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The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread Audiobook
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(3.00) - 53,143 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
This is the story of Desperaux Tilling, a mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also 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?
Listeners, it is your destiny to find out.
Download and start listening now!
""The Tale of Despereaux" is a delightful fairy tale for adults and children alike. I'm a graduate student and I thoroughly enjoyed it(but then, I was never one of those who decided I was too old for fairy tales). All of the characters are well fleshed out, the dialogue is believable, the descriptions are great, and overall the story is not condescending toward children. One more thing: if you remember the Jim Henson television series "The Storyteller," try imagining the voice of the "Despereaux" narrator to be that of John Hurt's Storyteller from the show. It makes the book a lot more fun."
— Rachel (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Winner of the 2004 Newbery Medal
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A 2004 Audie Award Finalist
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A 2003 Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award Editor's Choice: Children's Spoken Word
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A New York Times bestseller
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A 2004 Mythopoeic Award Nominee for Children's Literature
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Winner of the 2006 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award: Young Reader's Choice
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Winner of the 2005 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award
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A 2006 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award Nominee
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Winner of Newbery Medal Winner, 2004
The Tale of Despereaux Listener Reviews
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" Reader, I loved this book. The animated movie, on the other hand, was woefully deficient. "
— William, 2/17/2014 -
" I loved this story about a mouse's quest to save his true love, the Princess Pea. "
— Megen, 2/13/2014 -
" Despereaux Tilling is gallant. He is brave. And he is love with the Princess Pea. Did I mention he is a mouse? When the evil rat Roscuro attempts to steal the Pea away into the darkness of the dungeon forever, someone must stop him. Armed with a needle sword and the purest of hearts, Despereaux risks it all to save the Pea from this cruel fate. Will he overcome the darkness and bring the Pea back into the light? An enchanting read that will resonate with people of every age. "
— Marie, 2/5/2014 -
" Read this book to my daughter at her suggestion and truly loved it. Kate DiCamillo is brilliant and this book belongs in the pantheon of classic children's literature. "
— Maureen, 1/29/2014 -
" I listened to the audio version with my dd and enjoyed it. Simple, fun story about being true to yourself and forgiving others. "
— Emilee, 1/20/2014 -
" I read it years ago, when I was about eight or nine. I don't really remember much of what happened, only that it was absolutely magical. "
— Someone, 1/12/2014 -
" Fun read with the kids. Great interaction with the reader. "
— Jake, 1/4/2014 -
" I read this as a kid and I still read to this day. It's a great fairy tale for kids and for adults, too. "
— Shadowlove3, 12/9/2013 -
" This is the first "chapter book" my daughter and I are reading together. We are both loving it. "
— Jen, 11/22/2013 -
" Read to the kiddos. "
— Jill, 11/6/2013 -
" I really liked the book because it's from an animal's point of view but at times it was difficult to follow because it seems to take the point of view of the rat half way though the book which is what really confused me at first. But other wise it's a really good read but really long thick book. "
— Talia, 10/31/2013 -
" So, so good! I nearly cry every time I read this. And, there's just something about this story that gets to your heart. Something that makes it very likable. "
— Chelsy, 8/19/2013 -
" I loved this book! One of the best books that I have read all year! Five-stars! "
— Torense, 8/15/2013 -
" It was frigging great. That's all I got. "
— Caleb, 6/17/2013 -
" Delightful. This is one of those rare books that, having borrowed it from the library, I now want to buy a copy of my own. "
— Kirsa, 6/16/2013 -
" I haven't read this one in a while, but I remember liking it a lot. "
— Cleo, 8/22/2012 -
" We're always reading a book out loud with the girls. This one's up there among our favorites. "
— Fred, 8/5/2012 -
" I found this book delightful. "
— Megan, 4/14/2012 -
" Really nice, quick read. Quite funny in parts. A really good book to read aloud. I loved some of the messages in it, the ones that were expressed and the ones I think I read into. It does end sort of abruptly, it sort of sums up a lot of the denouement and leaves the details to your imagination. "
— Suzie, 9/25/2011 -
" My daughter and I read this one together. She absolutely loved it. It was a bit scary in some parts, especially the dungeon/rat scenes, so I ended up editing here and there, but it's a very cute story overall. I'll be looking for more from this author! "
— Alison, 7/14/2011 -
" Its a awesome book i like the plot it kept me hook to the end "
— Xiteckz, 5/23/2011 -
" Read this a couple of years ago. I wouldn't have read it, but the librarian I worked with at the time suggested it. I really did like it. And the kids at the library liked it too. "
— Donna, 5/22/2011 -
" Very different from the movie; and the changes they made got in the way of my hearing her story as written, but I enjoyed it. Looked forward to reading it again soon. "
— Kit, 5/18/2011 -
" very good story, fun, great for kids 7-12 "
— Lisa, 5/15/2011 -
" this book was amazing a mouse is born and he is in love with the princess pea but he got send into the dungeon and he meets an evil rat named rescuro. "
— Daniel, 5/12/2011 -
" I didn't know what to read and this book was sitting there so I picked it up. I did't really like it. I hate mice and rats, so that was an immediate turn off. I suppose it was a good story, but I couldn't get past the rats! "
— Michelle, 5/11/2011 -
" OH MY GOSH!! Where has this book been all my life??! One of the BEST stories I've ever read. I definitely need to buy this for my own collection. "
— Lori, 5/11/2011 -
" Now THIS is what I call a children's book. I just loved it. It's definitely a fairy tale, with a heroic journey, and it's perfect for 1st-3rd graders. "
— Stephanie, 5/11/2011 -
" I liked this book - it was a nice quick read - and one that would be good for 3-5 grades. But I personally had a hard time getting into a story about a mouse but that's just me - I did really like the narrator telling the story. "
— Megan, 5/9/2011 -
" I love this book even though it seemed so elementary when I picked it up. If you can sell the middle schoolers on getting into it, I think they will enjoy it. "
— Pam, 5/9/2011 -
" OMG this is my favorite book in the whole WorLd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ive read it 10 times NO JOKEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
— Mariah, 5/8/2011 -
" Another favorite of my 4th graders! "
— Carm, 5/7/2011 -
" Sooooooooo cute. Absolutely loved it. Great for anyone! "
— Jennifer, 5/7/2011
About Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamillo is an American author of children’s fiction and twice winner of the Newbery Medal. Several of her books made the New York Times bestsellers list. Her debut novel, the award-winning Because of Winn-Dixie, was made into a major motion picture, and her book The Tiger Rising was a finalist for the National Book Award. She is the US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014 to 2015, appointed by the Library of Congress.
About Graeme Malcolm
Graeme Malcolm was an actor and winning audiobook narrator who earned twelve AudioFile Earphones Awards. He has performed on Broadway as Pharaoh in Aida and as Sir Edward Ramsay in The King and I. His television appearances include Law & Order, Follow the River, and Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson (with Laurence Olivier). His film credits include A Further Gesture, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, and Reunion.