Plot Summary 

Where The Wild Things Are written by Maurice Sendak is a popular fantasy fiction picture book that was first published in 1963 and has continued its popularity to today. The book won The Caldecott Medal in 1964 for most distinguished picturebook of the year and was released as a feature film by American director and producer, Spike Jonze, in October 2009.  

Where The Wild Things Are tells the story of a boy named Max, who is making mischief throughout his house.  Max is seen throughout the book wearing a wolf suit, a king's crown, and a mischievous grin.  After chasing the family dog around the house with a fork, Max is sent to his room without any supper by his mother. He then begins a magical journey, in which his room transforms into a new world, with creatures named the Wild Things, where he is soon made king. Max is in control of his life in the land of the Wild Things, but soon finds himself homesick and yearning to go back home to eat his mother's supper.

Textual Elements

Setting:

The setting of the book begins and ends in Max’s house, in which he is running around being mischievous, and eventually sent to bed without dinner.  Most of the story takes place “where the wild things are,” which is presented as a jungle-like atmosphere where Max is deemed king.

Characters:

Max- Max is a young, mischievous boy who is very confident, aggressive and self reliant. Throughout the book Max is seen wearing a wolf suit, a king’s crown, and a mischievous grin.  Max imagines a far off world, where he becomes king of the native people, the Wild Things.

The Wild Things- Originally seen as savage creatures who, “roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws,” when Max arrived to their world.  Max eventually frightens the Wild Things with a magic trick, and they deem him “the most wild thing of all” and make him king of all Wild Things.

Point of View:

This story is written in third person. 

Theme:

The main theme of the book is surrounded by the strong idea of imagination and the places it can take you.  Max creates a new world in which he can control his own destiny and escape from reality. In this case, the alternate reality was in the form of his room that transformed into a far off place, where the wild things are.  In his imaginative world he can be whoever he wants be and do whatever he feels like doing, with no boundaries or regulations. He is free to explore and see the world beyond just what is in his bedroom. Kids can relate to this idea of freedom since their lives are mainly controlled by adults. Parents can also relate to this story because it reminds them of their childhood and may bring up memories of a time when they did not have the responsibilities they have today.  As people grow older they tend to forget what it was like to be a kid.

Artistic Elements

Where the Wild Things Are is classified as a fantasy fiction picture book because it is not based on true facts and cannot exist in the real world.  The book is classified as a picture book due to its unity of words and pictures to convey meaning, as well as its wide range of audience age and interest.  The book follows the normal flow and design elements found in picture storybooks.   The text is just over the normal 32 page length (37 pages) and reads verso-recto, left to right, with two-sided text, with the majority of text on the left hand page and illustrations on the right.  The book develops into a more in-depth picture book in the middle of the story, involving illustrations spanning over two pages as well as a few pages with no text, only illustrations.

The illustrations in the picturebook are simple in design, yet detailed enough to catch the eye; perfect to engage and attract young reader’s imaginations and attention.  Much of the story can be told from the illustrations and the body language that the characters exhibit.  This is an important feature to a children’s book because it makes it easier for kids to follow and interpret the meaning of the story through visualizations.  Where the Wild Things Are aims to unite both the children and adults by providing a story that everyone can relate to and enjoy.

Analysis &  Critique

In the land of the Wild Things, Max is in control of his destiny and treated like a king. The wild things listen to his demands and follow him as if he is a god. In his imaginative world he can be whoever he wants be and do whatever he wants. Max is free to explore and see the world beyond just what is in his bedroom. Kids can relate to this idea of freedom and imagination since their lives are mainly controlled by adults. Parents can also relate to this story because it may spark memories of a time when they did not have the responsibilities they have today.  As people grow older they tend to forget what it was like to be a kid. We forget what it’s like to let your imagination take you to places beyond belief.  Where The Wild Things Are is a fantastic journey and a good read for the young, and old.

Citation

Sendak, Maurice. Where The Wild Things Are. Maurice Sendak. New York: Harper & Row, 1963. 

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