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Book the First: Chapters 1-10

• Despereaux is the only infant mouse to survive in the last litter his mother has

• He is born with his eyes open and when his father Lester sees him, he is sure he will not survive

• His mother is French and sees the single surviving mouse as a colossal disappointment

• His mother can hardly see the point in naming a child that is only going to die anyway

• She names him Despereaux for all the sadness and the despair she feels

• The older children gather around and take note of his extraordinarily large ears

• Antoinette announces she will have no more babies as they are bad for her figure
• Despereaux's size is the subject of much speculation and conversation

• The fact that he is born with his eyes open, and over sized ears does not help

• Despereaux is a sickly child, coughing and...

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