Themes of forgiveness, light, love and hope combine to create an enchanting old-fashioned tale with powerful emotional appeal.

The cast of improbable heroes whose fates are interwoven is led by Despereaux Tilling. Despereaux is sickly, unusually small (even for a mouse) with enormous ears, and a love for music, stories and a human princess named Pea. He is not very mouse-like, which gets Despereaux sent to the dungeon where the rats will surely eat him alive.

Then there is Roscuro, a rat who lives in the darkness of the dungeon but yearns for a taste of soup and a chance to live upstairs in the light. We have Princess Pea, smitten with Despereaux, although the king forbids it. We meet Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl, traded by her father for a tablecloth, who holds on to one implausible wish.

It is a dark story but full of humor; when the Mouse Council calls for the thread of death to be tied around Despereaux's neck just before he is taken to the dungeon, the threadmaster sets to work:

"Is she beautiful?" the threadmaster whispered.

"What?" said Despereaux.

"Shhhh. Is the princess beautiful?"

"The Princess Pea?"

"Yes."

"She is lovely beyond all imagining," said Despereaux.

"Just right," the threadmaster said. He drew back. He nodded his head. "A lovely princess, just so, like a fairy tale. And you love her, as a knight loves a maiden. You love her with a courtly love, a love that is based on bravery and courtesy and honor and devotion. Just so."

"How do you know that?" Despereaux said. "How do you know about fairy tales?"

"Shhhh." The mouse leaned in close, and Despereaux smelled celery again, green and alive. "Be brave, friend," whispered the threadmaster. "Be brave for the princess."

And then he stepped back and turned and shouted, "Fellow mice, the thread has been tied. The thread has been knotted."

Mig's desire to be a princess, Roscuro's craving for soup and Despereaux's quest to save Princess Pea after she is kidnapped bring the story to a joyful resolution.

Author Kate DiCamillo's previous book, "Because of Winn-Dixie," won a Newbery Honor award. Here DiCamillo brilliantly mixes imagery of light and darkness. Timothy Basil Ering's pencil illustrations are spectacular. Ering's Despereaux oozes unforgettable charm.

This all-around beautiful book is perfect for reading aloud.