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Book Information

  Name Where the Wild Things Are
  Author Maurice Sendak
  Illustrator Maurice Sendak
  Country United States
  Genre Children's Picture Book
  Publisher Harper & Row
  Release Date 1963


''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 2007 . It also won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and was an ALA Notable Book.


STORY


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 journeys 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 bedroom. He finds his supper waiting for him ... "And it was still hot."


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."


BACKGROUND


The original concept for the book featured horses instead of monsters. Sendak said he switched when he discovered that he could not draw horses.

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

Aaron , Bernard , Emil , Moishe and Tzippy .


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