Breakdown and Review of Where the Wild Things Are

Breakdown and Review of 'Where the Wild Things Are' Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak  has become a classic. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal as the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year, it was first published by HarperCollins in 1963. When Sendak wrote the book, the theme of dealing with dark emotions was rare in childrens literature, especially in picture book format. Story Summary After more than 50 years, what keeps the book  popular is not the impact of the book on the field of childrens literature, it is the impact of the story and the illustrations on young readers. The plot of the book is based on the fantasy (and real) consequences of a little boys mischief. One night Max dresses up in his wolf suit and does all kinds of things he shouldnt, like chasing the dog with a fork. His mother scolds him and calls him a WILD THING! Max is so mad he shouts back, ILL EAT YOU UP! As a result, his mother sends him to his bedroom without any supper. Maxs imagination transforms his bedroom into an extraordinary setting, with a forest and an ocean and a little boat that Max sails in until he comes to a land full of wild things. Although they look and sound very fierce, Max is able to tame them with a single glance. They all realize Max is ..the most wild thing of all and make him their king. Max and the wild things have a fine time creating a rumpus until Max begins to want to be †¦where someone loved him best of all. Maxs fantasy ends when he smells his dinner. Despite the wild things protests, Max sails back to his own room where he finds his supper waiting for him. The Books Appeal This is a particularly appealing story because Max is in conflict with both his mother and his own anger. Despite the fact that he is still angry when he is sent to his room, Max does not continue his mischief. Instead, he gives free rein to his angry emotions through his fantasy, and then, comes to a decision that he will no longer let his anger separate him from those whom he loves and who love him. Max is an engaging character. His actions, from chasing the dog to talking back to his mother are realistic. His emotions are also realistic. Its quite common for children to get angry and fantasize about what they could do if they ruled the world and then calm down and consider the consequences. Max is a child with whom most 3- to 6-year-olds readily identify. Summing Up the Impact of the Book Where the Wild Things Are is an excellent book. What makes it so extraordinary is the creative imagination of both Maurice Sendak the writer and Maurice Sendak the artist. The text and the artwork complement one another, moving the story along seamlessly. The transformation of Maxs bedroom into a forest is a visual delight. Sendaks colored pen and ink illustrations in muted colors are both humorous and sometimes a little scary, reflecting both Maxs imagination and his anger. The theme, conflict, and characters are ones with which readers of all ages can identify, and  is a book that children will enjoy hearing again and again. Publisher: HarperCollins, ISBN: 0060254920