TY - BOOK AU - TI - The Tale of Despereaux SN - 076362529-9 PY - 2003/// CY - USA PB - Candlewick Press N2 - The Tale of Despereaux (/ˈdɛspəroʊ/, DES-per-oh) is a 2003 children's fantasy book written by Kate DiCamillo. The main plot follows the adventures of a mouse named Despereaux Tilling, as he sets out on his quest to rescue a beautiful human princess from the rats. The book won the 2004 Newbery Medal award and has been adapted into a film, a video game, and a stage musical ER -