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Maurice Sendak

In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Collection) Hardcover – January 19, 1996

by Maurice Sendak (Author, Illustrator)

915 ratings

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From the acclaimed author-artist Maurice Sendak comes a Caldecott Honor-winning tale of a fantastical dream world. This comic fantasy will delight readers of all ages with playful illustrations and an imaginative world only Sendak could create.

In the Night Kitchen is the classic story of Mickey's adventures in the bakers’ kitchen as they prepare our morning cake. "Milk in the batter! Milk in the batter! We bake cake and nothing’s the matter!" the bakers sing.

The bakers in the night kitchen need more milk for their batter, but then Mickey falls into the cake! They decide to put him in the oven anyway, but Mickey has different plans. He escapes in a plane made of bread dough and helps the bakers find the milk at last.

"A celebration of the primal, sensory world of childhood and an affirmation of its imaginative potency," proclaimed Children's Books and Their Creators.

Reading age

4 - 8 years
Print length

40 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Dimensions

8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches
Publisher

HarperCollins
Publication date

January 19, 1996
ISBN-10

0060266686
ISBN-13

978-0060266684
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When asked, Maurice Sendak insisted that he was not a comics artist, but an illustrator. However, it's hard to not notice comics aspects in works like In the Night Kitchen. The child of the story is depicted floating from panel to panel as he drifts through the fantastic dream world of the bakers' kitchen. Sendak's use of multiple panels and integrated hand-lettered text is an interesting contrast to his more traditional children's books containing single-page illustrations such as his wildly popular Where the Wild Things Are.

Review

"The story of Mickey's nighttime adventure in the bakers' kitchen is a highly original dream fantasy [with] deliciously playful illustrations [and a] chantable, easily remembered text. Pure delight for young children." -- Booklist

"Mickey is pure joy. . . or as the cooks chorus MILK IN THE BATTER! MILK IN THE BATTER! WE BAKE CAKE! AND NOTHING'S THE MATTER! (Can it go without saying that the pictures are superb.)" -- Kirkus Reviews

"Marvelous." -- Common Sense Media

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Anniversary edition (January 19, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060266686
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060266684
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.02 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #134,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,546 in Children's Classics
- #3,878 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books

Customer Reviews:
915 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		88%
4 star		5%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Daniel de Kadt

The greatest work of fiction -- children's or otherwise -- ever penned and inked.

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2020

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In the Night Kitchen is an extraordinary work of imaginative genius. A deep, poignant meditation on life, death, and the concept of belonging.

The book poses the question "where do children go at night, in their dreams, once their parents have gone to bed?" The answer is at once beautiful, amusing, and contemplative -- a tender study of the hopes, anxieties, joys, and fears of early youth.

Where the Wild Things Are is, of course, Sendak's more renowned book. I would argue that its celebrity only obscures this, the finer work. I encourage all people -- whether parents or otherwise -- to closely read and study In The Night Kitchen.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

LS

Weird but fun read for the littles!

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2015

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Okay first of all I absolutely CANNOT believe that some people have complained about the nudity in this book. Seriously!? I even read a review that asked why the penis had to be drawn in such detail. Lol! First of all, I'd like to assure you that the pictures of Nude Mickey are most definitely NOT detailed. This book is essentially about a dream, and if you've ever had a dream, which I'm guessing you have, then you know how bizarre your dreams can be. That's how this book is. Why is Mickey naked? Who knows. It's a dream- it makes no sense. My 18 month old son absolutely loves this book, especially when the bakers sing and when Mickey flies over the bottle of milk. It's one of the most read books in our collection.

24 people found this helpful

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Debra-Sue

Wonderful child's book !!

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2017

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My son was given this book as a gift for his 1st Birthday over 35 years ago. I loved reading it to him, and he loved listening and looking at the pictures. We both enjoyed this book through-out his toddler years !! Now, 36 years later, this book has (obviously) withstood the test-of-time, as I just purchased 3 books,-- I am going to give them to 3 little relatives, all boys, that will be having their 1st Birthday within the next few months !! I'm sure their parents, as well as these little boys, will be delighted with this wonderful and UNIQUE story / illustrations. I would recommend this book more for little boys than for girls.

