WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sendak, Maurice. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.  1988. Harper Collins; 25th anniversary edition. ISBN 0060254920

2.     SUMMARY

Sendak's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is a story of conflict. Max, the protagonist, is at odds with his mother and with his own anger.  After being sent to bed without supper for behaving wildly, Max imaginatively transforms his room into a far off place.  A place where wild things roam free and he fits in. Max becomes the king of all things wild and unruly and after some wild rumpus begins missing the feeling of love and security.  He journeys home to find dinner waiting for him.

3.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Sendak’s story and illustrations are timeless treasures.  Originally published in 1963, the book has traveled through the decades without dating itself.  The story and illustrations fit perfectly together and make the book flow seamlessly.  Using Max’s imagination to deal with his unhappiness of being sent to his room without supper, shows the reader coping skills one may us in dealing with conflict.

The pen and ink drawings are sometimes funny and sometimes serious depending on Max’s mood.  The full page Illustrations of the Wild Things with no text allows the reader to make their own predictions of exactly what type of craziness is going on.  The visual cues in the illustrations take the monsters from something scary, with their large teeth and claws to something more lovable with smiles and the common interest with Max and mischief.

4.    REVIEW EXCERPTS

1964 Caldecott Award Winner

1981 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Winner

BOOKLIST 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.”     — Stephanie Zvirin

5.    CONNECTIONS

Art:  Glue two googly eyes on a piece of construction paper and allow children to use their imagination and draw their own "Wild Thing” using the eyes as a starting point.

Character Education: Use this book, along with other selections to teach students about honesty, being respectful, dealing with emotions, etc.

Although this link leads you to a preschool website, the songs would be a delight to any elementary age child.

http://www.preschooleducation.com/smonster.shtml