Where the Wild Things Are

Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Harper, 1963. 40 pages.

Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are takes readers on a journey to a different world. The main character is a little boy who goes on a trip to a land where the wild things are. He is an unruly young boy who does not follow his mother’s rules. His behavior results in his mother sending him into his room without supper. This sparks the little boy’s journey to where the wild things are. Once the boy arrives, he becomes lonely and decides to go back home. He comes back to his room where his supper is waiting for him.

There are many artistic elements that make this book unique. For example, when the boy travels to where the wild things are, the images in the book gradually get larger. Perhaps this signifies that he has become closer to his imagination which results in larger, more detailed illustrations.

There is also a use of specific types of line. When the boy is in his room, there is only one type of line. Sendak uses only straight lines to depict reality. However, as the boy travels, there are different types of line that add dimension and life to the illustrations.

This book addresses Metaphysics, which is the study of what is real. After reading this book children might ask “Is Where the Wild Things Are real?” “Can I go there?” and “Who are the wild things?” These are all questions that would glow in a child’s mind because the gap between fantasy and reality is very blurry for them.

“And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws but Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye.”

This book can be used to teach them the differences between what is real and what is imaginary. Children’s books should have elements of a window and a mirror for readers to grasp. Where the Wild Things Are, is both a window and a mirror because it allows the children to look into a new world while seeing elements of their own lives. One of these elements is the boy’s argument with his mother that results in him being sent to his room. Overall, this book is about a boy who is maturing and self-reflecting because he longs for his mother’s love and decides to return home.