{"product_id":"the-tale-of-despereaux-being-the-story-of-a-mouse-a-princess-some-soup-and-a-spool-of-thread-a-middle-grade-classic-about-courage-friendship-an-paperback","title":"The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread (a Middle-Grade Classic about Courage, Friendship, an - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eA #1 \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller and Newbery Medal winner—the enchanting tale of a brave mouse, a covetous rat, a serving girl who wishes to be a princess, and a story of courage, forgiveness, and the redemptive power of love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespereaux Tilling is no ordinary mouse. Born with oversized ears and undersized stature, he commits the ultimate mouse sin: he falls in love with music, stories, and a beautiful human princess named Pea. When he is banished to the dark dungeon for his transgressions, his path crosses with Roscuro, a rat who craves light and goodness, and Miggery Sow, a serving girl who dreams of becoming royalty. Their intertwined destinies lead to a journey through darkness and into light—a quest that will require the deepest courage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you'll discover:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA brave mouse who proves that even the smallest can be the most valiant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKate DiCamillo's luminous storytelling and profound emotional depth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThemes of courage, forgiveness, light overcoming darkness, and redemptive love\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnforgettable characters: Despereaux, Princess Pea, Roscuro, and Miggery Sow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA fairy tale structure with timeless wisdom about good and evil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTimothy Basil Ering's evocative black-and-white illustrations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA story about the power of stories themselves to transform and heal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eKate DiCamillo weaves a tale that is both a classic fairy tale and a meditation on the nature of courage, the necessity of forgiveness, and the transformative power of love. Through Despereaux's journey from the glittering castle to the terrifying dungeon and back again, readers discover that true bravery means loving even when it seems impossible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the author:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kate DiCamillo is a beloved two-time Newbery Medal winner and former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Her books, including \u003cem\u003eBecause of Winn-Dixie\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Tiger Rising\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eFlora \u0026amp; Ulysses\u003c\/em\u003e, have touched millions of readers with their emotional honesty and luminous prose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Read-aloud with children ages 8-12, homeschool literature studies, middle-grade readers, family libraries, anyone who loves fairy tales with depth and heart, readers seeking stories about courage and redemption, and those who believe in the transformative power of love and forgiveness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis paperback edition includes 272 pages with black-and-white illustrations—a modern classic that belongs on every family's bookshelf.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46357628813443,"sku":"9780763680893","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0695\/1583\/7571\/files\/T2VvejNwL2hOSjROcGUzanBhT29vQT09.webp?v=1768415630","url":"https:\/\/www.merceliarose.com\/products\/the-tale-of-despereaux-being-the-story-of-a-mouse-a-princess-some-soup-and-a-spool-of-thread-a-middle-grade-classic-about-courage-friendship-an-paperback","provider":"Mercelia Rose","version":"1.0","type":"link"}