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Ở Nơi Quỷ Sứ Giặc Non
Ở Nơi Quỷ Sứ Giặc Non (Where the wild things are) là một trong những cuốn sách huyền thoại, được coi như Kinh thánh trong địa hạt picture book (sách tranh).Tác phẩm đã đạt huân chương Caldecott cho Most Distinguished Picture book (cuốn sách tranh xuất sắc nhất) vào năm 1964, sau đó được chuyển thể thành phim, phim hoạt hình và cả nhạc kịch. Cho tới tận bây giờ, nó vẫn luôn nằm trong danh sách bán chạy nhất, với hơn 20 triệu bản in trên toàn thế giới.
"Một tối, Max mặc bộ hóa trang chó sói và nghịch ngợm, bị mẹ mắng là "Đồ quỷ sứ giặc non", bắt đi ngủ sớm và phạt nhịn bữa tối. Đêm đó trong phòng Max bỗng mọc lên một khu rừng thăm thẳm, ,mở ra một đại dương mênh mông. Một chiếc thuyền lớn đón Max đi thật xa, tới nơi có lũ quỷ sứ giặc non thực sự..."
"Một tối, Max mặc bộ hóa trang chó sói và nghịch ngợm, bị mẹ mắng là "Đồ quỷ sứ giặc non", bắt đi ngủ sớm và phạt nhịn bữa tối. Đêm đó trong phòng Max bỗng mọc lên một khu rừng thăm thẳm, ,mở ra một đại dương mênh mông. Một chiếc thuyền lớn đón Max đi thật xa, tới nơi có lũ quỷ sứ giặc non thực sự..."
48 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 1963
2708 people are currently reading
318518 people want to read
About the author
Maurice Sendak
400 books2,329 followersMaurice Sendak was a visionary American illustrator and writer best known for transforming the landscape of children's literature through his emotionally resonant stories and distinctive artistic style. He gained international acclaim with Where the Wild Things Are, a groundbreaking picture book that captured the emotional intensity of childhood through its honest portrayal of anger, imagination, and longing. Widely recognized for his ability to blend the whimsical with the profound, Sendak created works that resonated with both children and adults, challenging conventional notions of what children's books could be.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sendak was a sickly child who spent much of his early life indoors, nurturing a love for books, drawing, and storytelling. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was deeply affected by the losses of the Holocaust, which shaped the darker emotional undercurrents in his work. His art was influenced by a range of sources, from comic strips and Mickey Mouse to Mozart, Blake, and German Romanticism. Though he began his career illustrating other writers’ books, he soon transitioned to authoring his own, beginning with Kenny’s Window and then The Sign on Rosie’s Door.
It was Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, that solidified Sendak’s reputation as a master of children’s literature. The book, which won the Caldecott Medal, was initially controversial due to its depiction of unruly behavior and ambiguous emotional tone. However, it was later recognized as a revolutionary work that respected children’s inner lives and psychological complexity. This theme continued in his later works, including In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There, which formed a loose trilogy exploring the emotional and imaginative experiences of childhood. These books, celebrated for their dreamlike narratives and lush illustrations, often tackled fears, fantasies, and the challenges of growing up.
Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than a hundred books, working with authors such as Ruth Krauss and Else Holmelund Minarik. His visual style—characterized by its intricate detail, dynamic line work, and expressive characters—evolved over the decades, but always retained an unmistakable emotional intensity. He also designed sets and costumes for operas and ballets, bringing his imaginative worlds to the stage. Notably, he created productions for works by Mozart and Prokofiev, combining his love of classical music with theatrical design.
Sendak was known for his sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep empathy for children. He openly criticized the sanitized and moralistic tone of much of children's publishing, insisting instead that young readers deserved stories that acknowledged their full emotional range, including fear, grief, anger, and wonder. He was also an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, though he only spoke publicly about his sexuality later in life.
Later in his career, Sendak continued to produce new work, collaborate with artists and institutions, and advocate for intellectual freedom. His final books, including Bumble-Ardy and My Brother’s Book, reflected both a return to his childhood memories and a meditation on aging, love, and mortality. Though his stories often ventured into the dark or surreal, they remained rooted in a deep respect for the emotional reality of children and a belief in the power of imagination to confront life's challenges.
Maurice Sendak’s legacy endures in the countless writers and illustrators he inspired, the cultural impact of his stories, and the enduring affection readers of all ages hold for his wild things, mischievous children, and tender monsters. Through his work, he redefined what children’s literature could be: rich, honest, haunting, and, above all, deeply human.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sendak was a sickly child who spent much of his early life indoors, nurturing a love for books, drawing, and storytelling. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was deeply affected by the losses of the Holocaust, which shaped the darker emotional undercurrents in his work. His art was influenced by a range of sources, from comic strips and Mickey Mouse to Mozart, Blake, and German Romanticism. Though he began his career illustrating other writers’ books, he soon transitioned to authoring his own, beginning with Kenny’s Window and then The Sign on Rosie’s Door.
