# 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

### 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)

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