Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it's been too long since you've attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak's colour illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder.

The wild things--with their mismatched parts and giant eyes--manage somehow to be scary-looking without ever really being scary; at times they're downright hilarious. Sendak's defiantly run-on sentences--one of his trademarks--lend the perfect touch of stream of consciousness to the tale, which floats between the land of dreams and a child's imagination.

This Sendak classic is more fun than you've ever had in a wolf's suit, giggle-stiflingly funny at times, and even manages to reaffirm the notion that there's no place like home.

View other editions of Where the Wild Things Are.
View books by Maurice Sendak.

Compulsory Reading! - Rated
This has to be one of the best children's books ever! I loved reading it as a child, as it really appealed to my vivid imagination, and I now buy it for any kid I know who doesn't already have it!

Every child should have a copy of this book - Rated
This book changed childrens books forever. The pictures are given much more emphasis that the text and so increase the appeal to a young child.
The book has travel the world and has been enjoyed by generations , this is because it is timeless and an absolute classic which is still used in schools today.

Not scary - Rated
I thought this book would be a bit scary for my sensitive 5yo daughter when she was given it as a birthday present. Concerned about nightmares I hid it for a bit. It was discovered soon enough and she insisted I read it to her.

She wasn't scared at all and thankfully no nightmares to report. She loves the story and loves pretending to be one of the wild things, nashing her terrible jaws and waving her fearsome claws.

a classic - Rated
I was given this book to read by my primary school teacher way back in the early 80's i was drawnto the illustrations in the way that people are drawn to a car crash, I didn't like it but couldn't stop loking at them, these pictures have had exactly the same effect on my young sons.
The story is simple and short and the pictures make the book without doubt.
It is a lovely book,adored by many.
What made me really glad we had read this book and discussed what was happening in it in great detail was that it was used for my sons SAT's when he was 6 and he was able to write about a familiar text.

Questionable - Rated
When I was younger I was an avid reader and I still am so obviously when I had my own children I wanted to encourage them to read as much as I had. They have hundreds of books and my four year old is well on his way to reading alone.
I got this book for him as it reminded me of him. A typical boy who finds extraordinary adventures even in his own bedroom.
This book is ideal for very young children or children that are put off by lots of text.
It does not sell itself and even though the illustrations are fabulous you still need to put a lot into it(voice change etc!)for it to appeal to your young ones.
Ideal for a bedtime story as it is not that long, and as long as your child is not going believe the monsters are real! We don't like nightmares!