1. 1
2014
Oregon Battle
of the Books
Selection
Lisa Ann Rodriguez
© 2013
14OBOB@gmail.com

2. What is strange about
Despereaux when he is born?

3. His eyes are open and his
ears are too big.

4. What is the story about?

5. A mouse , a princess, some
soup, and a spool of thread
-title page

6. What was Despereaux’s
mother’s favorite word?

7. disappointment
-p. 12

8. Why did his mom name him
Despereaux?

9. for the sadness and the many
despairs of the place
-p. 12

10. What is Despereaux’s
father’s name?

11. Lester
- p. 17

12. What were Despereaux’s
siblings names?

13. Toulese (brother p. 12),
Furlough (brother p . 14),
Merlot (sister, p. 14)

14. Who took Despereaux to the
mouse council?

15. Furlough
p. 49

16. What was Despereaux’s
mom’s name?

17. Antoinette

18. What is Despereaux’s last
name?

19. Tilling

20. What was Despereaux’s
aunt and uncle’s names?

21. Aunt Florence
and Uncle Alfred

22. How was Despereaux’s
health?

23. He was sickly. He coughed
and sneezed a lot and had
temperatures. He fainted at
loud noises.

24. What did Despereaux like to
do while his siblings ate?

25. Listen to music

26. How did Despereaux
describe the sound of
music?

27. It sounds like honey.

28. What did Furlough try to
teach Despereaux?

29. How to scurry

30. What did Despereaux see in
the castle that amazed him?

31. The lights coming through the
stained glass window in many
colors.

32. Where did Despereaux’s
sister take him?

33. To the library

34. Why did Despereaux’s sister
take him to the library?

35. To teach him to eat paper.

36. What did Despereaux read
on the page of the book in
the library?

37. Once upon a time....
p. 23

38. Why didn’t the cook kill
Despereaux?

39. She was happy to see him in the kitchen rather
than one of the kings men who would catch her
making soup.
p. 229

40. Why didn’t King Phillip like
rodents?

41. Because his wife died from heart
attack caused by a rat falling in
her soup.
p. 110

42. What was the king’s name?

43. Phillip
p. 27

44. Why did King Phillip outlaw
soup?

45. Because his wife died when a rat fell in her
soup.

46. How did Despereaux free
himself in the dungeon?

47. He told Gregory the jailer a
happy story.
p. 80

48. What was Migory Sow’s wish?

49. To be a princess
p. 136

50. What was King Phillip’s
daughter’s name?

51. Pea
p. 26

52. What did Princess Pea do the
first time she saw Migory
Sow?

53. She waved
p. 133

54. What was the threadmaster’s
secret?

55. That the red thread of death was sacred and
special but really it was just thread.
p. 71

56. How did Gregory the jailer
die?

57. Roscuro chewed the rope so
Gregory got lost in the dungeon.

58. Who is the author of The Tale
of Despereau?

59. Kate DiCamilo

60. When Despereaux saw the light
through the stained glass window,
where did he think he was?

61. Heaven
p. 20

62. Why wouldn’t Despereaux eat
the paper in the book?

63. It would ruin the story.
p. 24

64. What was the story about in
the book Despereaux read?

65. A beautiful princess and the brave knight
that honors and serves her.
p. 24

66. What awaits almost everyone,
mouse or man, who does not
conform?

67. An interesting fate.
p.24

68. What made the sound that
sounded like honey?

69. Music: King Phillip playing his guitar and
singing to his daughter.
p. 26

70. What was the most basic and
elemental of all mouse rules?

71. Never reveal yourself to a human.
p.26

72. What did King Phillip think
Despereaux was at first?

73. A bug
p. 26

74. Why did King Phillip think
Despereaux was a bug?

75. He was nearsighted.
p.26

76. What was the song King
Phillip sang for Despereaux
about?

77. stardust
p.26

78. What was the second song
King Phillip sang for
Despereaux about?

79. deep purple falling over sleepy
garden walls
p. 29

80. What incredible thing happened when
Despereaux was listening to the
King’s music??

81. He fell in love with Princess
Pea
p.29

82. Love is....?

83. Ridiculous but wonderful!
p. 31

84. Who saw the Princess touch
the top of Despereaux’s
head?

85. Furlough
p.31

86. When Furlough saw Despereaux standing at
the foot of the king and the princess touching
his head, his whiskers got_____?

