by E L Swist

Created on: March 26, 2009   Last Updated: November 10, 2011

More than 40 years after its first publication Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" is still arguably one of the most popular and highly regarded children's books on the shelves in bookstores today. The subject of much critical acclaim and a winner of the Caldecott Medal, this timeless tale appeals to child in all of us. Through his imaginative storytelling, Sendak takes us on an amazing adventure to the place where the Wild Things live.

The story begins on the night that Max put on his wolf suit which transforms him into a mischievous boy. In the mist of all his mischief Max's mother tells him he is a "Wild thing." She sends him to bed without his dinner after being told by Max that he would eat her up. Sent to his room with an empty stomach Max lets his imagination take over as his room begins to change into a forest.

The trees grow until the walls in his room disappeared until Max finds himself in a whole new world. In this world a private boat is waiting for Max in the ocean which he uses to sail for more than a year until his journey takes him to the home of the wild things. Upon his arrival the wild things roar and show their teeth and claws the way that wild things will, but Max is not frightened. Instead he tells the wild things to "Be Still" and tames them by showing them a magic trick. The Wild Things quickly acknowledge Max as the wildest thing of all and they make him their king. As king Max proclaims it is time for a wild rumpus to start.

What follows are several beautifully illustrated pages Max and the Wild Things at play. Maurice Sendak's artistic style is lush and full of fascinating detail. They dance and play and howl at the moon. They swing from trees and carry on in a bold celebration of all the wildness they possess.

After their grand and wild rumpus, Max commands the wild things to stop and sends them to bed with no dinner. As Max sits in this land where he is free to be a wild thing he begins to realize that he is lonely and thinks he smells something that is good to eat. He is homesick and wants to return to the place where people love him. So despite of the pleas from the wild things, begging him to stay, Max returns to his sail boat and embarks on the year long journey back to where he came from. When he arrives back in his room he finds his dinner, still warm, waiting for him on the table.

This book is a visual masterpiece. The story is a wonderful adventure to a place where is surrounded by wild things and is made king, allowing him to be free and wild himself. But after some time in this land that may seem like every child's dream come true, he realizes that the place he wants to be the most is at home with his family where he is loved. This book is certainly a must read for children and adults alike, for anyone who has ever wanted to leave it all behind and go to Where the Wild Things Are.

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