Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are. ISBN 978-0-06-4431 78-1. Maurice Sendak. 1963. The Caldecott Medal. Age 2+. Represents caucasian boys.

Max is being a naughty little boy running around the house in a costume and creating mischief. His mother calls him a "Wild Thing" and he comments back that he will eat her, therefore he is sent to bed with no dinner. While in his room, he imagines that he sails off to a land across the earth where the Wild Things live and he becomes their king. They do everything he wants them to, but he longs for someone to love him. He smells his mother's dinner from "across the world" and he decided to leave the monsters, who say they love him so much they would eat him. He leaves and returns to his room to eat the dinner his mom had made for him.

Max wants to do anything he pleases, but realizes that he really wants to be in a place where he is taken care of and loved.

This book would help us discuss how sometimes children want to do things that adults may not approve of, and therefore they think that it would be better if they could "run the show" and do what they want and everyone else would do what they want, but this book reminds them of how lovely it is to be cared for and taken care of, and nothing is better than that. Children may discuss what they would miss the most about home if they were away for some time...and it would help them appreciate and see the good things about their families and their homes. Great for middle to upper elementary.