A Hero's Quest (The Tale of Despereaux Movie Tie-In Storybook) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Candlewick Press (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2008 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The heroic adventures of a mouse named Despereaux who isn't afraid of anything-not mousetraps, not the school principal, not even the deepest, darkest dungeon. In this full-color storybook, with special appeal for boys, Despereaux braves the evil Botticelli and a pack of hungry rats, and discovers that even the tiniest mouse can find the courage of a knight in shining armor.

Kate DiCamillo's literary classic about Despereaux Tilling has enchanted children and adults around the globe. In this tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption, one small creature teaches a kingdom that it takes only a little light to show the truth: What you look like doesn't equal what you are. Published in 23 languages, with more than 2 million copies in print, a New York Times #1 bestseller and winner of the Newbery Medal, The Tale of Despereaux is now animated adventure from Universal Pictures.

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. All Rights Reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; Mti edition (October 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763640808
• ISBN-13: 978-0763640804
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #982,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs & Squirrels > Nonfiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Two boys' review: Buy the original paperback edition instead, December 9, 2008

By 

Jared Castle (Roseburg, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Hero's Quest (The Tale of Despereaux Movie Tie-In Storybook) (Paperback)

My sons, ages 6 and 4, are a bit younger than the target audience (8-to-12-year olds) for The Tale of Despereaux so I went to a bookstore to look over the options. That's where I came across this Movie Tie-In Storybook, intended for children ages 4-8.

I also found The Tale of Despereaux: The Graphic Novel and The Tale of Despereaux Movie Tie-In Junior Novelization on the shelves.

However, I could find no compelling reason to pass over the Newbery Medal-winning book, The Tale of Despereaux for any of these inferior movie tie-ins, none of which are an improvement on the original. Movie tie-ins simplify the original story, making it more accessible to younger readers. However, in this case, the original book is already accessible for young children and doesn't need dilution.

This storybook and the paperback edition of the original are eligible for Amazon's 4-for-3 promotion (Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free.) So, there's no price advantage to choosing the movie tie-in edition over the original either.

In summary, skip the movie tie-in editions and stick with the original, which is accessible to young readers. However, if you're looking for an activity book, Candlewick does offer The Tale of Despereaux Coloring and Activity Book.

BTW: Our introduction to author Kate DiCamillo came by way of her Christmas picture book, Great Joy, which I also highly recommend and gave a 5-star review here on Amazon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever add in to the Desperaux movie, March 4, 2009

By 

Jean Marrapodi "Jean Marrapodi" (Providence, RI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Hero's Quest (The Tale of Despereaux Movie Tie-In Storybook) (Paperback)

My two year old grandson enjoyed reliving the movie, A Tale of Desperaux and this book allowed him to relive it. An abbreviated version of the story it captures the highlights and lets him look at the pictures of the scenes. It's geared for preschoolers as a read aloud book.