87. As tight as bow strings
p. 31

88. What did Furlough do when
he saw Despereaux with the
king and princess?

89. He scurried to tell their dad.
p.32

90. What does Lester think is the
reason for Despereaux’s
behavior?

91. His wife’s French blood making
him crazy.
p. 33

92. What did Lester decide to do
about Despereaux talking to
the Princess?

93. Call a special meeting of the mouse council.
p. 35

94. What is the drum of the
council of the mouse made
of?

95. A thimble with a piece of leather stretched
across the open end.
p. 35

96. How does Lester play the
drum to call the mouse
council?

97. One long beat with his tail, two staccato
beats with his paws.
p. 35

98. How did the Princess describe
Despereaux’s ears?

99. Like small pieces of velvet.
p.37

100. Why did the King tell Princess
Pea to put Despereaux down?

101. He’s a rodent...related to rats.
p.38

102. What was the last, great,
ancient rule of the mice that
Despereaux broke?

103. He spoke to a human (the
princess)
p.37

104. What was the first thing
Despereaux said to the
Princess?

105. Please don’t cry.
p.37

106. What did Despereaux say to
the princess after he told her
his name?

107. I honor you.
p.38

108. How did the king react to
Despereaux speaking to the
princess?

109. He said rodents shouldn’t speak to
princesses. It would make the world topsy
turvy. And that rodents know nothing of
honor.

110. What did Despereaux drop
that the princess picked up?

111. His hankerchief
p.40

112. How many mice were in the
mouse council?

113. 14: 13 honored mice and one most very
honored head mouse.
p.41

114. What did the mice sit on in the
mouse council?

115. a piece of wood balanced on spools of
thread
p.42

116. What was the decision of the
mouse council?

117. To send Despereaux to the dungeon.
p.42

118. When the mouse council voted to
send Despereaux to the dungeon,
what did his father do?

119. cried
p.44

120. What was Despereaux given the chance to do
by the mouse council?

121. Deny his sins (talking to the princess) or admit
them and renounce them so he could go to the
dungeon with a pure heart.
p.44

122. What does perfidy mean?

123. Treachery or betrayal-but the book didn’t
say! It tells you to look it up in the
dictionary.
p.44

124. What were the words in the
book that Despereaux wanted
to read?

125. Happily ever after.
p.46

126. What does Furlough think Despereaux is
doing to the paper when he hears him
reading??

127. Talking to the paper
p.48

128. What did Despereaux ask
Furlough when he came to
take him to the mouse
council?

129. Do you know what love is?
p.48

130. What three things did Despereaux do
that he had to confess at the mouse
council?

131. 1) Sit at the foot of the king
2) Let the princess touch him
3) Talk to the princess.
p.55