It was Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, that solidified Sendak’s reputation as a master of children’s literature. The book, which won the Caldecott Medal, was initially controversial due to its depiction of unruly behavior and ambiguous emotional tone. However, it was later recognized as a revolutionary work that respected children’s inner lives and psychological complexity. This theme continued in his later works, including In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There, which formed a loose trilogy exploring the emotional and imaginative experiences of childhood. These books, celebrated for their dreamlike narratives and lush illustrations, often tackled fears, fantasies, and the challenges of growing up.
Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than a hundred books, working with authors such as Ruth Krauss and Else Holmelund Minarik. His visual style—characterized by its intricate detail, dynamic line work, and expressive characters—evolved over the decades, but always retained an unmistakable emotional intensity. He also designed sets and costumes for operas and ballets, bringing his imaginative worlds to the stage. Notably, he created productions for works by Mozart and Prokofiev, combining his love of classical music with theatrical design.
Sendak was known for his sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep empathy for children. He openly criticized the sanitized and moralistic tone of much of children's publishing, insisting instead that young readers deserved stories that acknowledged their full emotional range, including fear, grief, anger, and wonder. He was also an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, though he only spoke publicly about his sexuality later in life.
Later in his career, Sendak continued to produce new work, collaborate with artists and institutions, and advocate for intellectual freedom. His final books, including Bumble-Ardy and My Brother’s Book, reflected both a return to his childhood memories and a meditation on aging, love, and mortality. Though his stories often ventured into the dark or surreal, they remained rooted in a deep respect for the emotional reality of children and a belief in the power of imagination to confront life's challenges.
Maurice Sendak’s legacy endures in the countless writers and illustrators he inspired, the cultural impact of his stories, and the enduring affection readers of all ages hold for his wild things, mischievous children, and tender monsters. Through his work, he redefined what children’s literature could be: rich, honest, haunting, and, above all, deeply human.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,681 reviews
November 4, 2007
I have no doubt that this book damaged me, psychologically, as a small child. It is one of the earliest books I vividly remember reading aloud to myself, and I remember the first time my mother read it to me before she put me to bed. Here's the gist of the plot: A little boy named Max dresses up in a wolf costume, plays with a hammer, chases his dog with a fork, then threatens to cannibalize his mother. His mother, a master of irony, then puts him to bed with no dinner. Already, this story should start creeping you out. Then a forest starts to grow in Max's bedroom. And no, no chemicals have been ingested anywhere in the story. Though the bit about chasing the dog with the fork does imply a delusional state. Regardless, a fucking forest grows in the kids bedroom. So naturally he gets in a boat and sails off to the other side of the world, to where all these "wild things" are. And promptly subjugates everyone he sees. I'm a damn toddler, and my mom is reading me a book about a sociopath. So Max has a ball with this gang he's conquered and converted, and they howl at the moon and hop through trees. Then he gets hungry and goes home, where his mother, no doubt terrified of his new army of foreign creatures, has left his food for him, still warm. I thought, "This woman aims to do me harm." Yes, please, mother. Read me a story about my bedroom becoming a forest inhabited by monsters, then put me to bed. Think I slept that night? No, I hid out under my bed with a plastic baseball bat, a water gun and flashlight, hoping to God that if this was the night it all went wrong, I had the courage to look those monsters in the eye and pretend I wasn't wetting myself. I made a nest with a giant teddy bear and two pillows and didn't come out until the next morning, when I heard my mom coming down the hall. All day long I pretended nothing was different. But I asked her to read me Where The Wild Things Are again that night. And the next night. For months. I would ask her questions like "Do you think I will have my monsters get you if you don't make me supper?" And she'd smile, and say "Go to bed, Nathan." Spooky shit, I'm telling you. I learned to read through fear and intimidation. A subversive masterpiece.
NC
NC
August 16, 2024
Written in 1963, this classic children’s story stands the test of time. Max is a young boy who is sent to his room without supper. He uses his imagination to create a magical land filled with wild things. Will Max stay in the land of the wild things?
The audiobook on this is very entertaining, and it was available with my Scribd subscription. This book far surpasses The Giving Tree because Max easily establishes healthy boundaries. My favorite page from the book, “But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!” And Max said, “No!”” The next time someone is giving me grief, I am just going to say, “No!” with absolutely no explanation at all. I will let you know how that works out.
My little buddy reader and I give this “all the stars.” Translation: Five stars
This is one of James Mustich’s 1,000 Books to Read
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
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The audiobook on this is very entertaining, and it was available with my Scribd subscription. This book far surpasses The Giving Tree because Max easily establishes healthy boundaries. My favorite page from the book, “But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!” And Max said, “No!”” The next time someone is giving me grief, I am just going to say, “No!” with absolutely no explanation at all. I will let you know how that works out.
My little buddy reader and I give this “all the stars.” Translation: Five stars
This is one of James Mustich’s 1,000 Books to Read
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
August 16, 2007
This book is crap, and let me tell you why. The kid is a jerk and is sent to his room without supper. He proceeds to go to some magical place where these monsters live and he bosses them around and is mean to them. Then he gets back home...having not learned that being a mean jerk is wrong...and there on his table in his room is dinner...and it's still warm. What's the lesson here exactly?
