Book Review of Where the Wild Things Are

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sendak, Maurice. 1963. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Ill. by Maurice Sendak. New York, NY: Harper Collins Children’s Books. ISBN 9780060254926

PLOT SUMMARY

Max has reached the age of rebellion. Although he knows better, he misbehaves until his mother speaks to him, and he responds disrespectfully. He gets sent to his room without his supper. There his imagination takes over, or perhaps he falls asleep and dreams. Whichever it is, his room turns into a world of its own, complete with forests, an ocean, and “wild things.” Time passes by, and in the land of the wild things, Max tames them and becomes their king. Eventually he tires of playing with his subjects and returns to where “someone loved him best of all” and finds his supper waiting for him… “and it was still hot.”     

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is rightly included among the great children’s classics. What child has not, at one time or another, talked back to their parent, and been sent to their room? And what child has not used their room as a land of imagination where they ruled with impunity over subjects of their own making? And what child has not eventually grown tired of their make-believe and longed to with someone who loves them “best of all”? All in all, this book is good an example of a classic children’s picture book as you will find in any library. It is a story that all children can relate to.   

Maurice Sendak’s illustrations are unique and distinctive among artists. His work is not realistic but works nicely with his text. The illustrations suggest elementary school plays and theatrical performances. The emotions with which he imbues the faces of his characters supports the story perfectly.         

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS

2021 Caldecott Medal Winner

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: #1 of the Top 100 Picture Books for the 21st Century

KIRKUS: “More than any other single picture book of the 20th century, Where the Wild Things Are defined excellence in craft and broke barriers for generations of picture-book creators.”

BOOKLIST: “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.”

CONNECTIONS

* A discussion of emotions and actions can be expanded upon after reading this book.

* Other books related to this one:

Viorst, Judith. ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY. ISBN 0689300727

Bang, Molly. WHEN SOPHIE GETS ANGRY – REALLY, REALLY ANGRY… ISBN 9780439598453


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