Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Children's Book Review and Sample Lesson

Where the Wild Things Are is so familiar and well-loved a children's book that its status is iconic. Winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1964, just one year after its publication in 1963, this book has been among children, parents' and book reviewers' favorites for well over 25 years.

Little Max in his wolf suit is lovable for his brash unlovability, and his naughty insolence paves the way for other characters, like David in the David Shannon series.

Max in his wolf suit gets into all kinds of mischief, until his mother sends him to bed without any supper. In his room, Maxes adventure begins with a forest that grows in his bedroom. Max boards a ship and sails "through night and day and in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are."

Max, the most wild thing of all, tames the wild things and becomes their ruler, leading a wild rumpus. Until he begins to miss his mother, and the familiar smells of mother's home cooking rouses him from his fantasy adventure.

As both author and illustrator, Sendak combines detailed pen and ink drawings with deceptively simple text that comes together in a deliciously sophisticated and polished way. The words and images strike a chord with readers for their direct realism in the sense that they represents a certain truthfulness about the temperament of little boys, whose wild and uncontrollable feelings often express themselves in very inappropriate ways. The juxtaposition of fantasy and realism in this story creates a dramatic tension that carries through to the very last line: "And it was still hot."

As I mentioned before, Max in his wolf suit is hardly lovable. His behavior is insolent, wild, and just like that of a toddler. Max is a character that toddlers can relate to. Max in his wolf suit with its long claws mimics the imagery of the monsters in this delightful fantasy.

I think that it is difficult to go wrong when sharing this story with children in a storytime setting. Where the Wild Things Are is a children's classic with many, many fans. And best of all, because children are children, the book's delights will even be new to some of your young readers.

Note that for all of the fans of Maurice Sendak and Where the Wild Things Are, some parents and children just don't "get it." Understand that not everyone likes this book.

• Fantasy
• Misbehavior
• Discipline
• Bedtime story
• Monsters
• Play
• Imagination

Where the Wild Things Are is recommended reading for ages 4-8. Some young toddlers may find the monsters in this book frightening, but as a general rule, because the text is simple and the illustrations dominate the story, I recommend this book for reading to children as young as age 3.

As a result of its popularity and award-winning status, this book has become the subject of many lesson plans, including college philosophy courses.

• In the Night Kitchen
• Outside Over There
• Chicken Soup With Rice, A Book of Months
• A Hole is To Dig
• Alligators All Around
• Really Rosie
• Brundibar
• Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or, There Must Be More to Life

  
  

The following lesson helps are primarily geared to a preschool or kindergarten-aged audience. Consider using this book as part of a themed unit about monsters.

Music and Movement

Music and movement is a key part of a preschool curriculum. You can use them in such a way that it engages children, signals the start of your story hour, and prepares them to listen to your story. I usually begin my story hour with the same song for at least 2 months. Using the same song repeatedly helps children to become familiar with the words and actions. Once a song becomes part of a child's repetoire, I can use that song among other new songs I've introduced.

My favorite songs to introduce story hour include: "If You're Happy and You Know it, Clap Your Hands", "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes", and "Do Your Ears Hang Low"

Add to your introductory song a few songs that fit your monster theme. One time I brought a portable DVD player. I played the Purple People Eater Song and we free-danced around the room. Obviously this activity is only feasible if you have the room for it.

Play "Duck, Duck, Wild Thing." Who says "it" has to be a goose?

Take the children on a monster walk. Tell the children that you are going to pretend to be Wild Things, and have a parade through your home, preschool, or library. Hold out your arms, curl your hands into claws, make big stomping steps, and snarl!

Here are a few more ideas:

• More monster-themed songs to familiar preschool tunes

Transition

Transitions can be difficult for preschoolers, especially after stomping through the library, try some of these transition rhymes from the Rainbow Reading Room website:

Transition Rhymes

Read-Aloud

Hold the book up in front of you in such a way that all the children can see it. Pre-read the book by showing the children the cover. Ask what the picture on the cover shows. (A monster, a boat, trees). Tell the children the story is called Where The Wild Things Are, and ask them if they see a "wild thing" on the front cover.

Tell the children this story is about a naughty boy named Max, and some monsters, called "wild things." Show the children the title page (I used the HarperTrophy edition first published in 1984.) Ask the children if the wild things look afraid. Who are they afraid of?

Read the story aloud.

As you read through the story, pause to ask the children questions like "do you ever get in trouble? Have you ever been sent to your room?"

Craft

• Wild Things paper bag puppets. Use lunch-sized paper bags turned upside down, so that the opening is pointed to the bottom. Depending on the children's ages and crafting skill levels, glue on pre-cut eyes, google-eyes, or have children draw their own. Add noses, mouths, fangs, and if you have a helper, use a cool-temp glue gun to add rafia or yarn hair. After you have added the features and they have dried, stuff the lunch bag with newspaper, and attach the stuffed bag to a paint-stir stick. Usually you can get these for free at hardware stores if you ask nicely.
• Monster Printables.

• (Preschool-Grade 2) Where the Wild Things Are: A Literature Unit by Emily Ellis
• Where the Wild Things Are Multidisciplinary Lesson Plan by Pam Powers: Hotchalk
• (K-2) Elements of a Story Using Where the Wild Things Are by Deborah Szabo
• (K-2, 6-8) Public Broadcasting System's American Masters Series: Maurice Sendak, Art and Imagination