Hate the book.
Hate the book.
October 2, 2009
"Mom. Mom. Mo-om. Mom. MOM!"
My mom whips around. "WHAT??!"
"CanIgetabook?"
"What?"
"Can... I... get... a... book...?"
"How much is it?"
"$8.50."
"What is it?"
I brandish a copy of Where The Wild Things Are from behind my back.
"Don't you already have that?"
"Nuh-uh."
"Aren't you a little... old for a book like that?"
I pout. "But Mo-om..."
"Okay," she sighs. "Put it in the cart."
--ten minutes later--
My mom leaves the car to go put the cart back.
I look around suspiciously, making sure the coast is clear.
I lean over the back seat and start digging through the bags.
Finding the book, I crawl back into the front seat with it.
My mom returns.
"Couldn't you wait until we got home?"
"Nope." I'm turning the first pages, reading everything slowly.
My mom starts the car. "Sometimes I can't tell if I have a twenty-four- or a four-year-old daughter."
I'm still immersed in the book. "At least I no longer pull up my skirt in the grocery aisle and show everyone my Barbie underwear."
"I certainly hope not!"
I grin mischievously.
My mom whips around. "WHAT??!"
"CanIgetabook?"
"What?"
"Can... I... get... a... book...?"
"How much is it?"
"$8.50."
"What is it?"
I brandish a copy of Where The Wild Things Are from behind my back.
"Don't you already have that?"
"Nuh-uh."
"Aren't you a little... old for a book like that?"
I pout. "But Mo-om..."
"Okay," she sighs. "Put it in the cart."
--ten minutes later--
My mom leaves the car to go put the cart back.
I look around suspiciously, making sure the coast is clear.
I lean over the back seat and start digging through the bags.
Finding the book, I crawl back into the front seat with it.
My mom returns.
"Couldn't you wait until we got home?"
"Nope." I'm turning the first pages, reading everything slowly.
My mom starts the car. "Sometimes I can't tell if I have a twenty-four- or a four-year-old daughter."
I'm still immersed in the book. "At least I no longer pull up my skirt in the grocery aisle and show everyone my Barbie underwear."
"I certainly hope not!"
I grin mischievously.
Read
May 23, 2025My copy of this book is over fifty years old. It was read to me when I was tiny and I read it to my children when they were small.
When we lived in the States I discovered the play figures in a bargain bin in a toy store and bought them for my kids too. This guy was always my favourite!
He looks as if he's up to no good.
There are several key elements to the book's power.
1. The artwork is special.
2. It shows, graphically the power of imagination.
That very night in Max's room a forest grew
and grew until his ceiling hung with vines
and the walls became the world all around
3. It undermines the fear of monsters without taking away the wonder.
4. Even when you're bad, your mother loves you.
I can't see this book going out of print. It's timeless.
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...
When we lived in the States I discovered the play figures in a bargain bin in a toy store and bought them for my kids too. This guy was always my favourite!
He looks as if he's up to no good.
There are several key elements to the book's power.
1. The artwork is special.
2. It shows, graphically the power of imagination.
That very night in Max's room a forest grew
and grew until his ceiling hung with vines
and the walls became the world all around
3. It undermines the fear of monsters without taking away the wonder.
4. Even when you're bad, your mother loves you.
I can't see this book going out of print. It's timeless.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
March 21, 2023
Wife and I read this to our daughter. Our daughter read it to our granddaughter. Our granddaughter will most likely read it to our great granddaughter, unless by some quirk of fate, she has a son.
December 24, 2018
‘‘and now,’ max cried, ‘let the wild rumpus start!’’
i babysat the other night and, i swear, i read this book at least 30 times within a 4 hour time span (kids, eh?). i never read this story as a child and i cant help but feel like i missed out on something special.
but luckily, this is one of those timeless classics that still has something for everyone, no matter the age.
this story is for everyone who yearns for wild adventure, for the lovers and attendees of every wild rumpus, for each person who wildly believes in magic, and for those who are wild at heart.
this story is for the wild things in all of us.
↠ 3.5 stars
i babysat the other night and, i swear, i read this book at least 30 times within a 4 hour time span (kids, eh?). i never read this story as a child and i cant help but feel like i missed out on something special.
but luckily, this is one of those timeless classics that still has something for everyone, no matter the age.
this story is for everyone who yearns for wild adventure, for the lovers and attendees of every wild rumpus, for each person who wildly believes in magic, and for those who are wild at heart.
this story is for the wild things in all of us.
↠ 3.5 stars
December 4, 2020
FINISCE SEMPRE COSÌ
Il film omonimo diretto da Spike Jonze, 2009.
Sì, per fortuna finisce sempre così.
E meno male che c'è qualcuno che ce lo ricorda, aiutandosi con splendidi disegni come fa Maurice Sendak.
Questo libro è ormai un classico, non solo perché ha cinquanta e passa anni di vita, ma per il suo successo e la sua diffusione (videogiochi, composizioni musicali, teatro, cinema).
Ancora il film diretto da Spike Jonze.
Da piccoli la paura è un sentimento utile, perfino salvifico.
