Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak ~ Harper & Row, 1963
As yesterday was a hopeful day in the lives of children’s book/film buffs, I thought today was special enough to give props to… wait for it… the book that VKBMKL dubs as the all-time BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK EVER. That’s right. My number one top pick. The book I would pack if I only had one book to take of a deserted island. The one book I bought my son to celebrate his first birthday. Where the Wild Things Are
is THE book folks, and I know the world is crossing its fingers and holding its breath hoping that Spike Jonze and his crew do it justice on the silver screen. I personally am a huge Dave Eggers and Jonze fan, so I have tremendous faith. Rumors abound that the movie was redited and part was reshot because the film company thought it too scary for kids. Who knows? But what I do know is that my son has asked to watch the trailer no less than five times, and I will be taking his four-year-old soul even if it scars him for life. That said…Really, I almost can’t think about this book without getting teary-eyed. It is so special and so wonderful and so unique and magical, lovely, exceptional, fantastic… well, you get the picture. The story is almost genius in its simplicity. It encapsulates everything about childhood that makes us all long for it so. The mystery of the imagination. The fear and wonder of the unknown. The magic of youth. The goodness of home.
The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another, his mother called him “WILD THING!” and Max said “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” so he was sent to bed without eating anything. That very night in Max’s room a forest grew and grew – and grew until his ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max and he sailed off through night and day and in and out of weeks and almost a year to where the wild things are.This bravo-inducing book is one every child should have, hands down. A childhood spent without Max and his wild thing friends is a sad one indeed. Quite simply, my son and I are in love with this book… and chances are… we are not alone.
Also by:A Very Special House
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present
Moon Jumpers
What Do You Say, Dear?
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale
Some Swell Pup
Let's Be Enemies
Chicken Soup with Rice
Lullabies and Night Songs
Outside Over There
Seven Little Monsters
The Giant Story
We watched the trailer twice after breakfast today. I had goosebumps. My daughter will be almost three when it comes out...is that too young I ask myself? And you?
ReplyDeletewho knows... we'll have to wait and hear the reviews... i mean my boy did cry uncontrollably at Snoopy Come Home... so max leaving the monsters makes me worry more for my son than the monsters themselves...
ReplyDeletedoes look a bit dark... not sure if the boy will handle it... hahaha but looks very well done. 4 y/o here too. will see. looks mental. yes WTWTA is top of the list for us too... best.
ReplyDeleteI love this book, and I hope the movie is just as good! We also had the Pierre and Chicken Soup and Rice stories sung by Carol King (Really Rosie). I play them for my kids all the time...classics!
ReplyDeleteI adore this book and so do my two girls.
ReplyDeleteI have thought long and hard about the movie and think I will get it on DVD when it comes out so they can watch it in our own home rather than on a huge screen which will probably induce nightmares.
Pinny
I was so bugged when I heard they were making a movie of this, but then I saw the trailer and LOVED it. I'm not sure whether or not to show it to my son either (he'll be close to three when it comes out) - then again, he is named Max (after the Max in the book, of course)...
ReplyDeleteMy name is Michael Hansen. Do I have some surreal memories. Here is 2: I have a vague memory of elementary school. we had been read "Chicken Soup With Rice"" & "Where the wild things aree" of course. (There is more stories but I dont think I will share them now to make this thing longer) and i believ in 2nd grade, I discovered my teacher had a 45 rpm of someone singing "CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE" on a 45 rpm. Because of my memory, I remember the record label design "ODE" (same label as Cheech & CHong AND Carole King) not only did this blog make me remember that 45, but now I found out who did it. but HERE IS ANOTHER SURREAL MEMORY: At the public library, I remember a record on the (infamous) "CAMDEN" label (A subsidary of RCA that re issued Elvis Presley Junk and a lot of Childrens records and 'educational' records. Maybe books on record) and I remember a record that both had a reading of "WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE" & "CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE" but in retrospect, they were being read by a woman with a kinda scary voice. But I cant find any further information online about it. Does anybody know what I am talking about or was I dreaming this whole thing?
ReplyDelete