132. Why didn’t Despereaux
renounce his actions?

133. He was in love with the
princess.
p.55

134. What reason did Despereaux
give for breaking the rules?

135. music and love
p. 54

136. What does renounce mean?

137. Repent, be sorry for what you did.
p.55

138. What did Despereaux do after
he refused to renounce his
actions?

139. He fainted.
p.56

140. What was the sound of the
drum for going to the
dungeon?

141. Much more boom and less tat. Boom-
boom-boom-tat.
p.57

142. What did the threadmaster
do?

143. Tied Despereaux with red thread. Then asked
Despereaux if the princess was beautiful.
p.58

144. What did the threadmaster’s
breath smell like?

145. celery
p.58

146. What was the threadmaster’s
advice to Despereaux?

147. Be brave
p.60

148. Why was Despereaux’s mom
so easy to spot in the crowd?

149. She had put on a lot of makeup.
p.62

150. What did they tell Antoinette would
happen to Despereaux in the
dungeon?

151. The rats would eat him.
p. 64

152. What was the last thing Antoinette
said to Despereaux?

153. Adieu (farewell)
p. 65

154. Who was one of the mice with black
hoods who took Despereaux to the
dungeon?

155. His brother, Furlough.
p. 67

156. What was the thread tied to
Despereaux called?

157. The red thread of death.
p. 71.

158. What two words did Despereaux
keep saying in the dungeon?

159. Perfidy and Pea
p.73

160. How did Despereaux help himself to
be brave in the dungeon?

161. He started telling a story, starting with “Once
upon a time”....
p. 75

162. What did Gregory the jailer have that
was similar to the red thread?

163. A rope around his ankle.
p.76

164. What was the difference between
the red thread of death and the rope
on Gregory’s ankle?

165. The rope saved Gregory by making sure he
wouldn’t get lost in the dungeon.
p. 76

166. What was Gregory holding that Despereaux
was staring at...the same thing Roscuro was
mesmerized by?

167. The flame of a match.
p. 76

168. How long has Gregory been in the
dungeon?

169. For decades, centuries, eons, eternities.
p. 76

170. Why can rats find their way around
in the dark dungeon?

171. Because it mirrors their own dark hearts.
p. 77

172. Why did Despereaux say he couldn’t
die?

173. He loved the princess and had a duty to serve
her.
p. 77

174. What was the monument to the
foolishness of love in the dungeon?

175. A pile of spoons, kettles, and soup bowls.
The king threw them all down in the
dungeon so he wouldn’t have to look at
them.
p. 80

176. Why was Gregory willing to save
Despereaux?

177. Despereaux would tell him a story. And stories
are light in the darkness.
p. 84

178. What is Rosuro’s full name?

179. Chiaroscuro
p.85

180. Is Roscuro older or younger than
Despereaux?

181. Older. He was born several years before
Despereaux.
p.85

182. What did Roscuro find when he was
young, and what did he do with it?

183. A rope, and he chewed it
p. 85

184. What did Gregory want Roscuro to
do?

185. Apologize for chewing his rope.
p.86

186. When Roscuro wouldn’t apologize
for chewing the rope, what did
Gregory do?

187. Burned his whiskers with the flame from the match
and then threw him back into the darkness.
p. 86

188. What did Roscuro long for and
obsess about?

189. Light
p. 87

190. Who was Roscuro’s rat friend?

191. Botticelli Remorso
p. 88

192. To Botticelli Remorso, what is the
meaning of life?

193. Torturing prisoners and making them suffer
p.87

194. What did Botticelli do while he
talked?

195. Swung a heart-shaped locket on a
rope to hypnotize
p. 87

196. How did Botticelli tell Roscuro to
torture prisoners?

197. Convince them you’re their friend.
Get them to confess their sins.
Promise forgiveness. Then deny
them what they want most.
p. 88