È crescendo che diventa letale.
Se qualcuno volesse far approfondire l'argomento al proprio bambino, consiglio caldamente La Grosse colère – Che rabbia! di Mireille d'Allancé del quale segue questa immagine:
Il film omonimo diretto da Spike Jonze, 2009.
Sì, per fortuna finisce sempre così.
E meno male che c'è qualcuno che ce lo ricorda, aiutandosi con splendidi disegni come fa Maurice Sendak.
Questo libro è ormai un classico, non solo perché ha cinquanta e passa anni di vita, ma per il suo successo e la sua diffusione (videogiochi, composizioni musicali, teatro, cinema).
Ancora il film diretto da Spike Jonze.
Da piccoli la paura è un sentimento utile, perfino salvifico.
È crescendo che diventa letale.
Se qualcuno volesse far approfondire l'argomento al proprio bambino, consiglio caldamente La Grosse colère – Che rabbia! di Mireille d'Allancé del quale segue questa immagine:
June 2, 2022
It is often difficult to review a book that was and still is one of my favorite all-time picture books. I adore everything about Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, from the brilliant text to the expressive accompanying illustrations. And I also with all my heart appreciate the message the author promotes here, a message of unconditional love, a message that even if one misbehaves, there will be supper waiting on the table (Max does get sent to his room, but no matter how much he has misbehaved, his mother will always love him and cherish him). Of course, that particular message is only one of many. As essential as the concept of universal love is the philosophy, is the attitude that children's emotions and tantrums are to be taken seriously and not ever simply dismissed. Max might be seen and chastised as a "wild thing" by his mother, but his emotions, his actions are described as an integral part of his being, maybe not quite appropriate, but also not completely inappropriate, rather as a living, breathing part of Max's being. And it is these emotions, these feelings that are the impetus to Max's adventures in the realm of the Wild Things. However, once Max's emotions have been allowed and have flourished to the maximum, he retreats from the realm of the Wild Things and is happy to return home to his room, his waiting supper and his mother's love.
I guess I should really mention that one of my more recent rereads of Where the Wild Things Are (in 2011 for the Picture Book Club in the Children's Literature Group) was the first time I had actually read this book in English. Prior to 2011, I had only ever read it in German translation, and I have to admit that I actually like the translated German version somewhat better than the original English. For those who know me, this is quite a contrary attitude, as I am as a rule very much in favour of original texts and keeping any translated narratives as close to the original as possible. In this particular case, I think that I appreciate the German translation more because it is the narrative that I had repeatedly read to me when I was a child, that I later read for myself (and in 2005 read to my young nieces). The German translation of Where the Wild Things Are therefore has a nostalgic hold on me that the Maurice Sendak's original text, no matter how ingenious, not matter that it is the master, the primordial, will simply never have (and for me, the ultimate version of this book will always, always be the German translation, Wo Die Wilden Kerle Wohnen.
I guess I should really mention that one of my more recent rereads of Where the Wild Things Are (in 2011 for the Picture Book Club in the Children's Literature Group) was the first time I had actually read this book in English. Prior to 2011, I had only ever read it in German translation, and I have to admit that I actually like the translated German version somewhat better than the original English. For those who know me, this is quite a contrary attitude, as I am as a rule very much in favour of original texts and keeping any translated narratives as close to the original as possible. In this particular case, I think that I appreciate the German translation more because it is the narrative that I had repeatedly read to me when I was a child, that I later read for myself (and in 2005 read to my young nieces). The German translation of Where the Wild Things Are therefore has a nostalgic hold on me that the Maurice Sendak's original text, no matter how ingenious, not matter that it is the master, the primordial, will simply never have (and for me, the ultimate version of this book will always, always be the German translation, Wo Die Wilden Kerle Wohnen.
October 5, 2018
I didn't realize this was The Odyssey for so long. It seems so obvious now! It's the Cyclops part. Polyphemus.
Which makes Max's mom a stand-in for Penelope, keeping his dinner hot for him as he sails "in and out of weeks and almost over a year," and that's a little weird but there's always something a little weird about Maurice Sendak, isn't there? Have you read In the Night Kitchen? It's fuckin' weird, man. None of this knocks Where the Wild Things Are any lower on the list of Great Children's Literature, where it is #1.
It's everything, right? The way Sendak writes - everything is a little effortlessly different. He starts in media res, "The night Max wore his wolf suit..." I like to evolve the way I say wild things - in the beginning I put the emphasis like "wild Things," and then I switch it up to the Hendrixian "Wild things" as we build to this:
Which honestly, can you think of a better sentence in all of literature? I'm being serious! I can't. This is my favorite one.
You ever notice how the pictures get bigger? Max making mischief of one kind and another is just a little picture on the page, but by the time the wild rumpus gets going it's full page spreads, there's not even room for any words. And those creatures! You've probably heard how Sendak modeled them on his family. Look how awesome they are.
Which one is your favorite? I like the hippie in the back.
