Rating: 
Summary: Sweet Fairy Tale
Review: I enjoyed this book, but I hated the Dear Reader interruptions in the story. I thought Despereaux, Mig, and even Chiaroscuro were very loveable. For young readers the message that not all good people are all good and that not all bad people are all bad is very worthwhile. I was pleased with the ending - more realistic than beauty and the beast.
Rating: 
Summary: Magical, peaceful, and soft.
Review: I enjoyed this book like few others I have read in quite a while. Kate Dicamillo has a nice soft manner of narrating this book and speaking to the reader as if she were reading the book aloud herself. It has a nice feel to it. I teach school, and decided to read this book aloud to my intermediate school (5th and 6th grade class) kids and they loved it. I was asked, more than a few times, to continue reading even after the recess bell had chimed and I gladly obliged my students. The story led to many questions and discussions. (It even teaches vocabulary.) If you like to read books aloud to children, or even just to yourself, this book is the perfect choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Desperately Sad
Review: (...) "The Tale of Despereaux...," is a beautiful-looking book, however, I found the story heartbreaking. The hero - from his birth and naming by much less-than-loving parents, through murderous exile, the horrible loss of his tail, and his ultimately futile efforts to affect a rescue - faces a series of one tragedy after another. I admit, I couldn't put the book down, but it was horrified fascination that kept me going. Spurred on by my sinking heart, I raced to the end just knowing it would be so happy, it would justify all that had gone before. I was wrong. I don't want to give away any of the plot. I will say that, other than the princess, there isn't one likeable female in the book. I did, however, feel more sorrow for the abused little girl named for a pig than I did for Despereaux. While the females were dim-witted and malicious, the males were dim-witted and actively evil. The fact that this book is the 2004 Newbery Medal Winner is confusing and sad, but it seems as if I'm the only reader who feels this way. Parents trust the award-winners to be the best of children's literature. In this case, I believe that's true if their children are Wednesday and Pugsly Addams.
Rating:
Summary: Magical!
Review: The Tale of Despereaux is one of those BOOKS that will live in your home and will be passed down from generation to generation. Read it and see what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for kids and adults
Review: Read this book! It is great! But, if you ARE going to read this book I would recommend that you DO NOT read any of the other customer reviews! I almost didn't read this book because after reading the other reviews I assumed the story would be too depressing...it was not. Please people stop giving away so much of the story in your reviews!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous book
Review: If you're looking for a wonderful read, then this is the one. The few pictures in the book of the mouse, Despereaux, are absoluty adorable! You wouldn't believe how a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread all tied together. I especially enjoyed how the author addressed the reader directly...Please make sure you don't buy this book for an 18 year old person. About 9-12 years of age is perfect.
Rating: 
Summary: Read aloud for the grandkids
Review: Not long ago, my good friend handed me this book as we walked out of her elementary school library. I went home, crawled into bed, and read for the rest of the evening. Nothing too taxing, just a little adventure, a little danger, some silliness and pictures! All neatly told by the author, as if she were there right next to me, reading aloud. The language is beautifully reminiscent of "old" fairy tales. The characters are quirky, but familiar. The inside jokes, like the songs sung by the king, are subtle. The plot, (rescueing a princess in distress) is noble! Although my children are grown, I will remember Despereaux, for it is the perfect story to read (aloud) to the future grandchildren!
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting classic
Review: I just finished reading this book to my children, whose ages span 6 - 10. They were all captivated by it, as was I. The chapters tell of different characters in the book, and how they eventually intersect (like in Pulp Fiction). There is humor and sadness, kindness and meanness. My kids and I had to promise each other than none of us would "read ahead", but it was hard! This is a book they will remember, like I remember the Secret Garden or A Wrinkle in Time. A wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: I was too hard on this book originally
Review: I was unfair in my original review entitled "dreadful" so I am totally revising the review. I wouldn't recommend this book to people--I think there are many better children's books (the author's included) from which to choose--but it does pick up after the first "book" (i.e., section) which both my son and I found boring and shallow. As the narrator might say, "Beware, reader....." The cruelties described in the book make it unsuitable for kids under 10.
Rating:
Summary: Poorly Written
Review: How did this book win the newbery award. It is simply a horribly written, random, stupid mess. Kate Dicamillo is a bad author. He other book, because of winn dixie, was better than this even though it wasn't great. It was at least a cute story and concept. The newbery award winners have been lacking over the past few years. With the exception of crispin, I havn't thought the winners should have been what they were. 2002's was good (A Single Shard)but couldn't compare to another book that year that should have one in a second. The book was house of the scorpion, and it was possibly the best book I have ever read. But I'm talking about this book. The stupid girl named Mig is so intensly retarded that I could hardly stand reading this book. It was okay until she came into the picture. I am serious about this though. I am in seventh grade and am a far more talented writer than this lady. Half the people in my class have better writing styles. My teachers,family, and friends, all love my stories, and I think that if this book can win, anything can. Its not even a very cute book. Aside from being stunningly repetitive and boring, its okay, but only if your expectations for this years newbery are very low.
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