Where the Wild Things Are
written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak
Bibliography
Sendak, M. (1991). Where the wild things are (25th anniversary ed.).
Brief Summary
On a certain night, one thing lead to another, and Max (alias Wild Thing) was sent to bed without any supper. But then a magical thing occurred. His bedroom changed into a deep forest and then he traveled across an ocean in his own boat for more than a year. Finally, Max came to a place where all the wild things are! At first, the wild things attempted to frighten Max, but he yelled “Be still!” and they were. The wild things made him king!
All the wild things, including Max, danced and swung from tree to tree and had all kinds of adventures. But soon, Max tired of being king. He became lonely as well as hungry. He thought he smelled “good things to eat.” So, he got in his boat, and travelled back home. It took more than a year once again. To his surprise, he found his supper waiting for him, and it was still hot!
My Impressions
This tale is exactly something which a child would dream or make up after being sent to bed without a meal. It’s amazing that Sendak’s story is so authentic!
Reviews
“*Starred Review* This simply written but subtle book became a classic not only because it legitimized children's angry feelings and their ability to use their imaginations to deal with those feelings but also because it showed punishment and love coexisting in a parent-child relationship…Where the Wild Things Are, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1964, has never gone out of print and is now available in several editions including paperback and a twenty-fifth anniversary remastered version.”
-- Booklist (November 1, 2007)
Stephanie Zyirin Copyright 2007 Booklist
“Sendak presents an image of children not as sentimentalized little dears but as people coping with complex emotions such as anger, fear, frustration, wonder, and awareness of their own vulnerability…This is a well-earned and reassuring happy ending for all children wrestling with human nature's darker emotions. It is also available in Spanish. 1988 (orig. 1963), HarperCollins…Ages 3 up.”
-- Children’s Literature
Mary Quattlebaum
Suggestions for Library Use
It’s important for children to learn that it is not unforgiveable to express emotions, even anger. Although parents sometimes have to reprimand their children, the love they have for them is unconditional. This book is a "must have" for any children's library!
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