And of course it's great because, like the best children's books, it takes children seriously. Max is being an asshole. Dude chased the dog with a fork, what the fuck. His mother punishes him and he learns zero lessons, he just plays in his room until she gives in. That's a plot a kid can dig! Children can tell when a book is written for them and when it's written at them. This is for children. It has magic in it, and so do they.
Which makes Max's mom a stand-in for Penelope, keeping his dinner hot for him as he sails "in and out of weeks and almost over a year," and that's a little weird but there's always something a little weird about Maurice Sendak, isn't there? Have you read In the Night Kitchen? It's fuckin' weird, man. None of this knocks Where the Wild Things Are any lower on the list of Great Children's Literature, where it is #1.
It's everything, right? The way Sendak writes - everything is a little effortlessly different. He starts in media res, "The night Max wore his wolf suit..." I like to evolve the way I say wild things - in the beginning I put the emphasis like "wild Things," and then I switch it up to the Hendrixian "Wild things" as we build to this:
“And now,” cried Max,
“let the wild rumpus start!”
Which honestly, can you think of a better sentence in all of literature? I'm being serious! I can't. This is my favorite one.
You ever notice how the pictures get bigger? Max making mischief of one kind and another is just a little picture on the page, but by the time the wild rumpus gets going it's full page spreads, there's not even room for any words. And those creatures! You've probably heard how Sendak modeled them on his family. Look how awesome they are.
Which one is your favorite? I like the hippie in the back.
And of course it's great because, like the best children's books, it takes children seriously. Max is being an asshole. Dude chased the dog with a fork, what the fuck. His mother punishes him and he learns zero lessons, he just plays in his room until she gives in. That's a plot a kid can dig! Children can tell when a book is written for them and when it's written at them. This is for children. It has magic in it, and so do they.
November 22, 2016
I have read the story of Max about 1,000,000 times and my kids love it too. The illustrations are magical and the text is beyond wonderful. It is one of the most fun and rewarding books for a parent to read to a kid (lots of fun making dancing sounds and monster sounds!) and features joyful plot. A must!
October 24, 2017
I loved this so much, I begged to star in it in an elementary school play. I won the lead role but had to share it with another classmate as we were doing 8 performances and couldn't be out of classes for rehearsals that often! I got to be rowdy... even though I was the quietest child possible. And who doesn't love to act like an animal, parade through the jungle and revisit their roots! But what do we love even more... our family and those who love us. Sometimes we can be too much and need to done it down. And that's the lesson this little one teaches us.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
March 21, 2021
I can still remember reading this for the first time in my grade school library. The pictures and illustrations can be a little scary at times, but they still remain incredible to me. I love children's books that are adventurous and take you places. This is one of them.
5*****
5*****
September 16, 2025
In a Nutshell: Finally read this classic picture book! Good story, great illustrations. Quite imaginative and entertaining but many of the points will work better on discussion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I have had this classic on my TBR since a few years now. Considered by many to be among the greatest picture books ever and the Winner of the Caldecott Medal for Most Distinguished Picture Book in 1964, this book came attached with a lot of hype. But as I had first heard of this book only as an adult, I went into the book with no nostalgia or bias. As such, my opinion might not be as enthusiastic as those who have fond memories of reading this book in their childhood.
The story is quite good when it comes to imaginativeness. Max’s wild thinking creates a virtual jungle and ocean in his room, travelling “weeks and weeks and over a year” to reach the wild things, have fun with them, even get appointed as the King of the Wild Things, but finally knowing when it’s time to return.
Kids might not be able to read between the lines on their own, but adults will understand that Max’s mind indicates his loneliness and his need to have some control over his fate. Kids will find fun and joy in Max’s imagination and comfort in seeing the tenderness of his mother’s heart.
Some parts of the story could have done better for me, but these are strictly from an adult reader perspective.
The text is minimal and well-written, making effective use of repetition and onomatopoeia to add to the read-aloud experience. There are also several action words and sound words. Storytime with this book will be fun!
The artwork is as imaginative as the story indicates. All the illustrations are coloured in nature-based shades. The “Wild Things” appear scary at first but the big grin on their faces ensures that children won't be scared of them.
Overall, I can see why this book is considered a classic. The passing of more than six decades since its publication makes it obvious that some things haven’t aged well. But it will be a great resource for bedtime storytelling, made better with a heartfelt parent-child discussion.
4 stars.
This was a library read.
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My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
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Plot Preview:
One night, young Max is wearing his wolf suit and making mischief in the house. His mother calls him “Wild Thing!” in anger, so he retaliates and declares that he will eat her up. As expected, he gets punished for his cheek, and is sent to his room without food. But something special happens in his room, and he soon finds himself sailing to where the wild things are and having much fun with them. Should he continue to stay there, where he can be the King of the Wild Things?
I have had this classic on my TBR since a few years now. Considered by many to be among the greatest picture books ever and the Winner of the Caldecott Medal for Most Distinguished Picture Book in 1964, this book came attached with a lot of hype. But as I had first heard of this book only as an adult, I went into the book with no nostalgia or bias. As such, my opinion might not be as enthusiastic as those who have fond memories of reading this book in their childhood.
