Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

1. Bibliography
Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper Collins Publishers, 1963. ISBN 0060254920
2. Plot Summary
A mischievous little boy named Max aggravates his mother to the point where she sends him to his room without dinner. While in his room, the ceiling and walls give way to a forest and Max is transported by boat to where the wild things are. Max becomes king of the wild things and enjoys playing with the beasts until he begins to miss home . He journeys back to his room where he finds a warm meal waiting for him.
3. Critical Analysis
From the first line and illustration of Where the Wild Things Are the reader gets a feel for Max’s character and his individuality. The young boy, his costume and wild behavior are very realistic. The sequence of events is very natural and even as Max is misbehaving and threatening to eat his mother, as readers, we still like him.
The setting, most of which comes from a young boy’s imagination, is fun and a little terrifying, reflecting Max’s own behaviors in his make believe world.
The plot is very realistic of a child’s response to being sent to his/her room. The idea that Max becomes bored with the wild things’ behavior and sent them to bed is interesting because he is learning his lesson while in a world created by his imagination. It is his way of processing and coming to terms with his behavior.
Sendak’s illustrations supplement the story perfectly, and in places overtake the words themselves. The expressions of Max throughout the story really convey his emotions and the change of heart he has in his imaginary world. The pages without text are vivid and provide the reader a chance to use their own creativity while deciphering what Max and the creatures are doing. As the setting transforms, the illustrations show the change ever so slightly, creating a smooth transition in both text and pictures.
4. Awards and Review Excerpts
• 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner
• 1981 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Illustration
• From AudioFile: “With humor and empathy, he creates fantasy worlds in which the youngest children can safely explore their scariest, meanest, most imaginative thoughts and feelings.”
5. Connections
• Read other stories about children with wild imaginations, such as Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson or Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen.
• Have students connect with the story by recounting times they may have been in trouble and sent to their room.
• Children can write words for the three spreads of pages without text.
• Have children draw their own wild thing creature.
6. Personal Response
I had never read this story until last week when I read it aloud to my daughter. For being written in 1963 the storyline transcends decades and is relevant to all readers. We can all remember a time when we were sent to our room, and most of us spent our time being creative while in “time out”.
This book had be recalling times that my sisters and I got in trouble. I shared a few stories with my husband and even mentioned a few recounts to my mother. Where the Wild Things Are was a fantastic story that took me on a trip down memory lane. I am sure it does the same for many readers.