Book+The+First

//A Mouse Is Born//

Book The First Teaser: [[image:063008-despereaux.jpg width="255" height="166" align="right" caption="image from mommygoggles.com"]]
Book One is about Despereaux Tilling, an unusually small mouse born in the light with his eyes open and with big ears. He is not like other mice….let’s find out what makes him so special!!!

Author Kate DiCamillo's Inspiration:
Click on this link to hear the author's inspiration for writing the book!

Meaning of Depereaux's Name:
Explore the meaning of Depereaux ’s name. It is not in the dictionary! Despereaux is a derivative of "desperate" and "despair." In Spanish the word "esperar," meaning “to hope,” and "desesperar,” meaning “to lose hope”) Let’s see if this name fits. Why do you think Kate DiCamillo picked this name for our mouse hero?

**Book The First Vocabulary:**

 * **Vocabulary Word** || **Page Number** || **Chapter** ||
 * litter || 11 || 1 ||
 * speculation || 16 || 2 ||
 * scurrying || 20 || 3 ||
 * endangers || 43 || 8 ||
 * consorts || 43 || 8 ||
 * perfidy || 45 || 8 ||
 * egregious || 52 || 10 ||
 * dungeon || 55 || 10 ||
 * renounce || 55 || 10 ||
 * repent || 55 || 10 ||
 * implications || 71 || 13 ||
 * beleaguered || 77 || 15 ||