The Tale of Despereaux cover art

The Tale of Despereaux

Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread

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The Tale of Despereaux

By: Kate DiCamillo
Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
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About this listen

 This is the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in darkness but covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl with a simple, impossible wish. These characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and ultimately, into each other's lives.

And what happens then?

Listener, it is your destiny to find out.

©2003 Kate DiCamillo (P)2003 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group Action & Adventure Animals Animals & Nature Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths Literature & Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy

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Editor reviews

What is it about mice? Ever since Aesop paired a little rodent with a mighty lion, mice have been the stars of literature. Stuart Little, the gallant Reepicheep of the Narnia books, the heroes of Redwall - mice all.

Now comes Despereaux, and he does his fore-mice proud. This is a wistful story that is given a properly dreamlike reading by Graeme Malcolm. You can imagine him sitting by a crackling fire as he tells the tale of a misfit, sensitive mouse who falls in love with a princess and finds his place in the world.

At 3-1/2 hours long, this is the perfect listen for a family trip. It's the kind of story that parents will appreciate for the lessons it imparts - and children will cherish for its memorable adventures of a determined mouse.

Critic reviews

A charming story of unlikely heroes....With a masterful hand, DiCamillo weaves four story lines together in a witty, suspenseful narrative that begs to be read aloud....This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun." ( School Library Journal)
"Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious." ( Booklist)
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A charming tale with a brilliant narrator. Very much enjoyed this book and it would be very easy to get into again

Lovely

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If you could sum up The Tale of Despereaux in three words, what would they be?

Charming, touching and amusing.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Tale of Despereaux?

Despereaux in the dungeons.

What about Graeme Malcolm’s performance did you like?

The accents were fantastic - particularly Despereaux's mother.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both

Any additional comments?

A wonderfully old-fashioned tale of love and the battle between good and evil. My three children aged 11, 9 and 7 loved it along with my husband and I. A cracker!

Charming and amusing story

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes we would because we enjoyed the characters especially Miggery Sow!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Tale of Despereaux?

Our most memorable part was banging of the mouse drum! BOOM, TAT, TAT! BOOM TAT, TAT!

Which scene did you most enjoy?

We loved the part when Despereaux met the Princess Pea.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, we were sad for Miggery Sow and the way she had been treated by her father, the cook and Roscuro.

Any additional comments?

This review was written by Theo, Grenya, Adam and Miss Newson from the Buchan School in the Isle of Man!

The Buchan School Audiobook Club

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This audiobook makes, what I thought, a difficult text to read to yourself very easy to follow and understand. The text is narrated very well with different voices and accents suited to the characters. I enjoyed it after having tried twice to read this book to myself. Children would probably find this easy to listen to as well.

Better than I thought and VERY easy to listen too.

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