198. Why does Botticelli know that more
prisoners will come to the dungeon?

199. Because there is evil in the world.
p. 90

200. Why did Botticelli want to hypnotize
Roscuro?

201. So he would act like a rat--
obsessed with suffering rather
than light.
p. 88

202. What did the prisoner bring with him
into the dungeon?

203. A red cloth
p. 92

204. Why didn’t Roscuro look away when
light entered the dungeon?

205. He thought the light would enter
him and fill him.
p. 92

206. Why didn’t Botticelli want Roscuro to
go upstairs?

207. Rats don’t go upstairs..only mice.
p. 95

208. What did Botticelli make Roscuro
repeat?

209. I am a rat.
p. 95

210. What did Botticelli tell Roscuro to do
to the new prisoner?

211. Take his red cloth
p. 98

212. Why was the man in prison?

213. For stealing 6 cows -- 2 Jerseys
and 4 Guernseys
p. p. 99

214. What was the prisoner’s first crime?

215. Trading his daughter for a red
tablecloth, a hen, and a handful of
cigarettes.
p. 99

216. When his daughter was crying for
him, what did the prisoner do?

217. He just kept walking and didn’t
look back.
p. 99

218. Why does the prisoner want to keep
the red cloth?

219. It’s warm and he likes the color. It
reminds him of what he did wrong.
p. 101

220. What was happening when Roscuro
first stepped from the dungeon into
the castle?

221. Despereaux was being born.
p. 103

222. When Roscuro went into the
banquet hall, who did he see?

223. King Phillip, Queen Rosemary, Princess Pea,
20 noble people, a juggler, 4 minstrels, and all
the kings men
p. 103

224. What was the Queen’s name?

225. Rosemary
p. 103

226. Where did Roscuro go in the
banquet room to see everyone?

227. Into the crystal chandelier
p. 106

228. Who saw Roscuro hanging from the
chandelier?

229. Princess Pea
p. 106

230. What happened when Princess Pea
yelled, “A Rat!”

231. Roscuro fell into the Queen’s bowl
of soup
p. 108

232. What did the Queen more than
anything except the King and
Princess Pea?

233. soup
p.110

234. What kind of soup did Roscuro fall
into?

235. chicken, watercress, and garlic
p.110

236. What did the Queen say and do
when she saw Roscuro in her soup?

237. She said, “There is a rat in my soup”.
Then she had a heart attack and
died.
p. 111

238. What did Roscuro see when he
looked back as he ran out of the
banquet hall?

239. The princess’s eyes filled with
disgust and anger
p. 111

240. What happened to Roscuro when
Princess Pea looked at him with
anger and disgust?

241. His heart was broken
p. 111

242. What did Roscuro wear as a crown?

243. The Queen’s royal soupspoon
p. 114

244. Since the queen died while eating
soup, what did the king do?

245. He outlawed soup and everything
involved in making and eating it.
He also ordered every rat to be
killed.
p. 117

246. What did Roscuro do with the scrap
of red tablecloth?

247. He made it into a robe like a king’s
robe.
p. 118

248. What did Miggery Sow’s ears look
like?

249. Pieces of cauliflower from being
hit.
p. 120

250. How did Miggery Sow get to the
castle?

251. She came on a wagon with the
king’s soldier.
p. 120

252. Who was Miggery Sow named
after?

253. Her dad’s prize winning pig.
p. 125

254. How old was Miggery Sow when her
mom died?

255. 6
p. 125

256. No one cared what Miggery Sow....

257. wanted.
p. 126

258. What did Miggery Sow call the man
who bought her?

259. Uncle
p.128

260. Why did the man buy Miggery Sow?

261. To cook and clean for him
p. 128

262. What happened to Miggery Sow
from being hit in the ears so much?

263. She lost her hearing and couldn’t
understand a lot of things people
said.
p. 129

264. What did Miggery Sow see on her
7th birthday?

265. King Phillip, Queen Rosemary,
and Princess Pea riding on a white
horse.
p. 131

266. When Princess Pea saw Miggery
Sow, what did she do?

267. She waved.
p. 131

268. When Miggery Sow saw the
princess going by, what did she start
to feel?

269. hope
p.133

270. What did Miggery Sow hope for?

271. To be a princess and wear a
crown.
p.136

272. What did “Uncle” do when Miggery
Sow said she wanted to be a
princess?

273. He made fun of her. He put a
kettle on his head and danced
around saying it was a crown
p. 136

274. Why did the soldiers come to
“Uncle’s” house?

275. To get the spoons, kettle, and
bowls because soup was
outlawed.
p. 139

276. What did the soldier tell “uncle” they
should eat instead of soup?

277. Cake with a fork.
p.140

278. Why did the soldier take Miggery
Sow?

279. It’s illegal to own another hman in
the Kingdom of Dor.
p. 140

280. What was the name of the kingdom
in the Tale of Despereaux?

281. The Kingdom of Dor
p.140

282. What would Miggery Sow do in the
castle?

283. Be a paid servant.
p. 142

284. How old was Miggery Sow when she
became a servant in the castle?

285. 12
p.142

286. What was the first thing Miggery
Sow had to do as a servant?

287. Deliver a spool of red thread to the
princess.
p.145

288. What did Miggery Sow need to do
when she greeted the princess?

289. curtsy
p. 145

290. Why didn’t Miggery Sow go into the
room when the princess said,
“Enter”?

291. She couldn’t hear her
p.145

292. What happened when Miggery Sow
tried to curtsy?

293. She dropped the spool of thread,
slipped on it, and fell down
p. 147

294. Why did the princess need more red
thread?

295. Every spool kept disappearing
p.148

296. How old was Princess Pea when her
mom died?

297. 12
p. 149

298. Who was the head of the serving
staff?

299. Louise

300. What did Louise never do?

301. laugh
p.151

302. Describe Mig after lived in the castle
for a while.

303. plump (chubby), lazy, not smart.
p. 152

304. What were the different jobs Mig
tried in the castle?

305. lady in waiting, seamstress,
chambermaid, cook’s helper
p.153

306. What did Mig do wrong as a lady in
waiting?

307. She was caught trying on the
gown of a visiting duchess
p.152

308. What did Mig do wrong as a
seamstress?

309. She sewed the cloak of a riding
master to her own frock and
ruined both.
p. 152

310. What did Mig do wrong as a
chambermaid?

311. She was sent to clean a room, but
spent the whole time looking
around.
p. 152

312. What did Mig do wrong as a cook’s
helper?

313. Dropped egg shells in the cake batter,
scrubbed the floor with cooking oil
instead of cleanser, sneezed into the
king’s pork chops
p.153

