Picture Book Reflection 4

Sendak, M. Where the wild things are. (1963) New York. Harper and Row.

Where the Wild Things Are, my personal favorite childhood book, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak won the Caldecott Medal in 1964. Max, a young troublemaker, is sent to bed without dinner one evening but it is here that the story really begins. As forest begins to grow in his very room, Max sets out on a journey that takes him to the place where the wild things are. Max becomes the King of all Wild Things and is having a marvelous time until he began to miss something or someone. You'll have to read on to find out whether or not Max makes it back to his bedroom safely!

This picture storybook uses drawings and has a section where the pictures do they talking. For instance, several pages show Max dancing or swinging from trees with the wild things. Even without text, the reader can see that Max is having a good time being the King. The illustrations also help to tell the story by matching with the author's text. As Max begins to leave the island, you can see the wild things reaching out for him and looking as though they are begging him to come back.

The book is hardcover and contains a dust jacket. The book also contains an endpaper and a flyleaf which help to introduce the story to the reader and show reviews from others that have read the story. The book uses a doublespread format which helps the story have a sense of continuity and flow throughout.

Where the Wild Things Are is a must read!