Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Plot Summary:

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1964) is a simple books that teaches Max to control his anger by channeling his emotions with his imagination. Max is being defiant towards his mother and in return, he is sent fuming to his room without his supper. His room gets converted into a jungle with many scary, “wild things.” Max’s imagination sails him to a far away land where he becomes the king and ruler of the wild things. After successful embarking in his journey, he begins to feel lonely and decides to travel back home despite his power over his new land. When he returns, he discovers that his dinner is awaiting his arrival. Children will forever remember they way the wild things “roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth!”

Impression about the book:

My impression about Where the Wild Things Are is that the wonderful illustrations make this book a hit with children young and old. The details in the illustrations leads the reader into a world that only Max imagines. This book can help your readers escape with Max to a land where “the wild things” live.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

Maurice Sendak does a fantastic job enticing the reader to find out where Max has ventured to and when he will come home. The story infers Max’s journey to be instantaneous because when he returns home, his supper await his consumption. Maurice Sendak is an extraordinary author and illustrator.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as a read aloud or as a springboard to discuss different ways to channel anger. Also, the book depicts a vivid approach as to how books can take you away to a far away journey where “the wild things are!”