Where The Wild Things Are

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Where The Wild Things Are may also refer to an album released on Blackout Records in 1989, see Where The Wild Things Are (album), or a Buffy The Vampire Slayer episode, see Where the Wild Things Are (Buffy episode)
Cover

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a children's picture book originally published by Harper & Row which describes the imaginary adventures of a young boy named Max, who is angry after being sent to his room without supper. Max wears a distinctive wolf suit during his adventures and encounters various mythical creatures. The book is generally regarded as a classic of American illustrated children's literature.

Written in 1963, it was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1964. It also won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and was an ALA Notable Book.

Contents

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The book tells the story of Max, who one evening plays around his home, "making mischief" in a wolf costume (chasing the dog with a fork, etc.). As punishment, his mother sends him to bed without supper. In his room, a mysterious, wild forest grows out of his imagination, and Max takes a journey to the land of the Wild Things. They are fearsome-looking monsters, but Max conquers them with a scary look and he is made the King of the Wild Things. However, he soon finds himself lonely and homesick, and he returns home to his bed, where he had fallen asleep. Upon awakening, he finds his supper waiting for him..."And it was still hot."

[edit] Reception

The book became a best seller. In the book The Art of Maurice Sendak the following is noted in a conversation between a mother and Sendak:

Mother: "Every time I read the book to my daughter, she screams."
Sendak: "Then why did you continue reading it to her when she does not like it?"
Mother: "She ought to, it's a Caldecott book."

Sendak mentioned that he thought that was ridiculous and "if a child does not like a book, throw it in the trash."

[edit] Background

The Wild Things (except "Goat Boy", of course) were named after (and are presumably caricatures of) Maurice's Uncles:[citation needed]

Aaron

Bernard

Emil

Moishe

and Tzippy.

[edit] Adaptations

[edit] Popular culture references

  • Released in October 2000, McFarlane Toys released a toy line based on the beloved children’s book, “Where the Wild Things Are”. McFarlane Toys worked closely with Sendak to create a series of 7 characters (Max, Goat Boy, Aaron, Bernard, Emil, Moishe, and Tzippy) straight from the pages of the book. These three-dimensional, highly detailed action figures have a brilliant likeness to their two-dimensional inspirations.
  • Bell Atlantic commercials used to feature details from the book.
  • In the lyrics of the song "(Even) More Human Than Human" by the X-ecutioners.
  • The album When We Were Young by electronic group Dusted, is heavily inspired by the themes of Maurice Sendak's book; the music video accompanying the single Always Remember to Respect Your Mother, Pt. 1 is a visual homage to the illustrations and story of Where The Wild Things Are.
  • The cover of the book can be seen in an early scene of Labyrinth.
  • In The Family Stone, Ben (Luke Wilson) makes the comment, "'And now,' cried Max, 'let the wild rumpus start!'"

[edit] External links

Preceded by
The Snowy Day		 Caldecott Medal recipient
1964		 Succeeded by
May I Bring a Friend?
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