My Review of Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
My son loved this book when he was little. We still have the book, though he's now a teen. It's a classic with generations of kids loving the story. There was controversy with this book (and others by Sendak). When it was first issued, the book received criticism from parents who did not think a mischievous boy should be the main character or role model.
I remember reading it to my son when he was in first grade. It's a short book, with illustrations making the greatest impact of the story. My son enjoyed the adventure involved in the story. It told of a place where parents didn't exist, and a kid could be a king. Those elements resound strongly for children.
I did remind my son about the positive aspects and lessons, such as when Max missed home and his parents, and that his mom had left him dinner (though she threatened him to go without dinner earlier in the book). I added Max should've apologized for not listening to her earlier. Along with the lessons, I thought the sense of imagination and entertaining oneself were important to convey to kids.
The illustrations are big, bold, adventurous, and endearing. The Wild Things are not overly ferocious looking, but still provide the wild feeling of adventure and the unknown.
Topics in this lens: lesson plans for Where The Wild Things Are (K-12 in multiple topics, like literature, math, science, art, and music); how to make your own Max costume, where to find adult costumes, unique collectibles, other books by Maurice Sendak, videos narrating one of his books and an interview with Sendak. Enjoy!!
Photo, Where The Wild Things Are, Allposters.com
More About The Book: Where The Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short, an opera, and, in 2009, a live-action feature film adaptation and video game. According to HarperCollins, the book has sold over 19 million copies worldwide as of 2008.Thornton, Matthew (February 4, 2008) "Wild Things All Over". Publishers Weekly
Where The Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 11/26/2009)
The best line ever:
Let the wild rumpus start!
Educational Lessons
- Elements of a Story: Language Arts Lesson Plan, Where The Wild Things Are
- A K-2 Lesson Plans Page lesson plan, using the book, Where The Wild Things Are.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to identify passages that indicate setting, characters, problem (events), and solution in a story. - Where The Wild Things Are -- Language Arts lesson
- Wild Things ...During our study of animals, I read Where the Wild
Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. After reading and discussing the story,
my class turned their attention to the wild things in the story - which
animals they resembled, their features, and their habitat.The children were asked to creat - American Masters . For Teachers | PBS
- Maurice Sendak has captured the imaginations of young readers for many years. This American Master's series lesson for teachers contains activities for both elementary and middle school students. Early elementary students will read books written and/or illustrated by Maurice Sendak, learn what reading was like at Sendak's elementary school, and write a class book based on one of Sendak's stories.
Middle school students will learn how Sendak not only wrote and illustrated children's books and created works in the field of ballet, but also turned his book Where the Wild Things Are into an opera. They will also work in groups to produce an opera. - Where The Wild Things Are -- Literature Unit
- Unit includes math, science, phonics, language arts, art, and music.
Students will create a book to present to the school's preschool detailing what we learned in this unit. The book will be separated into three segments: plants, animals, and all about Max. As a group students will dictate sentences (that the teacher will record) about ideas they remember from each section. With a partner, students will be given certain sentences to illustrate. The finished student book, Where the Wild Things Are book, and audio tape will be sent to the preschool to enjoy. - "Where the Wild Things Are" Sorting - Math Lesson Plan, Thematic Unit, Activity, Worksheet, or Teaching Idea
- "Where the Wild Things Are" Sorting, By - Pam Powers
Primary Subject - Language Arts
Secondary Subjects - Math, Social Studies, Multidisciplinary
Grade Level - K - Lesson Plan: WildThings - Using Imaginiation
- Students implement textures and patterns in creating an imaginary "Wild Thing". the book and illustrations in Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak serve as Inspiration. Previous lesson, students created imaginary animals from scrap/found objects (recycled art).
UNIT: Drawing - Literature - Illustration
Lesson: Wild Things - texture and pattern
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Time: 2 class periods - PEC: Lesson Plans for Physical Education
- "Where The Wild Things Are" Field Day
Purpose of Activity: This year our Reading Incentive Program is based on the Caldecott Medal winning book, "Where the Wild Things Are". This field day is an effort to collaborate in the school-wide program.
Suggested Grade Level: K-5 - Maurice Sendak -- About The Author Lesson Plan
- Share the story of Maurice Sendak with your students, and assign the related activities to help them learn more about this talented author.
For Grades 5 - 8 - "Where the Wild Things Are" Geography Lesson - Associated Content
- Overview:
This lesson will give students a basic overview of the geography of islands. They will learn where islands are located throughout the world. Students will explore the islands' flora and fauna, languages, and climates and cultures.
