Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are: Book review

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sendak, Maurice.1963. Where the Wild Things Are. By Maurice Sendak. Library of Congress. ISBN 0060254939

 2. PLOT SUMMARY In this very wild and eccentric picture book, author-artist, Maurice Sendak, writes an account of a young boy who is reprimanded by his mother for being such a wild child. The boy’s mother sends Max to his room without his supper; the boy is displeased with his mother. While in his room, he is processing his feelings of resentment towards his mother for being punished. He lets his imagination loose and his room turns into a jungle, and he goes on an adventure into the wild, in which he encounters beasts and wild things that he later becomes king to. But, he realizes that there is no substitute to a love of your family. He starts missing his mother in particular, and alludes to longing to be with those who love him. So in the end, he no longer is resentful, just relieved to be back in his room, where his hot supper awaits, in the house where his beloved family lives in.

 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Sendak’s writing is playfully smooth, the word choice is precise and effective which provides an enjoyable read. His writing lets you connect to the mindset of the child who is reprimanded by his mother, the reader is able to make a personal connection at a basic level, which is childhood antics. The word choice conveys a playfulness in reference to the time that elapses as the story develops “…in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are.” The artwork that was illustrated by Sendak himself is wonderfully done and creates a detailed, eerie and even spooky setting. Sendak’s illustrations, are very well done and the shading and graininess makes it pop out because the engravings were from the original artwork and were redone in 1988. The colors that are used throughout all the pictures are on the darker and melancholic side of the color scale, however the colors work well and do show contrast and helps reflect the mood that the author is trying to convey. The pictures in are textured, with a combination of shadiness, precise line technique which provides an emphasis on details and delivers a uniformity throughout the whole book. This book is a fairly easy book that will help facilitate a discussion with children in regards to parental love and behavioral problems. Share with children to help them understand and cope with a similar experience, when they are reprimanded for misbehaving. The story will allow them to make a personal connection and will be able to identify themselves in it.

 4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) The Caldecott Medal- 1964 Caldecott Medal winner for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the year. Starred Review in THE NEW YORK TIMES “A profoundly engaging fantasy that ought to become a classic.” Starred Review in COMMON SENSE MEDIA “Parents need to know that Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are is a classic of children’s literature. Although Max misbehaves, the message is one of parental love. This subtle masterpiece of story, writing, and art will have kids asking for repeated readings. Colorful language and a world of imagination make this wild adventure a fun learning experience.”

 5. CONNECTIONS If you feel comfortable leading a discussion on parental love and dealing with a child’s misbehavior, this book is a simple way to do that, because it’s underlying message is parental love and family as the core and foundation of a child’s life. There are other books that were written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, in fact this book was the first book of the trilogy. There are other books that were written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, in fact this book was the first book of the trilogy. The other books that are part of Sendak”s trilogy included In the Night Kitchen. ISBN 978-0060-254896. Outside over There ISBN 0-06-443185-1.