The story is quite good when it comes to imaginativeness. Max’s wild thinking creates a virtual jungle and ocean in his room, travelling “weeks and weeks and over a year” to reach the wild things, have fun with them, even get appointed as the King of the Wild Things, but finally knowing when it’s time to return.
Kids might not be able to read between the lines on their own, but adults will understand that Max’s mind indicates his loneliness and his need to have some control over his fate. Kids will find fun and joy in Max’s imagination and comfort in seeing the tenderness of his mother’s heart.
Some parts of the story could have done better for me, but these are strictly from an adult reader perspective.
The text is minimal and well-written, making effective use of repetition and onomatopoeia to add to the read-aloud experience. There are also several action words and sound words. Storytime with this book will be fun!
The artwork is as imaginative as the story indicates. All the illustrations are coloured in nature-based shades. The “Wild Things” appear scary at first but the big grin on their faces ensures that children won't be scared of them.
Overall, I can see why this book is considered a classic. The passing of more than six decades since its publication makes it obvious that some things haven’t aged well. But it will be a great resource for bedtime storytelling, made better with a heartfelt parent-child discussion.
4 stars.
This was a library read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
March 23, 2020
May I suggest this little cherished gem as a perfect inspiration for all of you who are locked away in private isolation somewhere on this globe? (Wow, by the way: we all share this experience, across towns and countries and continents - or does anyone need a reminder what I am referring to?)
With our imagination, we can travel from our claustrophobic reality to Where the Wild Things Are. And my guess is that those wild things will be quite a comfort and relief from news and coughs and worries...
Cheers to the Imagined Wild! Nothing Beside Remains...
With our imagination, we can travel from our claustrophobic reality to Where the Wild Things Are. And my guess is that those wild things will be quite a comfort and relief from news and coughs and worries...
Cheers to the Imagined Wild! Nothing Beside Remains...
November 1, 2020
All This little Bratty jerk needed was a flying chappal
I am NOT joking!! He was a total brat..and all his mother did was send him without supper!!
If I behaved that way with my mom..you won't be reading this review today😂
Been there, done that dude!! Thank you very much!!😒
[image error]
EVER BEEN IN THIS SITUATION??!
I am sorry but my little brown heart just can't RELATE!!!
The most " lenient " parents can get is this way..
BUT even that comes with a side effect!!
I pity this☝ kid😂
So you mean to say... he disrespected his mom, gave BRATTY replies...and threatened her
STILL his momma gave him his dinner??
(Translation: I will slap you)
You know what?? Even I wont read this book to my niece !!
What if she takes inspiration from THIS book??!! Then MY parents will beat the crap out of me for "spoiling" her😭😂😶
This book was indeed "FANTASY" aka a "FANTASY" for brown kids
The worse thing is we even benefit from it xD
There's a saying in Hindi...
लातों के भूत बातों से नहीं मानते
translation:
Rude people do not understand soft language
This basically applies to bratty kids
Sometimes you need to use chappal to stop them from getting spoiled
![]()
I mean..GOOD LUCK to his mom!! Try handling this satan spawn WITHOUT giving "ACTUAL" punishment😂Good luck with that lady..Good luck😂🤣😆
My moms gonna KILL me if she saw this review
Mrin rn
I am NOT joking!! He was a total brat..and all his mother did was send him without supper!!
If I behaved that way with my mom..you won't be reading this review today😂
Been there, done that dude!! Thank you very much!!😒
[image error]
EVER BEEN IN THIS SITUATION??!
I am sorry but my little brown heart just can't RELATE!!!
The most " lenient " parents can get is this way..
BUT even that comes with a side effect!!
I pity this☝ kid😂
So you mean to say... he disrespected his mom, gave BRATTY replies...and threatened her
STILL his momma gave him his dinner??
(Translation: I will slap you)
You know what?? Even I wont read this book to my niece !!
What if she takes inspiration from THIS book??!! Then MY parents will beat the crap out of me for "spoiling" her😭😂😶
This book was indeed "FANTASY" aka a "FANTASY" for brown kids
The worse thing is we even benefit from it xD
There's a saying in Hindi...
लातों के भूत बातों से नहीं मानते
translation:
Rude people do not understand soft language
This basically applies to bratty kids
Sometimes you need to use chappal to stop them from getting spoiled
I mean..GOOD LUCK to his mom!! Try handling this satan spawn WITHOUT giving "ACTUAL" punishment😂Good luck with that lady..Good luck😂🤣😆
My moms gonna KILL me if she saw this review
Mrin rn
May 5, 2025
As a college educator for over 20 years, I look at books as gifts. As opportunities. As an experience. And I have always found the best experience usually starts with a children's book.
This book has been popular since my kids were little. So, it has entertained and helped lots of kids through "angry emotions" to know they always have a safe place back home. So, yes, even though Max misbehaves, his subsequent adventure lays bare his youthful wish to have some kind of control over his world. The general idea is knowing, there is still peace that can be made, and love is still available to be received, and we can get through those difficult emotions.
Another great learning-teaching moment about dealing with emotions that can be discussed with kids - either by teachers or parents with a wonderfully illustrated book.
