Synopsis
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE was one of the first children's books to depict the sometimes subversive inner mind of a child. A seemingly straightforward tale about monsters, the story allows readers to deal with their fears of the unknown. Wearing a wolf suit and acting like a wild child, a boy named Max gets so out of control that his mother sends him to bed without his supper. That night Max laughs with delight as his room is transformed into a land inhabited by wild things--monsters almost as wild as Max himself. At first, the monsters try to scare Max, but, using a magic trick to conquer them, he becomes their king. Although Max eagerly participates in the creatures' "wild rumpus," he eventually returns home--where he finds his dinner, still hot, waiting for him in his bedroom. Although some found the jewel-toned, crosshatched pen-and-ink illustrations too frightening for children, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE was selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1963, and it also won the 1964 Caldecott Medal.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1988-09-01 | | Illustrator: | Maurice Sendak | | Edition Description: | Anniversary |
| Size | | Height: | 10.0 in | | Width: | 9.0 in | | Thickness: | 0.2 in | | Weight: | 6.4 oz |
Publisher's Note
Max, a wild and naughty boy, is sent to bed without his supper by his exhausted mother. In his room, he imagines sailing far away to a land of Wild Things. Instead of eating him, the Wild Things make Max their king. Soon Max tires of this and sails home, only to find his supper, still hot, waiting for him. Caldecott Medal winner; ALA Notable Children's Book; New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book; Reading Rainbow Selection; The Horn Book Fanfare Honor List.
Industry Reviews
"This vibrant picture book in luminous, understated full color has proved utterly engrossing to children with whom it has been shared....A sincere, perceptive contribution which bears repeated examination."
Horn Book - Virginia Haviland (04/01/1964)
"[A] most imaginative and unusual read-aloud picture book, with illustrations that are marvelously detailed....The text has a lovely lyric quality, and the psychological implications are sound but are not obtrusive in the story--rather, they give it body."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books - Zena Sutherland (03/01/1963)
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