The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux is so named by his mouse mother. Despereaux is very unmouse like. He has large ears, likes reading books instead of eating books, and he falls in love with a human. Despereaux quickly falls in love with the young Princess Pea after reading a fairy tale that inspires him to save a princess like a true knight. For revealing himself to humans, Despereaux is sentenced to the dungeon and sure death, by his father and the mouse council.

Despereaux saves himself by telling the jailer one of the stories he has read. What is has saved himself from is death by rat. Rats are disgusting creatures of darkness. One rat has contrived to ruin the life of Pea because she has made him feel a worthless creature of darkness, though he loves the light. The rat acquires the help of a young servant girl that wants desperately to become a princess herself and is deluded enough to think she can take Pea's place.

Despereaux learns of the treachery and finds his chance to become a fairytale knight. The love of Despereaux saves the kingdom from darkness.

Great story that my children also really loved. DiCamillo has a sweet wit that is fun to read even for adults.

Rating 4.5 Loved it but not enough for a 5. I'm not sure what was missing for me.
Rating G Clean. Great family read.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

First off, fabulous illustrations!
Edward is a china rabbit that stands nearly three feet tall. He belongs to a child named Abilene Tulane. He has a wonderful wardrobe of expensive clothing. Abilene loves Edward. Edward however loves himself. His favorite time of year is winter, when the dark comes early. Edward likes to look at the window and instead of seeing outside, when it becomes dark he can see his own reflection. He thinks he is quite a sensational rabbit.
Abilene's grandmother Pellagrina sees through Edward. She knows he doesn't pay attention to anything except himself and his clothing. She knows he does not love Abilene back. One night just before Abilene is to set off on a ship with her parents, Pelligrina tells Edward and Abilene a warning fairytale.
Aboard ship Edward is accidentally thrown overboard. He sinks to the bottom of the sea. Nearly a year later he is washed to the surface and caught in a fishing net. Thus begins Edward's journey through the hands of many that will love him. As Edward is stripped of his fine clothing and comfort he comes to find that love is all he has left, and it is all that matters.
He lives with the fisherman and his old wife. He becomes a hobo and travels the country for years. Edward does brief time as a scarecrow. He is owned and loved by a sweet and dying four year old. Edward travels to a city with a small boy and becomes his puppet, helping him earn money for food. Edward is beaten and broken. He is given new life by a doll restorer and sits in a doll shop for many years. Finally the circle of life curves to meet itself and Edward is reunited with Abilene.
Edward witnesses love, loss, child abuse, death, evil hearts, heartless people, lost souls and comes to find he can feel love.
Rating 5 Heart wrenching! I cried just like I did the first time I read the Velveteen Rabbit when I was 8.
Rating G I say this is a clean read although there is an instance of child abuse (hitting). I still read this to my own children because I wanted them to understand the important message of the book.