6 people found this helpful

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MJV

Another winner by Maurice Sendak

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2016

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I love this book! And the number one reason why is the way it delighted and made my 3 yo son belly-laugh when we read it to him. It's the kind of book that can be less accessible to adults but has the potential to really tap the imaginations of children. My kids all love chanting "Milk in the Batter!" And the others while we bake. Be aware that the cartoonish little boy is (harmlessly) drawn naked if that would be offensive to you. My kids take it in stride quite naturally, and it seemed to have the effect of making my son (brother to two sisters at the time) less uncomfortable about how his body was different from theirs.

9 people found this helpful

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J Nathan White

Fun and Imaginitve

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2019

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This classic book speaks for itself but, I would be aware there is nudity depicted. Sure, it's a little boy drawn nude but at first I was not sure if this would be okay with the parents of the child receiving this gift. Turns out the child loves the book, and his parents assured me it was fine. I don't have children and really wasn't sure how this would go over! So, I would suggest using your best judgement and checking with the parents before gifting.

4 people found this helpful

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Rachel

Unique, Sweet Book

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2018

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My daughter (age 5) and son (age 2) both love this book, chanting 'Milk in the Batter' along with the chefs is fun, and we all love the distinctive illustrations of Mickey's dream world full of baking ingredients. There are a couple of nude moments in Mickey's adventure, but nothing sexualized or inappropriate. In a dream world where you swim through milk and batter, there is no need for clothes!

5 people found this helpful

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Badseed1980

Charming, whimsical, and beautifully drawn

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2021

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I loved "Where the Wild Things Are" as a kid, but had never read this Maurice Sendak book before, until I got a copy to read to my own son. The illustrations are vivid and fantastical. The story is simple, short, and told in a tone that's...sort of...how do I describe this? Lyrical and jazzy? I absolutely ADORE this delightful book, and love reading it to my baby before I put him to bed! I know people who are scandalized by the fact that the little boy in the book is drawn naked in many of the pictures, but it's a sweetly innocent story and in no way inappropriate for children.

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2020

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Have read a paperback copy of this book to my 3 year old for over a year... it wore out so I picked up this hardback edition. Great artwork (there is a toddler penis in it if you're not familiar with the book) and fun story to read. This hardback is of good quality and a great price.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

SecretsofVoodoo

Beautiful illustrations - a classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2019

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Less well known than Where the Wild Things Are but almost as good. Wonderful illustrations and dreamlike story. I read somewhere that it has been banned from various American libraries due to the nudity of Mickey in some of the pictures. Which just goes to show how bonkers and puritanical Americans can be. My daughter loves it, but I think I love it more.

2 people found this helpful

P. A. Nethercott

Surreal dream fantasy expertly done

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2019

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Up to the same standard as “where the wild things are” which my grandsons love. Interesting fact: in some states in America all the copies in librararies and schools were Bowderelised with felt pens to conceal the kids genitals. How daft is that?

2 people found this helpful

Graham Price

Great book! A classic.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2016

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I bought this book as I vividly remember the story and artwork from when I was a child at school. As soon as I opened the pages, the memories came flooding back! This story is a dreamlike adventure with a quirky tale and great illustration. I now read this story to my little boy and I hope he will have fond memories of it into adulthood. I can close my eyes and see the classroom with the reading corner with full bookshelves and beanbags to sit on, sitting beside the cast iron old school radiator on the wall looking out of the window at the cold autumnal scene outside. i remember giggling at some of the scenes on the pages and you will have to get the book to understand what i mean :-)

3 people found this helpful

Marie

A timeless classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2020

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I have bought many copies of this book over the years.
My children loved it and now my grandchildren ejoy it. It is my number 1 gift to any new baby who will eventually love to recite it. It has a great story(dream) and beautiful illustations.

A. C. H.

Weird book..

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2018

Verified Purchase

I remember loving this book as a kid, but when I bought it for my own child and read it I realised it's just really weird. Between the fat Hitler characters who want to eat the little boy, and all the little boy nudity (hey at least it teaches anatomy!) it's just a bit strange.

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