314. What job did Louise give Mig since
she messed up so much?

315. Take Gregory the jailer his
noonday meal.
p. 153

316. Why wasn’t Mig afraid of the
dungeon?

317. She couldn’t smell or hear well.
p. 158

318. What made Roscuro come to Mig?

319. The song she was singing about
wanting to be a princess.
p. 158

320. What did Mig call Gregory the jailer?

321. Mr. Deep Downs
p.159

322. Why did Mig think Gregory was
ferocious?

323. He ate even the bones of the
chicken.
p. 160

324. What did Gregory say into the
napkin after he sneezed into it?

325. “Back to the world of light”
p.164

326. Why was Mig able to hear Roscuro
speak?

327. The pitch of his voice was perfect
for her to hear.
p.166

328. When Mig met Roscuro, how was he
dressed?

329. The queen’s soupspoon on his
head and a piece of the red cloth
around him. p. 166

330. What did Roscuro do to Gregory?

331. He chewed his rope, so he ended
up getting lost and dying.
p.169

332. How did Despereaux get out of the
dungeon?

333. He was hidden in the napkin on
the tray that Mig brought up
p.170

334. What happened when the cook lifted
up the napkin from the tray?

335. Despereaux fell into a cup of oil.
p. 171

336. What did Mig do to Despereaux?

337. She told him to run, then she cut
off his tail instead of killing him. p.
178

338. Where did Despereaux hide and
sleep in the kitchen?

339. On a sack of flour in the pantry. p.
180

340. What did Mig take into the
Princess’s room?

341. Roscuro, a candle, and the kitchen
knife she used to cut off
Despereaux’s tail.
p. 184

342. Why didn’t Mig want to hurt the
Princess?

343. She wanted the princess to be her
lady in waiting.
p. 185

344. What was Roscuro’s real plan?

345. To leave the princess in the
dungeon forever.
p.187

346. Why does the Queen give the
princess a taste of soup in her
dream?

347. So she will remember her.
p. 187

348. What did the Princess feel when she
saw Roscuro?

349. rage
p.190

350. Who buttoned the Princess’s gown
buttons on the back?

351. Roscuro - because Mig wouldn’t
put down the knife
p.194

352. What did King Phillip dream about?

353. That his wife was a bird with green
and gold feathers that called his
name.
p. 194

354. What was the dark and the light in
the princess’s heart?

355. Dark - hatred for the rat
Light - empathy - caring of others’
feelings.
p. 197

356. What surprised Despereaux about
the cook?

357. That she was also heart-broken
about the princess being missing
p. 201

358. Why did the mouse council think
Despereaux was a ghost?

359. He was covered in flour and still
wearing the red thread around his
neck
p.206

360. What did Lester do when he saw
Despereaux?

361. He told him he was sorry and that
he had destroyed the drum. He
asked for his forgiveness.
p.207

362. Why did Despereaux forgive his
dad?

363. To save his own heart--to stop it
from breaking in two.
p.207

364. What did the Mouse Council do after
Despereaux left?

365. Voted that they had NOT seen
what they had seen. Voted that
the visit did NOT occur.
p.208

366. Why did Lester cry?

367. Because he had been forgiven.
p.208

368. How did Despereaux have the flour
off his fur?

369. The king’s tears fell on him
p.212

370. Why didn’t the king trust
Despereaux?

371. He said they had already
searched the dungeon. Also
because Despereaux is a rodent
and, therefore, a liar.
p.213

372. Why was the suit of armor empty?

373. It was waiting for Despereaux
(symbolically) to fill it
p.213

374. Who did the king hire to help find
Princess Pea? Who did he trust?

375. Fortunetellers and a magician
p.213

376. Who did Despereaux go to for help?

