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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
For a kid that couldn't watch Fraggle rock, or read The Cat in the Hat because if gave her nightmares... I was oddly cool with this book.
I guess it's true what they say
Inside all of us IS a wild thing.
I guess it's true what they say
Inside all of us IS a wild thing.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve decided that I deserve credit for the children’s books I read daily with my son.
So here it goes: 2024 My Year of Kid’s Lit
It’s no surprise that this book comes to mind first when I think about the children’s books I’ve read countless times and loved and thought a ton about.
Sendak’s work is a classic for good reason.
The writing is sparse, with a lot taking place off screen, so to speak. We don’t see the real damage of Max’s antics or the confrontation with Mom that leads to his time out. What we do see, is that he leaves his room and ends up where the wild things are- where he thinks he belongs. He has his fun for a bit but ultimately finds that he belongs at home where somebody loves him “best of all”.
What’s “off screen” for me is a mom waiting downstairs for her son to “come back”-maybe literally, definitely figuratively. The hope that he will and uncertainty about whether he will scares me. Actually, maybe she isn’t waiting because she doesn’t know or think he’s gone. That scares me too. Her ever-presence despite being unseen is actually the perfect way to capture a child’s impression of his/her mom.
What I love best about this story is that the fun is actually also a little and sometimes a lot scary.
Quinn peers around the corner of the page as I’m turning it so he can sneak a peak at the wild things before they burst onto the page. He is excited and nervous about them- their roaring and marching and swinging from the trees. They’re mean and ugly looking but endearing and fun- they bring the adventure so he can’t look away. He laughs at Max and likes to point out the small details of his room once he returns home- the moon in the window, especially.
So here it goes: 2024 My Year of Kid’s Lit
It’s no surprise that this book comes to mind first when I think about the children’s books I’ve read countless times and loved and thought a ton about.
Sendak’s work is a classic for good reason.
The writing is sparse, with a lot taking place off screen, so to speak. We don’t see the real damage of Max’s antics or the confrontation with Mom that leads to his time out. What we do see, is that he leaves his room and ends up where the wild things are- where he thinks he belongs. He has his fun for a bit but ultimately finds that he belongs at home where somebody loves him “best of all”.
What’s “off screen” for me is a mom waiting downstairs for her son to “come back”-maybe literally, definitely figuratively. The hope that he will and uncertainty about whether he will scares me. Actually, maybe she isn’t waiting because she doesn’t know or think he’s gone. That scares me too. Her ever-presence despite being unseen is actually the perfect way to capture a child’s impression of his/her mom.
What I love best about this story is that the fun is actually also a little and sometimes a lot scary.
Quinn peers around the corner of the page as I’m turning it so he can sneak a peak at the wild things before they burst onto the page. He is excited and nervous about them- their roaring and marching and swinging from the trees. They’re mean and ugly looking but endearing and fun- they bring the adventure so he can’t look away. He laughs at Max and likes to point out the small details of his room once he returns home- the moon in the window, especially.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sometimes a little dude just needs to be a little dude
I'd never read this before, so my partner bought it for me as a gift. It's very cute, and I can see why it's so popular -- the art is unique, hugely detailed and timeless.
A lot of the impact it had at the time, as a picture book dealing with the then-taboo topic of child anger, is lost to the modern audience.
For adult readers it's worth looking into the history of the book, the controversy it stirred up, and the attempts that were made to ban it.
A lot of the impact it had at the time, as a picture book dealing with the then-taboo topic of child anger, is lost to the modern audience.
For adult readers it's worth looking into the history of the book, the controversy it stirred up, and the attempts that were made to ban it.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful