. The author is aware that the word "perfidy" is a word most likely that the reader does not know. While teaching vocabulary words is not the main focus of this novel, it is an interesting aspect of it that gives the book character and a clever feel to it. One last thing that I loved about the novel was that while it follows the fantasy trope of "knight saves princess" with even the trope itself being a main theme and something that the main character constantly reminds himself of, it breaks from this trope near the end. In the end it is not Despereaux himself who saves the princess, but the princess herself. This book is about how while bad things may happen, it is through forgiveness that we find peace. The princess demonstrates this by forgiving the rat who inadvertently killed her mother. This is why I love this book as it is one that teaches about love and most of all forgiveness to those who wish for it.
    • 5/5
      I initially chose to read this book because I heard that it had been made into a movie. I assumed that if the book was made into a movie, even if I hadn't seen it yet, it would still be a good story. I am glad to say that my assumptions were correct. Although I have still not seen the movie, the book was excellent!Although I am not a huge fan of chapter books, I have to admit that this is possibly one of the best that I have ever read. The use of emotion within the text was my favorite. Being different from all of the others, you could sense Desperaux exploring those differences. While the other mice were trying to find food crumbs to eat, Desperaux was reading a book. From reading this book, his whole outlook on life changed. From reading this book, he allowed his emotions to fill up inside him. He wanted to explore the concept of love and of "happily ever after". From reading this book, he was able to gain the courage to talk to the princess, even though it was a forbidden rule among mice. In all reality, the whole adventure that Desperaux went on stemmed from his reading this single book. In a sense, I found this to be somewhat ironic, seeing I am here reading a book about his adventures which all began because he chose to read a book. The characters were very well developed throughout the book. I enjoyed the way that the author skipped around, often going back in time to introduce a new character. These flashbacks occurred when the author introduced Roscuro and Miggery Sow. I also liked that when each character was introduced, the chapter was written in their perspective. I feel that this allowed the reader to get a real sense of how each character not only came to be, but how all of their pasts indirectly affected each other's future. An example of this is the man that was imprisoned inside the jail happened to be the father of Miggery Sow. A second example of this is that it was Roscuro's fault for why soup had been banned throughout the kingdom. This soup banishment affected Miggery Sow even in her past when the knights men came to collect all of the spoons and bowls from her owner. This is when she was discovered to be a slave and brought to the castle. In a sense, it was Roscuro's actions which indirectly led to Miggery Sow's freedom. I feel that the overall message of this story is to always be true to yourself, even if others see you differently. At the end of the day, being yourself is what is most important. Being yourself can take you on many different adventures to many different places. It was Desperaux's dream to find a "happy ever after", and even though it wasn't exactly what he thought it would be, he was in fact...happy. I see it was a simple blessing in disguise.
    • 4/5
      I recently read, "The Tale of Despereaux," by Kate DiCamillo. I enjoyed the book. First, I liked that the story had multiple perspectives. As a reader, I was able to determine other character's feelings based off what the character directly said, instead of hearing their emotions through the main character. Secondly, I liked how the author asked questions throughout the story. An example from the story is when she says, "Reader, do you know what this means?" This technique helped me stay interested in the story. Lastly, I liked the main idea of the story. The main idea was good versus evil. I liked the main idea because it was easily relatable. For example, the author would refer to "good" as "light", and she would refer to "evil" as "dark."
    • 5/5
      The audio version is perfect; the reader's/actor's voices with the different accents is AMAZING.... I'm glad I listened instead of read. What a heart-warming & entertaining story. An excellent read-aloud as a bedtime story!
    • 5/5
      A delightful story of a brave small mouse who falls in love with a princess. The humor and the style in which this book is written makes this such a delightful book.
    • 5/5
      The Tale of Despereaux simultaneously chronicles the experiences of a small mouse, a royal family, a rat and a servant girl. The mouse is different than other mice, he reads, he loves music and he loves a human princess. These differences cause him to be betrayed by his own family and banished from the mouse community to the dungeon, where with the help of a kindhearted jailer he is able to escape death and foil a plot to kill the princess. The royal family is happy until the day a rat from the dungeon, who is enamored with light, makes his way to the main dining area where he ultimately falls into the queen's soup and causes her to die instantly. This causes the princess to loath the rat and form hatred in her heart. The rat retreats to his home in the dark, sultry dungeon and while there encounters a man who sold his daughter into slavery after the death of his wife. This brings us to the servant girl. Mig has been mistreated her entire life. Nearly deaf from abuse and not too smart, she dreams of being a princess. This dream leads her to join the rat in a plan to kidnap the princess and take her to the dungeon. Each character in this book faces a crisis point in which he or she must choose to carry hatred and resentment or offer forgiveness. It is through forgiveness that the princess was saved and the characters were able to live happily ever after. This book is a great example to children that we can overcome any obstacles life throws our way if we choose forgiveness instead of harboring bitterness. Personal Reflection: This story encompasses so many life lessons. From self-worth to betrayal to forgiveness, the author does an amazing job of expressing how intertwined the lives of the characters are and how the actions of each character affects the others. I love the way the author addresses the reader directly and pulls them even more into the story.Extension Ideas:1. Each time the author addresses the reader, stop and discuss the main idea and vocabulary presented. Have students predict what they think will happen next.2. Discuss the issues presented. Self-worth, Forgiveness and Betrayal. Have students write in their journals about a time they have experienced similar feelings.3. Ask children if they think their actions affect other people? Use examples from the book to show how the actions of each character affected one or more of the other characters.4. Talk about the King's laws Were they reasonable? How does our government work? How are laws made in our country?
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. From the characters and setting to the plot. The characters in this story are from all different walks of life. There is a mouse that lives in the castle, a woman who works as a servant in the castle, and the princess in the castle. We see the different lives of each one and how they are eventually connected. There are aspects of each character that the students can relate to. The second thing I really liked was the setting. It takes place in a royal castle, which lets my imagination go crazy. I can just imagine the intricate details of the castle. I come up with an image of my own using the details in the book, along with my imagination. I really liked this book and I am glad I read it before the movie came out. The main ideas or lessons of this book are spread throughout. There are a lot from lessons on love, life, and forgiveness.
    • 4/5
      Beautifully written children's book about courage, hope and forgiveness. Loved how the stories about the three characters blended together to tell a great tale. Enough adventure to keep boys and girls alike interested in the book with strong lessons about being true to oneself, hope and love that serve as a good moral compass. I really enjoyed this story.
    • 5/5
      Reading The Tale of Despereaux to my children (age nearly 5 and 6) was the best reading experience we have had so far and the first that was a "real" enough book that I'm entering it in my library.