This book has been popular since my kids were little. So, it has entertained and helped lots of kids through "angry emotions" to know they always have a safe place back home. So, yes, even though Max misbehaves, his subsequent adventure lays bare his youthful wish to have some kind of control over his world. The general idea is knowing, there is still peace that can be made, and love is still available to be received, and we can get through those difficult emotions.
Another great learning-teaching moment about dealing with emotions that can be discussed with kids - either by teachers or parents with a wonderfully illustrated book.
June 27, 2022
Se lo vi a mi hermanita y me dije porqué no. Pues fue un ni fu ni fa.
Aunque evidentemente no soy el público al que va dirigido.
Aunque evidentemente no soy el público al que va dirigido.
June 3, 2024
Just read this again - a very old friend. I can remember reading this book when I was a small boy; I think I even thought that some of these characters might be living under my bed when the lights went out! Have read this book to small children and am always amazed at how they connect with the characters - a childhood treasure!
February 21, 2021
And the moral of the story is be a jerk to your mom??!
I don't get it.
I don't get it.
June 19, 2012
Where the Wild Things Are
What's the moral of this story? Some might say Sendack's work is a testament to the unbridled powers of a child's imagination. Others would posit that the true virtue of Where the Wild Things Are stems from the reversal of a timeless power dynamic in which monsters frighten children. In Sendack's carefully rendered world, monsters submit to the whims of children, which appears to suit Max well enough. I assume it works well for other children as well. If you can't convince snot-nosed brats that monsters don't exist, at least you can convince them that monsters are friendly. Children, after all, are like neo-conservatives. You can only reason with them on their own delusional terms.
Here's the summary:
Max is an asshole. His mother calls him a monster, so he flies into a cannibalistic rage. She sends him to his room without dinner, which doesn't seem to be the best of ideas since he just threatened to eat her f*&% face off, but whatever. This book isn't heralded as a classic because of its promotion of high-quality parenting techniques. I'll get to that in a moment.
I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the story of Max and the early years of Siddhartha. Both starve themselves until they hallucinate. But the similarities end there. Siddhartha realizes that his approach to transcendentalism is misguided, and he eats once more. Max, on the other hand, starves himself for a night and trees grow in his room. Then he proceeds to get on a boat and fast for an entire year, at which point he starts seeing giant monsters.
The fact that these monsters cater to his delusions of grandeur--cowering in his presence and sharing his flesh-eating inclinations--lets us know that Max has externalized his fantasy world through strict fasting. On one hand, I respect this kid. I can rarely push through four days without wheat before the weekend starts and I pack in 80lbs of corporate-grown meat and bleached bread. On the other hand, what the hell is this book teaching our children? I'll tell you.
That middle finger means "I was raised on Sendak!"
Aside from self-imposed starvation, the book teaches children to give up on their aspirations as soon as the slightest temptation arises: "he smelled good things to eat so he gave up being king." It sends the message that those who love you would just as happily rip your entrails out and feast upon them as soon as you decide to leave: "Oh please don't go-we'll eat you up-we love you so!" And, finally, it shows them that parents' threats are temporally limited, and eventually love will cause them to cave in. At the end of the story, Max returns to his room "where he found his supper waiting for him." Way to be strong, mom. Pushover.
I bet Satan loves this book.
What's the moral of this story? Some might say Sendack's work is a testament to the unbridled powers of a child's imagination. Others would posit that the true virtue of Where the Wild Things Are stems from the reversal of a timeless power dynamic in which monsters frighten children. In Sendack's carefully rendered world, monsters submit to the whims of children, which appears to suit Max well enough. I assume it works well for other children as well. If you can't convince snot-nosed brats that monsters don't exist, at least you can convince them that monsters are friendly. Children, after all, are like neo-conservatives. You can only reason with them on their own delusional terms.
Here's the summary:
Max is an asshole. His mother calls him a monster, so he flies into a cannibalistic rage. She sends him to his room without dinner, which doesn't seem to be the best of ideas since he just threatened to eat her f*&% face off, but whatever. This book isn't heralded as a classic because of its promotion of high-quality parenting techniques. I'll get to that in a moment.
I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the story of Max and the early years of Siddhartha. Both starve themselves until they hallucinate. But the similarities end there. Siddhartha realizes that his approach to transcendentalism is misguided, and he eats once more. Max, on the other hand, starves himself for a night and trees grow in his room. Then he proceeds to get on a boat and fast for an entire year, at which point he starts seeing giant monsters.
The fact that these monsters cater to his delusions of grandeur--cowering in his presence and sharing his flesh-eating inclinations--lets us know that Max has externalized his fantasy world through strict fasting. On one hand, I respect this kid. I can rarely push through four days without wheat before the weekend starts and I pack in 80lbs of corporate-grown meat and bleached bread. On the other hand, what the hell is this book teaching our children? I'll tell you.
That middle finger means "I was raised on Sendak!"
Aside from self-imposed starvation, the book teaches children to give up on their aspirations as soon as the slightest temptation arises: "he smelled good things to eat so he gave up being king." It sends the message that those who love you would just as happily rip your entrails out and feast upon them as soon as you decide to leave: "Oh please don't go-we'll eat you up-we love you so!" And, finally, it shows them that parents' threats are temporally limited, and eventually love will cause them to cave in. At the end of the story, Max returns to his room "where he found his supper waiting for him." Way to be strong, mom. Pushover.
