Where the Wild Things Are

Rating:
Summary: not as good as new books
Review: I am almost 7 and my teachre said we have to say why we like a lot of books or do not like a lot of books this summer on amazon and then print out them and give them to our new teacher next year So I am starting with this book.

My dad reelly likes this book because he said it was good when he was a kid. I dont like it. The pictures are boring and the story is not long. My dad reads this to me a lot and I like the books that are newer. New books have pictures that are pretty and the storys are funner and longer. This book has pictures that look old. I wish my dad would read this to himself and let me read something diferent. Nichole

Rating:
Summary: Max's increasing imagination
Review: Maurice Sendak's beautiful tale, "Where the Wild Things Are," is about a young boy, Max. Max, who is being a little monster in his wolf suit, is sent to his room without supper. It is in his room that he enters his own little wonderful world of imagination. Max's imagination takes him through the forest where the wild things are. The monsters make Max, King and listen to his every demand. Max has his fun in his world of imagination, until he grows tired of his adventure and he returns back to reality. When he returns to his bedroom, he finds his dinner waiting for him, as he begins to pull of his wolf suit.

The best artistic element Maurice Sendak used was the increasing size of the pictures. I have never noticed this in the past, when I have seen or read this book. Now, that I can see that the artist used increasing pictures to represent Max's imagination, I am thoroughly amazed. I think Sendak's idea of getting further and further into Max's imagination was brilliant, and truly serves its purpose in this story. The pictures increase as the story gets more and more unrealistic, more magical, or becomes more of a fantasy. I can imagine this is how children really do start their fantasies. Although, I do not think that most children would understand the use of the increasing pictures, but I think they can relate to it more than we think. So, I would definitely use this story in my classroom, and once the children are old enough, I would share, "the little secret."

Rating:
Summary: Roar!
Review: The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind..and another

So starts one of the most perfect and wonderful illustrated children's books of all time. Max like many children has been engaged in a bit of mischief and is sent to bed without supper. While in his room he imagines an imaginary place where the "beasts" are wild and he is ruler. Max learns that this is not the kind of place he wants to live and even though he has made mischief, he is still loved by his parents. Both are important lessons for a child.

As a preschool teacher, I have read this book countless times to many children and can attest to its appeal. The children are delighted to roll their eyes, show their claws and roar their roars along with the wild things when the wild rumpus starts. For new parents this is one book I would say to include in your child's library. I'm sure that you will read it enough times to memorize it.

Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are was first published in 1963 so stands the test of time having served generations of children. The story and illustrations are as appealing today as they were nearly 40 years ago.