Monday, April 18, 2016

The Tale of Despereux


Summary
This is the story about a little mouse named Despereaux Tilling who has big ears and a lot of courage. After being excommunicated from his kingdom, Despereaux meets a rat named Roscuro who has also been excommunicated. Together they fight to defeat the king of the sewer rats, who are attempting revenge on the humans. In the process they meet a variety of interesting characters and befriend a servant girl who longs of becoming a princess.

Genre
Fantasy
"Stories set in places that do not exist, about people and creatures that could not exist or events that could not happen" (Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, 2010, p. 12).


Illustrations


This book contains illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering who with his soft pencil technique reflect the story's allure. 

Classroom Activities
Reader's Response Questions
  • What is the author's final thought?
  • How did the author intend on having this story make you feel? 
  • What lesson did the author hope to teach you?
Activity 1
Describe in depth, a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text. Create a character web.

Activity 2

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis. Focus one one character's development and make predictions.


Personal Response
The book has been awarded the Newbery medal in 2004.

Author's Background Information


Other Works
  • Because of Winn-Dixie (2000) - Newbery Honor Book
  • The Tiger Rising (2001)
  • The Tale of Despereaux (2003) - Newbery Medal Book
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (2006)
  • Great Joy (2007) - Picture Book
  • Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken (2008) - Picture Book
  • The Magician's Elephant (2009)
  • Bink and Gollie (2010) - Theodore Seuss Geisel Medal

Reference
DiCamillo, K. (2003). The tale of despereaux. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press


Galda, L., Cullinan, B.E., & Sipe, L.R. (2010). Literature and the child (7th ed.). Belmond, CA:Wadsworths, Inc.

No comments:

Post a Comment