Where the Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the Wild Things Are. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

When you have a "fresh" mouth and are driving your mother crazy, you get sent to your room. This is what happens to Max in this classic children's story. The rest of the tale is Max's imagination. He sails away to an island of true wild things. After they do their best to scare Max, he tames them with a stare in the eyes. They make him their king because truly is is the wildest of them all. The group of them then proceed to go around the jungle being a rowdy bunch. After a while, Max stops the group and send them to bed without supper. Sounds like Max has had some experience with this punishment. He leaves the island and returns to his bedroom to find a hot dinner waiting for him.

Children love this story. Teachers add it to their classroom library and it quickly becomes a favorite. Kids can relate to being sent to their room or time out when all they were doing was having some fun. Adults can relate to having those days when the children are running wild and driving them crazy. This story shows how a writer can take realistic fiction and blend it smoothly with fantasy. It also shows that having a vivid imagination is not thing bad thing.