# The Tale of Despereaux **Author:** Kate DiCamillo **Lexile:** 670L **Grade range:** Grades 3–6 **Age range:** 7–11 **First published:** 2003 **Page count:** 270 **Genre:** Middle Grade Fantasy **ISBN-13:** `9780763680893` **ISBN-10:** `0763680893` **Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-tale-of-despereaux **License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing. ## About this book A small mouse named Despereaux falls in love with a human princess and must rescue her from the dungeons. Newbery Medal winner 2004, the novel's short chapters and direct narrator address make it a frequent 3rd-5th grade read-aloud and assigned text. ## Themes - courage - forgiveness - light vs dark - fairy-tale form - underdog narrative ## Content notes - mild peril - off-page parental neglect Common Sense Media age recommendation: 8+ ## Where this book is assigned ### Blue Hen Book Award (Delaware Library Association, Youth Services Division) — Middle Readers division - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Delaware — [source: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://dla.lib.de.us/blue-hen-book-award-winners/) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Delaware — [source: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://dla.lib.de.us/blue-hen-book-award-winners/) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Delaware — [source: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://dla.lib.de.us/blue-hen-book-award-winners/) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Delaware — [source: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://dla.lib.de.us/blue-hen-book-award-winners/) ### Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/) ### Common Core State Standards (ELA) - **recommended** · 3rd grade — [source: CCSS ELA grades 2-3 Newbery Medal exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699) - **required** · 4th grade — [source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 Newbery Medal](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699) - **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: CCSS ELA grades 4-5 Newbery Medal exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699) ### Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award) ### Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books) ### Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) — Kentucky's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-56-83-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle) ### Land of Enchantment Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · New Mexico — [source: New Mexico State Library — Land of Enchantment Book Award winner/nominee lists (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1981)](https://nmstatelibrary.org/land-of-enchantment-book-awards-40th-anniversary/) - **recommended** · 4th grade · New Mexico — [source: New Mexico State Library — Land of Enchantment Book Award winner/nominee lists (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1981)](https://nmstatelibrary.org/land-of-enchantment-book-awards-40th-anniversary/) - **recommended** · 5th grade · New Mexico — [source: New Mexico State Library — Land of Enchantment Book Award winner/nominee lists (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1981)](https://nmstatelibrary.org/land-of-enchantment-book-awards-40th-anniversary/) - **recommended** · 6th grade · New Mexico — [source: New Mexico State Library — Land of Enchantment Book Award winner/nominee lists (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1981)](https://nmstatelibrary.org/land-of-enchantment-book-awards-40th-anniversary/) ### Maine Student Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Maine — [source: Maine Student Book Award — Maine's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.librarything.com/award/183.1/Maine-Student-Book-Award-Winner) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Maine — [source: Maine Student Book Award — Maine's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.librarything.com/award/183.1/Maine-Student-Book-Award-Winner) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Maine — [source: Maine Student Book Award — Maine's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.librarything.com/award/183.1/Maine-Student-Book-Award-Winner) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Maine — [source: Maine Student Book Award — Maine's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.librarything.com/award/183.1/Maine-Student-Book-Award-Winner) ### Massachusetts Children's Book Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · Massachusetts — [source: Massachusetts Children's Book Award winners (Salem State University), via Goodreads award record — 2007](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/4054-massachusetts-children-s-book-award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Massachusetts — [source: Massachusetts Children's Book Award winners (Salem State University), via Goodreads award record — 2007](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/4054-massachusetts-children-s-book-award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Massachusetts — [source: Massachusetts Children's Book Award winners (Salem State University), via Goodreads award record — 2007](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/4054-massachusetts-children-s-book-award) ### Newbery Medal - **recommended** · 3rd grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2004 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal) - **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2004 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal) - **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2004 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal) - **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2004 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal) - **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2004 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal) ### Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award) ### Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Alaska — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Idaho — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Montana — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Oregon — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Alaska — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Idaho — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Montana — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Oregon — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Alaska — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Idaho — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Montana — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Oregon — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Alaska — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Idaho — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Montana — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Oregon — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) ### Vermont Golden Dome Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Dept. of Libraries — Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, est. 1957): Vermont's statewide grades 4-8 children's-choice program (students read the nominees and vote). Winner list 1957-2020.](https://libraries.vermont.gov/) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Dept. of Libraries — Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, est. 1957): Vermont's statewide grades 4-8 children's-choice program (students read the nominees and vote). Winner list 1957-2020.](https://libraries.vermont.gov/) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Dept. of Libraries — Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, est. 1957): Vermont's statewide grades 4-8 children's-choice program (students read the nominees and vote). Winner list 1957-2020.](https://libraries.vermont.gov/) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Dept. of Libraries — Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, est. 1957): Vermont's statewide grades 4-8 children's-choice program (students read the nominees and vote). Winner list 1957-2020.](https://libraries.vermont.gov/) ### Volunteer State Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Tennessee — [source: Tennessee Library Association — Volunteer State Book Award, Intermediate (gr 4-6) + Middle School (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1979); past-winners roll](https://sites.google.com/view/volunteer-state-book-award/past-winners) ### Wisconsin Golden Archer Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Middle/Junior High; annual since 1974)](https://www.wemta.org/golden-archer-award.html) ### Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award) --- _Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. For the full HTML view with reading-list cross-references, see https://readinglist.school/book/the-tale-of-despereaux._