377. The Threadmaster with celery
breath.
p. 217

378. What is a quest?

379. An important but impossible task
p.217

380. What is Despereaux’s plan to save
the Princess?

381. Use the red thread to help them
find their way back out of the
dungeon.
p.218

382. What is the Threadmaster’s name?

383. Hovis
p. 218

384. What did Hovis give Despereaux?

385. The spool of red thread and a
needle to use like a sword.
p.219

386. Why did Hovis bite the red thread off
Despereaux’s neck

387. Because he was going into the
dungeon because he wanted
to...not because he had to. .
p. 220

388. How many flights of stairs did
Despereaux have to roll the spool of
thread down?

389. three
p.222

390. How much did Despereaux weigh?

391. 2 ounces....1/2 of a normal mouse
p.220

392. What was the cook doing in the
kitchen when Despereaux had to
sneak through?

393. Making soup
p.223

394. What did Despereaux hide behind in
the kitchen when the cook heard
him?

395. The spool of thread
p.227

396. Why was the cook happy to see a
mouse in her kitchen?

397. Because it wasn’t someone
catching her making soup.
p. 227

398. How did Despereaux feel when the
cook laughed at him?

399. It hurt his feelings
p.228

400. When the spool of thread rolled
away from Despereaux, where did it
land?

401. At the paw of Botticelli Remorso
p. 237.

402. What did Botticelli Remorso smell?

403. soup, tears, flour, oil, and mouse
blood
p. 238

404. How did Botticelli try to trick
Despereaux?

405. He tried to hypnotize him with his
locket and to convince him to lead him
to the princess.
p. 242

406. What did Roscuro do with Mig and
the Princess?

407. He put them in a secret hidden chamber and
made them change clothes.
p.252

408. What did the princess ask Mig that
no one had ever asked her?

409. What do you want?
p.253

410. What did Miggery Sow REALLY
want?

411. Her mom
p.253

412. Why did Mig refuse to chain up the
princess?

413. She realized Roscuro had lied to
her.

414. There is nothing sweeter in this sad
world than....

415. The sound of someone you love
calling your name
p.257

416. Mig tried to cut off Roscuro’s head,
but she missed and cut off what?

417. his tail
p.261

418. What did Roscuro smell that made
him cry?

419. Soup
p. 263

420. Why did Roscuro bring the princess
to the dungeon?

421. He wanted some light and beauty
p.263

422. Why didn’t Despereaux kill
Roscuro?

423. The princess asked him not to.
p. 263

424. What did Pea have to do to save her
own heart?

425. Forgive Roscuro.
p. 263

426. What did Princess Pea promise to
Roscuro if he would lead them out of
the dungeon?

427. soup
p.263

428. How did Roscuro bring light into
another life?

429. He told Princess Pea about the
prisoner with the red tablecloth
and she got him released.
p. 266

430. What happened to Mig at the end?

431. Her father treated her like a
princess for the rest of his days.
p. 266

432. How did Despereaux live happily
ever after?

433. He and Princess Pea were friends
and had many adventures
p.266

434. Who was at the party at the end of
the story eating soup?

435. King Phillip, Princess Pea, a serving girl with a
crown on her head (Mig), a rat with a spoon
his head (Roscuro), and Desperaux in the
place of honor.
p. 267

436. Who were looking at the banquet at
the end of the Tale of Despereaux?

437. Antoinette, Lester, Furlough, and
Hovis.
p. 268

438. Who did the author, Kate DiCamilo,
want you (the reader) to think of her
as?

439. A mouse telling you a story like
Despereaux told to Gregory, to save you
and herself from darkness. Because
stories are light.
p.270

440. I THINK YOU ARE READY!