This book excited my imagination when I read it as a 7-year old child many moons ago. Books like this one bolstered my love for reading.

I have to say that this book may not be the right one to use in order to teach your children life lessons.
The protagonist, Max, is a jerk to his mom and is a misbehaved little brat, so he is naturally sent to his room with no dinner. Perhaps this might be considered a "bad" punishment in this day and age. From then, he is further REWARDED for his misbehavior with a forest growing in his room, and we can see a smug little grin on his smug little face (have I mentioned that I don't like this kid?).
After journeying through this land for almost a year (in a private boat, I might add), he comes across a group of "wild things," whom he scares into submission and becomes their king because of it. KING. And then they are so overjoyed at having a seven-year-old brat as their unquestioned lord and master that they CELEBRATE about it! Getting a little annoyed yet?
After however long the wild things party, Max decides, " Hey, how about I send them to bed with NO DINNER? They've already expressed their undying support for me as a leader, so why don't I act like a jerk about it as I always do and punish them for nothing?"
After this, he decides that, "No, I guess nobody loves me enough here to satisfy my need for love even if I abuse the person who gives it freely." So, our lovable little brat goes and packs up on his boat with yet another smug grin on his face as the wild things beg and plead him to stay.
And the best part - oh, the BEST part - is when Max finally arrives home in his bedroom to find his supper ( that he was sent to bed WITHOUT DESERVING, mind you) waiting for him.
What. The. Heck.
This book is basically telling us that if we act like little belligerent kids, we will be rewarded(?!?!). I just don't get it.
While I understand that this book is not meant to be taken as seriously as I am taking it, I really needed to rant.
At least some people enjoy this book, Mr. Sendak.

I never read this book as a child; in my immigrant family, the childhood tales were of Akbar and Birbil, not Max and the Wild Things.

With the movie coming out, and so much talk about it, I started feeling like maybe I was missing something. But I also felt trapped, because what I had already missed out on reading this book as a child. Reading the book now means I'll know what all of you are talking about, but the childhood memories of relating to Max just can't happen. I've missed something I'll always miss.

So the other day I bought the book, and that night, Craig read it to me before we went to sleep. And though I'll never have the experience of reading this book as a child, I fell in love with this book in an entirely childish way.

I asked Craig to read it again. That story again. Just once more.

May I suggest this little cherished gem as a perfect inspiration for all of you who are locked away in private isolation somewhere on this globe? (Wow, by the way: we all share this experience, across towns and countries and continents - or does anyone need a reminder what I am referring to?)

With our imagination, we can travel from our claustrophobic reality to Where the Wild Things Are. And my guess is that those wild things will be quite a comfort and relief from news and coughs and worries...

Cheers to the Imagined Wild! Nothing Beside Remains...

Of all the books I read my kids, and there are many, this is my favourite to perform.

It is so easy to turn Where the Wild Things Are into a a big, rollicking tickle fest, and I am never able to resist the urge. When those Wild Things show up with their "terrible roars" and "terrible eyes" and "terrible claws," I attack my kids with everything I've got until they are reduced to quivering masses of giggled out jelly.

And Max, the King of the Wild Things, is one of the coolest kids in any kids book ever. Sure he's being too much of a "Wild Thing," which gets him sent to bed, but he's not your modern kid. There's no brattiness and entitlement. Just a cool kid getting a little crazy on fun before being sent off to bed and a great adventure in his dreams.

And when he comes back from his adventure he finds his dinner waiting for him...and it's still hot.

Super cool fun for you and your kids.

Se lo vi a mi hermanita y me dije porqué no. Pues fue un ni fu ni fa.
Aunque evidentemente no soy el público al que va dirigido.

Loved it since I was a kid, but it was always the graphics that enchanted me ... the imagery. Max in his suit. I wanted—those pjs when I was a child.
Something about the story always unnerved me.
Edit: addition 5/6-6/1/22
Certain parts of the story have a tension to them, while others have always given me that cozy, comfy feeling.

These illustrations and their energy influenced me in mood and nature doing my own and going through art school. I loved how they could be busy and still at the same time; bright but also earthy.

How I feel about this book really hasn’t changed since I was a kid, and that makes this one special. A large part of why remains a mystery to me.

I loved this book as a child and it is fun to see how much my kids love it, too!

FINISCE SEMPRE COSÌ


Il film omonimo diretto da Spike Jonze, 2009.

Sì, per fortuna finisce sempre così.
E meno male che c'è qualcuno che ce lo ricorda, aiutandosi con splendidi disegni come fa Maurice Sendak.

Questo libro è ormai un classico, non solo perché ha cinquanta e passa anni di vita, ma per il suo successo e la sua diffusione (videogiochi, composizioni musicali, teatro, cinema).


Ancora il film diretto da Spike Jonze.

Da piccoli la paura è un sentimento utile, perfino salvifico.
È crescendo che diventa letale.

Se qualcuno volesse far approfondire l'argomento al proprio bambino, consiglio caldamente La Grosse colère – Che rabbia! di Mireille d'Allancé del quale segue questa immagine:

Written in 1963, this classic children’s story stands the test of time. Max is a young boy who is sent to his room without supper. He uses his imagination to create a magical land filled with wild things. Will Max stay in the land of the wild things?

The audiobook on this is very entertaining, and it was available with my Scribd subscription. This book far surpasses The Giving Tree because Max easily establishes healthy boundaries. My favorite page from the book, “But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!” And Max said, “No!”” The next time someone is giving me grief, I am just going to say, “No!” with absolutely no explanation at all. I will let you know how that works out.

My little buddy reader and I give this “all the stars.” Translation: Five stars

This is one of James Mustich’s 1,000 Books to Read

2025 Reading Schedule
JantA Town Like Alice
FebtBirdsong
MartCaptain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
AprtWar and Peace
MaytThe Woman in White
JuntAtonement
JultThe Shadow of the Wind
AugtJude the Obscure
SeptUlysses
OcttVanity Fair
NovtA Fine Balance
DectGerminal

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Ay fue muy tierno. Es la primera vez que lo leo y <3
Quiero ver la película aunque supongo que debe arruinar el libro jajaja

سال‌ها پیش همین مهشاد برای تولدم اینو فرستاد و من الان خوندم و چه بد که همون موقع نخوندم. چرا؟

تصویرگری عالی، قصه‌گویی جادویی و بی‌مانند. توی این حجم با این حد کم از کلمات این���قدر شگفتی خلق کرده.