Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
Harper and Row - 1963

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Reading Level: 5+  Number of Pages: 19 Genre: Fiction

Winner, 1964 Caldecott Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1940?1970 (ALA)
1981 Boston Globe?Horn Book Award for Illustration
1963, 1982 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1963, 1982 (NYT)
A Reading Rainbow Selection
1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Children's Books of 1981 (Library of Congress)
1981 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing 1988 (NY Public Library)

The Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration

Summary: Max is making mischief of one form or another, and his mother sends him to his room without his supper. That night a forest grows in his room, and a river runs by. He sails off to a faraway land where the wild things are, where he is the wildest and meanest of all the beasts. They celebrate wildly, but Max is still lonely, though he is king of the beasts. He gives up being king of the wild things, and sails home to his bedroom, where he finds his dinner waiting for him, and it was still hot.

     "In Max's room a forest grew, and grew, and grew until his ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around . . ."

My Impressions: The book is poetically beautiful, and the illustrations are incredible. The book seems to be significant because it addresses anger--something all children (and even adults) experience. He is mad at his mom for scolding him, but finds a way to get over it. The fantasy that Max invents may have begun as a rebellious escape, but eventually helps him remember how great it is to "be where someone loved him best of all." Each word is carefully and simplistically chosen, so the whole meaning of the book is artfully deceptive.

Parent's Guide: Except for maybe some pictures of "scary" monsters, no problems are found.

Recommendations: Everybody should read this book. Seriously.