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briesespieces's review against another edition
2.0
i randomly read an article about the most borrowed book at the NYPL and some other libraries. apparently it was this book so of course i had to satisfy my curiosity and borrow it to read as well. it was fun and short though i must confess it felt like any other children’s book (minus the message which seemed to say you’re gonna be rewarded for being “bad”, which is kinda realistic in some senses, but weird for a children’s book) so i don’t really see what the big deal is, probably nostalgia idk.
it made me chuckle a little bit so that was cute.
it made me chuckle a little bit so that was cute.
emerentina's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
paginasdealex's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
5.0
I'm reading this tomorrow with my students, I hope they love it!
mahi_tiwari's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
ponch22's review against another edition
3.0
I can't remember if I ever read this when I was younger. I was familiar with its Caldecott-Medal-winning artwork and knew some of the story (e.g. wild rumpus) but couldn't remember having ever read it specifically.
Then, in 2009, the live-action movie came out. Spike Jonze's film was beautiful and engaging and I gave it 4* (out of 5). But I always wondered, how much of what was on the screen actually came from [a:Maurice Sendak|4489|Maurice Sendak|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1201028880p2/4489.jpg]'s book? I mean, it was a 40-page picture book! How could that become a 100-minute movie?!
But I never went out of my way to read it... Until my 2016 Reading Challenge. One of its categories was a Book You Can Finish in a Day, and I figured this would easily fill that role!
Maybe if it was more of a lynchpin of my childhood, I'd have more appreciation of it? I think the art is beautiful. Sendak has a great style and I love every image. But the story and writing is just not very good. First of all, there are only ten sentences in the entire book—the shortest is "And Max said, 'No!'" but most of the others are long, rambling, run-on sentences that last for pages and pages. Two or three times, I had to flip backward to try to read the sentence faster to make sense of it (because usually I read the words, then look at the art—trying to take in the details—and then turn the page). Even the final page ("and it was still hot.") caught me off guard—I almost flipped back to the first page to check if there was a heat wave and THAT'S what made Max act like a little terror. It took me several seconds to realize this was part of the previous sentence, talking about his dinner.
And as if the writing style (long sentences broken up over multiple pages) wasn't bad enough, what exactly is the point of the story? To scare children by making them think their room can transform into jungles where monsters live? Or to teach children that they can talk back to their parents, be brats, go off into a world of imagination (where they are still jerks and learn no lesson) only to come back to a warm meal & no consequences?
I know this book is pretty well-regarded, but I just was kind of let down by it. I can't even imagine how well these reads as a picture book because of the broken up sentences... But it sure is pretty to look at!
Then, in 2009, the live-action movie came out. Spike Jonze's film was beautiful and engaging and I gave it 4* (out of 5). But I always wondered, how much of what was on the screen actually came from [a:Maurice Sendak|4489|Maurice Sendak|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1201028880p2/4489.jpg]'s book? I mean, it was a 40-page picture book! How could that become a 100-minute movie?!
But I never went out of my way to read it... Until my 2016 Reading Challenge. One of its categories was a Book You Can Finish in a Day, and I figured this would easily fill that role!
Maybe if it was more of a lynchpin of my childhood, I'd have more appreciation of it? I think the art is beautiful. Sendak has a great style and I love every image. But the story and writing is just not very good. First of all, there are only ten sentences in the entire book—the shortest is "And Max said, 'No!'" but most of the others are long, rambling, run-on sentences that last for pages and pages. Two or three times, I had to flip backward to try to read the sentence faster to make sense of it (because usually I read the words, then look at the art—trying to take in the details—and then turn the page). Even the final page ("and it was still hot.") caught me off guard—I almost flipped back to the first page to check if there was a heat wave and THAT'S what made Max act like a little terror. It took me several seconds to realize this was part of the previous sentence, talking about his dinner.
And as if the writing style (long sentences broken up over multiple pages) wasn't bad enough, what exactly is the point of the story? To scare children by making them think their room can transform into jungles where monsters live? Or to teach children that they can talk back to their parents, be brats, go off into a world of imagination (where they are still jerks and learn no lesson) only to come back to a warm meal & no consequences?
I know this book is pretty well-regarded, but I just was kind of let down by it. I can't even imagine how well these reads as a picture book because of the broken up sentences... But it sure is pretty to look at!
angelamichelle's review against another edition
5.0
I have had this memorized for the last 14 years.