What Is The Caldecott Award?
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. It was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Together with the Newbery Medal, it is the most prestigious American children's book award.
The Caldecott Medal was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan in 1937. The scene on the face of the medal is derived from Randolph Caldecott's illustrations for The Diverting Story of John Gilpin where Gilpin is astride a runaway horse, which in turn was based on a poem from 1782 by William Cowper. The reverse of the medal depicts another of Caldecott's illustrations, "Four and twenty blackbirds bak'd in a pie."
The Caldecott Medal is not to be confused with the Caldecott Honor citation, which is conferred annually to worthy runners-up.
Maurice Sendak on Wikipedia
Maurice Bernard Sendak (born June 10, 1928) is an American writer and illustrator of children's literature. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963.
Maurice Sendak Gallery
don't miss it!
- Rosenbach Museum - Maurice Sendak Gallery
- Maurice Sendak Gallery is on permanent exhibition within the Rosenbach Museum.
"Wildly imaginative - the mind of a child that lives within us all."
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President Obama Reads Where The Wild Things Are
Award Winning Illustrator and Author
Maurice Sendak won many awards and honors for his work in children's literature. Some notable honors include:
Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are (1964)
Hans Christian Andersen International Medal (1970) for his body of children's book illustration
American Book Award recipient for Outside Over There (1982)
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his contributions to children's literature (1983)
Sendak was honored by the President of the United States with the National Medal of Arts (1996)
Maurice Sendak and Austrian author Christine Noestlinger shared the first Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature (2003)
More books by Maurice Sendak
Vote for your favorites, or add your own favorite stories by Maurice Sendak.
In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Collection) by Maurice Sendak
1971 Caldecott Honor BookNotable Children's Books more...0 points
Maurice Sendak's Really Rosie Starring the Nutshell Kids by Maurice Sendak
(BOOK COPY)'This sturdily bound paperback contains more...0 points
Mommy? by Maurice Sendak, Arthur Yorinks, Matthew Reinhart
They're all here! Everybody's favorite monsters ar more...0 points
Outside Over There (Caldecott Collection) by Maurice Sendak
With Papa off to sea and Mama despondent, Ida must more...0 points
Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Or There Must Be More to Life by Maurice Sendak
'A daring imagination has woven a simple rhyme int more...0 points
Very Far Away by Maurice Sendak
First published in 1957, Very Far Away is the seco more...0 points
Alligators All Around (The Nutshell Library) by Maurice Sendak
'An alligator jamboree, with all the letters ' A t more...0 points
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue by Maurice Sendak
Pierre's 'I don't care!' intrigues a hungry lion.' more...0 points
The Sign on Rosie's Door by Maurice Sendak
There was a sign on Rosie's door that said, " more...0 points
Kenny's Window by Maurice Sendak
Kenny dreams of a fabulous land where he would lik more...0 points
The Cricket Who Came to Dinner (Maurice Sendak's Little Bear) (Festival Readers) by Else Holmelund Minarik
All of Little Bear's friends and family have gathe more...0 points
Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak
'Each month is gay, each season nice, when eating more...0 points
Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Ralph Mannheim, Maurice Sendak
The tale of Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann more...0 points
Seven Little Monsters by Maurice Sendak
Seven monsters make trouble for the villagers.0 points
Hector Protector and As I Went Over the Water: Two Nursery Rhymes by Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak has interpreted these old' Mother G more...0 points
Father's Flying Flapjacks (Maurice Sendak's Little Bear) by Else Holmelund Minarik
Mother Bear is in for a breakfast surprise when Li more...0 points
Maurice Sendak's Christmas Mystery by Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak's Christmas Mystery comes in an ele more...0 points
Maurice Sendak's Seven Little Monsters: We Love You, Mama! - Book #2 by Arthur Yorinks
It's Mama's birthday and the seven little monsters more...0 points
The Night Kitchen
What's the buzz about Where The Wild Things Are?
- Where The Wild Things Are (PlayStation 3) :: Games :: Reviews :: Paste
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- Win Every Day - Where the Wild Things Are! - Flicks.co.nz
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New Movie :: Where The Wild Things Are
On October 16, the feature film Where The Wild Things Are will be released. Here's a great lens all about the film.-
Where The Wild Things Are Movie
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Where the Wild Things Are is an adaptation of the classic children's story by Maurice Sendak . Pre-order the soundtrack now In the book, Max is a little boy who misbehaves and is sent to bed without his supper. He imagines a fa...
