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The Tale of Despereaux
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From: Robin Smith <smithr>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:26:53 -0600
Such the excitement in my classroom yesterday afternoon--imagine their little friend Despereaux playing the hero once again! Such celebration--if we could have toasted Kate DiCamillo with a hearty bowl of soup, we would have.
By the time the announcement was made, one fifth grade teacher, one third grade teacher, two second grade teachers and a first grade teacher had read the book aloud. (The first grade teacher read it to her young children at home.) We all had the same reaction--we had never seen a book be so universally accepted and anticipated by our students. Every day, my charges would speed through their snack, grab their knitting, and wait for me. I would hear the whispers of "Hurry up--it's time for Despereaux!"
I was so interested to read that Monica's students had begun to use some of the dramatic language in their writing. I have too! I have also noticed an increased use of the word "perfidy." I am already planning on sewing a little mouse for my reading aloud time next year. I think he will perch on my ear or in my hand.
I read Despereaux a while ago, in galley. There were no pictures, but, I still remember saying to friends, "That was one of the best books I have ever read."
Though I had a mental list of the many excellent books I read this year, Despereaux kept pushing his way to the top of my list.
Robin
Message----From: Monica R. Edinger [mailto:edinger at dalton.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 9:11 AM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: [ccbc-net] The Tale of Despereaux
Okay, I'll jump in (not being one of those recovering after days of conventioneering!).
I have not been shy in voicing my admiration for this book since I first read it last summer. I was convinced then that it was award-worthy and am thrilled to have my instincts confirmed by this year's Newbery Committee.
I read it to my fourth grade class last fall and it was an immediate hit. I brought in a little mouse puppet and he is still a terribly important member of our class (now with an itty-bitty Newbery Medal on red thread around his neck). As we came to the end, the children asked me to slow down; they did not want the story to be over. There is a timeless quality to the story; at times it reminded me a bit of the also-timeless (but sadly out-of-print) story by James Thurber, The Thirteen Clocks, in terms of the wit and language play.
Although I read it months ago, the book still reverberates in my classroom. "Such the disappointment" has become a popular expression of ours and last week a child was showing us a book of nature photos and we all called out "Despereaux" when a tiny mouse with big ears appeared. Yesterday, I read a student's story in which he addresses his audience as
"dear reader" and this morning I used the book to show how paragraphs can be used for dramatic and stylistic effect.
A few weeks ago a fourth grade colleague who was reading the book aloud to her class asked me when it had been written. One of her student's father died in the WTC and the teacher's brother, also in the buildings that day, was more fortunate and survived. Because of this she had felt something in DiCamillo's book that made her think of that day and of the issues surrounding it --- of vengeance and redemption, of love and forgiveness. It seems to me that DiCamillo has succeeded, in her wonderful book, to create a complex emotional depth along with a mix of wry humor, gorgeous language, original characters, and compelling story.
Thank you to Kate DiCamillo for this wonderful addition to the world of children's literature and to the Newbery Committee for recognizing its excellence.
Monica
Monica Endanger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
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Received on Tue 13 Jan 2004 10:26:53 AM CST
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:26:53 -0600
Such the excitement in my classroom yesterday afternoon--imagine their little friend Despereaux playing the hero once again! Such celebration--if we could have toasted Kate DiCamillo with a hearty bowl of soup, we would have.
By the time the announcement was made, one fifth grade teacher, one third grade teacher, two second grade teachers and a first grade teacher had read the book aloud. (The first grade teacher read it to her young children at home.) We all had the same reaction--we had never seen a book be so universally accepted and anticipated by our students. Every day, my charges would speed through their snack, grab their knitting, and wait for me. I would hear the whispers of "Hurry up--it's time for Despereaux!"
I was so interested to read that Monica's students had begun to use some of the dramatic language in their writing. I have too! I have also noticed an increased use of the word "perfidy." I am already planning on sewing a little mouse for my reading aloud time next year. I think he will perch on my ear or in my hand.
I read Despereaux a while ago, in galley. There were no pictures, but, I still remember saying to friends, "That was one of the best books I have ever read."
Though I had a mental list of the many excellent books I read this year, Despereaux kept pushing his way to the top of my list.
Robin
Message----From: Monica R. Edinger [mailto:edinger at dalton.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 9:11 AM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: [ccbc-net] The Tale of Despereaux
Okay, I'll jump in (not being one of those recovering after days of conventioneering!).
I have not been shy in voicing my admiration for this book since I first read it last summer. I was convinced then that it was award-worthy and am thrilled to have my instincts confirmed by this year's Newbery Committee.
I read it to my fourth grade class last fall and it was an immediate hit. I brought in a little mouse puppet and he is still a terribly important member of our class (now with an itty-bitty Newbery Medal on red thread around his neck). As we came to the end, the children asked me to slow down; they did not want the story to be over. There is a timeless quality to the story; at times it reminded me a bit of the also-timeless (but sadly out-of-print) story by James Thurber, The Thirteen Clocks, in terms of the wit and language play.
Although I read it months ago, the book still reverberates in my classroom. "Such the disappointment" has become a popular expression of ours and last week a child was showing us a book of nature photos and we all called out "Despereaux" when a tiny mouse with big ears appeared. Yesterday, I read a student's story in which he addresses his audience as
"dear reader" and this morning I used the book to show how paragraphs can be used for dramatic and stylistic effect.
A few weeks ago a fourth grade colleague who was reading the book aloud to her class asked me when it had been written. One of her student's father died in the WTC and the teacher's brother, also in the buildings that day, was more fortunate and survived. Because of this she had felt something in DiCamillo's book that made her think of that day and of the issues surrounding it --- of vengeance and redemption, of love and forgiveness. It seems to me that DiCamillo has succeeded, in her wonderful book, to create a complex emotional depth along with a mix of wry humor, gorgeous language, original characters, and compelling story.
Thank you to Kate DiCamillo for this wonderful addition to the world of children's literature and to the Newbery Committee for recognizing its excellence.
Monica
Monica Endanger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
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Received on Tue 13 Jan 2004 10:26:53 AM CST
