FROM THE MOVIE & BOOK: "TALE OF DESPEREAUX": The Tale of Despereaux, is a 2003 Newbery Medal winning children's fantasy book written by Kate DiCamillo. Despereaux Tilling is the main protagonist of the story, Despereaux was born as a castle-mouse. Named from the many despairs of that time, Despereaux has been an oddball among the mouse community from birth, as he was born with a small body, huge ears, and his eyes open. He then grew up to be radically different from the other mice in this tale, choosing to read books instead of eating them, from where he develops a fascination toward fairy tales and learns from them ideas such as chivalry and courage, which his fearful peers dismiss as absurd. Through his large ears, Despereaux is able to listen to the music that the king plays for his daughter Princess Pea, and because of this, he is able to meet and fall in love with the human princess. This behavior, however, does not go unnoticed by the mice, and when he is sent to the dungeon as punishment, Despereaux must rely on his wits, bravery, and inner strength in order to save himself and the princess." ~Wikipedia