It all begins within the walls of the castle in the Kingdom of Dor, with the birth of a mouse. The mouse is the last of his parent's litter. Certain he will die too, his mother, Antoinette Tilling, names him Despereaux, meaning sadness and despair. Unlike most mice, Despereaux is born with his eyes open. However, Despereaux lives, although his tiny size and unusually large ears are a constant concern among the castle mice.
Even worse, Despereaux seems uninterested in normal mouse activities—namely, eating. Instead, Despereaux is intrigued by the music he hears throughout the castle and dazzled by the sunlight streaming through the windows. When one of his siblings shows him how to chew on a book, Despereaux discovers he can read, and he
Even worse, Despereaux seems uninterested in normal mouse activities—namely, eating. Instead, Despereaux is intrigued by the music he hears throughout the castle and dazzled by the sunlight streaming through the windows. When one of his siblings shows him how to chew on a book, Despereaux discovers he can read, and he