Where The Wild Things Are

Bibliography-
Sendak, Maurice. 1963. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Ill. By Maurice Sendak New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060254926

Plot Summary-
Max's journey begins when he dons a wolf suit, causes mischief, and is sent to bed without dinner. Max's room then transforms into the outside world and he travels to a distant land where he meets the Wild Things and they make him king. Max and the wild things make lots of mischief until one night Max sends the wild creatures to bed without their dinner. Max, then returns home to find his dinner waiting for him.

Critical Analysis-
Maurice Sendak's story is classic and unforgettable. Most everyone can recognize Sendak's dark and poetic lines. “...they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws..” At first, the story featuring a boy sent to bed without dinner seems simplistic and straightforward, but at second glance the story takes on new depth. Max, in his anger, wants to escape from his problems, so he imagines his room as the wide open world where he can roam free and do as he pleases. When he becomes king of the wild things, he escapes from the hassle of having to listen to his mother. In the end, Max returns home after coming to the realization that escaping from your worries and shutting out the world leaves you hungry and alone.

As well as writing, Maurice Sendak illustrated this beautiful and moving story as well. One thing to take note of is Sendak's illustrations of nature itself. Every feature in this the book suggests wildness: the Wild Things, Max and even nature. The forest takes over Max's room one page at a time till there is nothing left suggesting that nature is an active character inviting Max into the wild.
Perhaps the most recognizable feature of the story is the illustrations of the fantastical Wild Things. At first, they look frightening and terrible with their maniacal yellow eyes and sharp fierce claws, but by the time they're hanging from the trees and causing a “wild rumpus” they take on a more comical tone while still maintaining their wild nature. Sendak illustrations, like the story, can at first seem simple and straightforward, but on second glance take on dark, deep and meaningful tone.

While really young children may be frightened by the depictions of the wild things older children will relate to Max's frustration with his mother and wanting to escape their problems.

Review Excerpts
1964 Caldecott Medal Winner
1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
1963, 1982 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL- "Each word has been carefully chosen and the simplicity of the language is quite deceptive."

Connections
This book would be a great story-time read and for a class discussion, older children could share similar experiences of how they resolved their anger.
Read the rest of the trilogy written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN ISBN 978-0060266684 and OUTSIDE OVER THERE ISBN 978-0064431859
Also read Viorst, Judith. ALEXAND AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY ISBN 978-1416985952. Also, deals with a child coping with anger and frustration.