Where the Wild Things Are [Hardcover]

Maurice Sendak (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it's been too long since you've attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak's color illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder.

The wild things--with their mismatched parts and giant eyes--manage somehow to be scary-looking without ever really being scary; at times they're downright hilarious. Sendak's defiantly run-on sentences--one of his trademarks--lend the perfect touch of stream of consciousness to the tale, which floats between the land of dreams and a child's imagination.

This Sendak classic is more fun than you've ever had in a wolf suit, and it manages to reaffirm the notion that there's no place like home. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Each word has been carefully chosen and the simplicity of the language is quite deceptive." -- SLJ.

"The clearer reproductions of the original art are vibrant and luminous [in this edition]." -- H.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Harper Collins; 40 Anv edition (November 9, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060254920
• ISBN-13: 978-0060254926
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (496 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #7 in	Books > Children's Books > Literature > Classics
  #26 in	Books > Children's Books > Action & Adventure
  #1 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Sendak, Maurice

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Story for the Ages, December 12, 1999

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 97,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: Where the Wild Things Are (Hardcover)

My two sons absolutely loved this book. They liked the idea of going 'where the wild things are' and the book inspired a lot of play in our house. The book nicely balances the child's need for imaginative thinking with a sense of limits, and the pleasures of home. The illustrations clearly make this book great, because they provide a launch pad for this imaginary place. This is one of a handful of books that will bond you with your child for the rest of your lives. Don't miss that opportunity!

Unlike some children's books which are a little boring for the adults to read after the 350th time, I always enjoyed this one because I could think new thoughts each time I read it.

I think this is one of the best five books for children.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside The Mind Of A Child, November 30, 1999

By	Lisa Forrest (Sunman, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where the Wild Things Are (Hardcover)

My mother first bought this book for my oldest son. It has endured as a beloved favorite to all three of my boys. I think that children can really identify with Max and his thoughts. When he is sent to his room for misbehavior, his imagination helps him to run away to where the wild things are and collect his thoughts. I believe that the author must remember what its like to be a child and feel like no one understands, and not quite understanding yourself. Ruling the wild things helps Max understand that he just wants to feel loved, and helps parents to keep in mind that such outbursts from children are generally cries for attention--for someone to love them best of all. Mr. Sendak understands children! When you read this book it will transport you back to your own childhood and you will remember that lost feeling of being a child. Bravo, Maurice! You are my hero!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Where the Wild Things Are, March 28, 2002

By	ricky (Ames, IA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where the Wild Things Are (Hardcover)

Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is a wonderfully presented story for children. The tale focuses on an apparently rowdy youth, Max, who is sent to bed without supper for his rambunctious escapades in the house. Later that night Max dreams of a magical rowdy world where he is king of all things wild and terrible, but eventually Max comes to realize that having everything always go your way lacks any real fulfillment. The incorporation of some values into a beautifully illustrated adventure is sure to entertain any small child while still effectively presenting a subtle message. Thus, a child is not confused, nor presented with a meaningless tale. The pictures have been recognized worldwide and have been presented with the prestigious Caldicott Award for illustrations in children's books. This book is printed in hardcover, a bonus for when handling is to be done by children, and the font is large and separated from pictures to avoid confusion. The author's connection of the textual story to the pictoral story is helpful for children learning to read as well, as it helps to form associations between pictures and words. Widely recognized as a classic, Where the Wild Things Are is a necessity for any small child's library.