Dress Up Like A Wild Thing
Where The Wild Things Are Costumes
Do your kids want to dress up like Max or one of the Wild Things for Halloween? Kids (and some adult) costumes are popping up all over. Have fun, and let the wild rumpus start!
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Where The Wild Things Are Costumes -- Make It Yourself
- Max from Where the Wild Things Are Halloween Costume - Make It Yourself
- On October 16 the Spike Jonze live-action movie based on Maurice Sendak's bookWhere the Wild Things Are will come out in theaters which means surely Max and his wolf suit will be a hit Halloween costume this year.
- Sew a Where the Wild Things Are hat + pattern!
- Are you guys excited for the movie? I'm geeking out over here. I'm totally wearing this opening night. This is a reall...
- Where The Wild Things Are – Moishe | TutuToday
- Â Max and Moishe -- Must add modeling clay to the paper mache head for dimensions and contour. Two eyes made with one tennis ball cut in half. Nose made with tennis ball cut down the middle, squished together with duct tape and duct tape put at ...
A Homemade Max Costume
Port & Company - Youth Sweatpant. PC90YP - Medium - Athletic Heather
Amazon Price: $8.38 (as of 11/26/2009)
Port & Company - Youth Pullover Hooded Fleece, M, Athletic Heather
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 11/26/2009)
Where The Wild Things Are Pajamas
- Wild Things Adult Wolf Pajamas
- Our Wild Thing Adult Costume is inspired by the children's Book,
- Where the Wild Things are Pajamas - Boy's Sleepwear & Pajamas
- Where the Wild Things are Pajamas Where the Wild Things are Pajamas
- Wild Things Wolf Pajamas
- Wild Things Wolf Pajamas-Unleash your child's inner wild thing with our hand-tailored wolf pajamas. The soft, comfy fleece will keep your little monster warm on his or her adventures, day or night. Great as a costume for special occasions or for ever
Books About Author/Illustrator Maurice Sendak
Check out these titles for even more information, photos, and interpretations of the work of Maurice Sendak.
The Art of Maurice Sendak: 1980 to Present by Tony Kushner
Maurice Sendak is one of most admired artists in c more...0 points
The Art of Maurice Sendak (v. 1) by Selma Lanes
A book which contains many images of the well-know more...0 points
Making Mischief: A Maurice Sendak Appreciation by Gregory Maguire
Book Description The New York Times bestselling a more...0 points
Maurice Sendak (First Biographies) by Eric Braun
Introduce young readers to great historical figure more...0 points
Angels and Wild Things: The Archetypal Poetics of Maurice Sendak by John Cech
Over the course of more than 80 books that he has more...0 points
Maurice Sendak and the Art of Children's Book Illustration by L.M. Poole
Maurice Sendak is the widely acclaimed American ch more...0 points
Maurice Sendak (Real-Life Reader Biography) by Ann Gaines
Not all of the adults liked Maurice Sendak's Where more...0 points
Maurice Sendak - In His Own Words
Children's Lit Controversy
Maurice Sendak received criticism for his work because he delved into themes not usually associated with children's literature. Where The Wild Things Are was criticized for including a mischievous child and dark creatures. In the Night Kitchen has elements of sensuousness with the main character illustrated without clothing. What do you think the criteria should be?
Should Children's Literature Be Censored To Eliminate Darker Themes?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byNo, give kids a rounded view of the world
lostinfiction says:
I really don't think they should be censored, especially since kids themselves manage to come up with quite dark, gruesome stuff themselves. In the case of Sendak, it might shed some light to read about his father's influence on him with regards to how he embellishes his stories with darker themes...
Posted October 26, 2009
JenniferAkers says:
I don't think literature - children's or adult - should be censored. I think the age and temperament of the child should be taken into account when reading, and parents have the opportunity to help give children a rounded view. I read many types of genres (and themes) to my son and always took the time to discuss them.
Posted October 15, 2009
Yes, the dark themes are inappropriate for young kids
Treasures-By-Brenda says:
I'd have to say that some dark themes should definitely be censored.
Posted October 24, 2009
Collect Where The Wild Things Are Memorabilia
Kids will love to get these extra treats to go along with the book and movie. Enjoy seeing your favorite characters come to life in these collectibles.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byby JenniferAkers
I've loved reading and writing for as long as I can remember. My mom passed along her love of reading to me, and I have done the same for my son (read...
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