# The Tale of Despereaux Deluxe Anniversary Edition: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread (a Middle-Grade Novel of C - Hardcover

by **Kate DiCamillo** (Author), **Timothy Basil Ering** (Illustrator)

**Celebrate twenty years of Despereaux with a splendid anniversary edition--including a bonus original short story from Kate DiCamillo and a new piece of art by Timothy Basil Ering.**

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into one another's lives. And what happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.

For this beautifully designed twentieth-anniversary edition, the author has written a brand-new short story, "The Tapestry at Norendy," inspired by the world of Despereaux and presented with a new black-and-white illustration by Timothy Basil Ering.

### Author Biography

**Kate DiCamillo** is one of America's most beloved storytellers. She is a former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a two-time Newbery Medalist. Born in Philadelphia, she grew up in Florida and now lives in Minneapolis.  

**Timothy Basil Ering** is the acclaimed author-illustrator of _The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone_, _Necks Out for Adventure!_, _The Almost Fearless Hamilton Squidlegger_, and _The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling_, as well as the illustrator of many other books for young readers_._ He lives in Kingston, Massachusetts.  

**Number of Pages:** 288

**Dimensions:** 1 x 8.4 x 6.1 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** September 19, 2023

**Accelerated Reader:**

**Quiz Name:** Tale of Despereaux (English)

**Interest Level:** Middle Grades, 4-8

**Reading Level:** 4.7

**Point Value:** 5

## Details

- **Price:** 24.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 24.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- The Tale of Despereaux Deluxe Anniversary Edition: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread (a Middle-Grade Novel of C - Hardcover

---

> Source: [Smart supply deals](https://smartsupplydeals.com/products/the-tale-of-despereaux-deluxe-anniversary-edition-being-the-story-of-a-mouse-a-princess-some-soup-and-a-spool-of-thread-a-middle-grade-novel-of-c-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-07-23