      The language in the story is beautiful, the plot keeps you moving along--enough that is predictable that you can follow it, but also many surprises and twists. It is a good introduction to nonlinear storytelling, as each of the successive parts begins earlier than the first and then they all converge together. And the characters are all flawed, but ultimately a combination of hope, forgiveness, storytelling and the metaphorical and literal light win out. But not in a complete happily-ever-after way, but in a complex and mixed way.

      In all of these ways, it is a good antidote to the black-and-white good and evil and the happily ever after of Disney. It taught my children about virtues and faults, while fully entertaining all of us.

      It looks like most of Kate DiCamillo's other chapter books are a little old for them, but that won't stop me from reading them on my own.
    • 5/5
      I really loved this book. One of the main reasons I loved this book is not only just because of the story line, but because the author keeps the "reader" involved as the story is going on. For example, throughout the book, the author "checks in" with the reader by saying things like, "reader, do you know what 'perfidy' means? I have a feeling you do, based on the little scene that has just unfolded here. But you should look up the word in your dictionary, just to be sure." I liked these parts of the story best because it really felt like I was apart of the story, and not just reading it. Another aspect of the story that I liked is that the author made both Despereaux and Roscuro outcasts. For example, Despereaux was born with his eyes open, too big ears, and he was ridiculously small. Not only that, but Despereaux could read, unlike the other mice, and didn't want to do things like regular mice did. For example, he didn't want to scurry like the other mice, and he wanted to be with the Princess and this was illegal in "mouse world." Roscuro was in a sort the same. He was an outcast as well. For example, he originally didn't want to be evil, manipulative, and torturous like the other rats. He saw the light and wanted to go to it, he was fascinated. I really like how the author separated this novel into "books." For example, you have the first book about Despereaux, the second book focuses on Roscuro, and the third book focuses on Miggery Sow and throughout the novel you start to see all of the books come together as three similar stories that all tie together. For example, Despereaux starts out as being the only character that we know. By Roscuro's book we are now speaking of Despereaux and Roscuro. Finally, Miggery Sow's book ties all three of them together and the last book is the merge of all three.The big message/idea I think was the idea of darkness and light. The novel really emphasizes these two ideas where the light is always in reference to the mice and the darkness is always in reference to the rats. For example, "a rat born into the filth and darkness of the dungeon, several years before the mouse Despereaux was born upstairs, in the light." Also, I think another important message is to never give up on your dreams, no matter how impossible it may seem. Despereaux was sent to the dungeon because he interacted with the princess and was told that he was not truly a mouse. He escaped the dungeon and went on to save the princess because he kept telling himself he would achieve that, "happily ever after" that he read about. He never stopped pushing until he saved the princess.
    • 3/5
      This was a sweet fun fast read for me. Despereaux is a mouse who doesn't do mouse things, he dances to the beat of a different drummer (and loves the music!).
    • 4/5
      This is the second brief fairy tale by DiCamillo that I have read. Like its princess it has a lot of darkness in it.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book because it was told in different perspectives, the first chapter was Despereaux, then Roscuro, Miggery Sow, and then all together. This way of telling the story is great because it allows for the reader to get to know each individual character well, and provides multiple interpretations of the same story! I also liked this book because it had a typical happy ending, much like a fairytale. In the end Despereaux becomes Princess Pea's friend and a hero to the kingdom, and soup is returned to the kingdom menu. The story seems to basically work out for everyone and I like books that leave you uplifted. The big idea of this book was forgiveness, time and time again the characters show that if you forgive life will be better!
    • 3/5
      Despereaux is a lonely mouse who is shunned by the mouse community because he likes to read, fantasizes, and talks to the humans. He is a shame to his mother and father, and so he is banished. His curiosity leads to the death of the queen, and he is heartbroken as he is in love with her daughter, the princess Pea. Despereaux embarks on an incredible journey in the dungeon of the castle, where he meets some interesting characters and saves the princess from an awful fate. This book makes a great group read, as the children discuss what is happening and begin to understand how a plot can unfold, and how an author uses foreshadowing to intrigue the reader.
    • 5/5
      Despereaux is the little mouse who dared to dream and followed his heart to fight with bravery and honor. Born the last mouse baby to his parents, he was too small, his ears too big, and he just didn't act like a mouse ought to. Despite - or because because - of his differences, Despereaux was destined for a life of adventure. Cast out of his mouse society in to dungeness darkness for loving the Princess, he rises from the darkness and ultimately descends into darkness once again to rescue the one he honors. In short, Despereaux is a terrific little character who can serve as a role model to many.