I bet Satan loves this book.
March 16, 2008
The classic. I would take this on a desert island. So much to explore and interpret in the words and the pictures. I'm afraid my girls don't like the book as much as I do. But sooner or later, they'll come around.
I see quite a few people complaining about Max being a little shit and not learning a lesson in "Where the Wild Things Are." Well, guess what, a lot of kids are little shits. And I believe Max did learn a few things on his journey. Sometimes it's not so good to be the king. Even with all his power over the wild things, he still missed home. And even when he's bad, he can count on his Mama. That's a lesson in appreciating what you got. It's too bad people have to be so one-dimensional about children's books -- but given the amount of 4 & 5-star reviews this book gets on Goodreads alone, I'm certain the naysayers are way off the mark... Anyway, just had to say that.
I see quite a few people complaining about Max being a little shit and not learning a lesson in "Where the Wild Things Are." Well, guess what, a lot of kids are little shits. And I believe Max did learn a few things on his journey. Sometimes it's not so good to be the king. Even with all his power over the wild things, he still missed home. And even when he's bad, he can count on his Mama. That's a lesson in appreciating what you got. It's too bad people have to be so one-dimensional about children's books -- but given the amount of 4 & 5-star reviews this book gets on Goodreads alone, I'm certain the naysayers are way off the mark... Anyway, just had to say that.
June 10, 2013
Like a gremlin crouched in the back of a dim cave, Where the Wild Things Are lay on my cousin's bedroom floor. My cousin was in kindergarden and I was being babysat by my aunt, busy in the kitchen downstairs - might as well have been miles away. The bedroom shades were drawn, the house quiet, the room empty. That book with its-its things in it called to me. I'd never seen anything like it. My books had colorful, happy animals that didn't make me feel this way....what was this feeling? Was this what was known as fear? And what were those things? Were they, maybe, those things called monsters? I'd not fully experienced fear before, perhaps because I'd not put a face on it. I crept closer. Those faces looked mean, ferocious. I stopped in the middle of the room, neither advancing towards the book, nor fleeing. I was terrified...and I loved it!
Appendixed!: It's Maurice Sendak's birthday today. (Thanks Google!) If he hadn't died last year, he would be 85 now....85 crusty old years. Right around the time he died NPR was playing archival interviews of him. It was the first time I'd heard him speak. I could've done without the experience. I have nothing against his voice, rather the things that come out of his mouth. The man was curmudgeonly to the core it seems. I can be a bit of a pill myself sometimes, so I should cut him some slack, but I was surprised by his grouchiness. I suppose I always assume children's authors are bright, cheerful sorts. Heck, they write happy little stories about colorful, good-hearted characters that usually come out on top. How could such stuff come from a sourpuss? Well, Sendak was proof that it can. Hm. That's funny. I'm 40 and I'm still learning things from children's lit.
Appendixed!: It's Maurice Sendak's birthday today. (Thanks Google!) If he hadn't died last year, he would be 85 now....85 crusty old years. Right around the time he died NPR was playing archival interviews of him. It was the first time I'd heard him speak. I could've done without the experience. I have nothing against his voice, rather the things that come out of his mouth. The man was curmudgeonly to the core it seems. I can be a bit of a pill myself sometimes, so I should cut him some slack, but I was surprised by his grouchiness. I suppose I always assume children's authors are bright, cheerful sorts. Heck, they write happy little stories about colorful, good-hearted characters that usually come out on top. How could such stuff come from a sourpuss? Well, Sendak was proof that it can. Hm. That's funny. I'm 40 and I'm still learning things from children's lit.
January 19, 2021
I just cannot believe what I just read!
Totally amazed me with the unusual illustrations!
I haven't read a children's book with such kind of illustration depicting the wild imagination of a kid with such innocence.
It is just suitable for very young kids.
Less words.
More pictures.
The sequential art is the highlight of this one.
But...
I just felt it was too short. Just too short!
I need more.
Totally amazed me with the unusual illustrations!
I haven't read a children's book with such kind of illustration depicting the wild imagination of a kid with such innocence.
It is just suitable for very young kids.
Less words.
More pictures.
The sequential art is the highlight of this one.
But...
I just felt it was too short. Just too short!
I need more.
October 19, 2015
Let the Wild Rumpus Begin!
August 10, 2018
3.5 Stars
Small fry was utterly enchanted, and I think we both loved Max’s unbridled excitement. The whole story reads like a love-letter to childish imagination.
But Max was also a mean little snoot who threatened to eat his mother and was a little tyrant to the Wild Things... jussaying
Kid Lit Experiment 2018 #7
Small fry was utterly enchanted, and I think we both loved Max’s unbridled excitement. The whole story reads like a love-letter to childish imagination.
But Max was also a mean little snoot who threatened to eat his mother and was a little tyrant to the Wild Things... jussaying
Kid Lit Experiment 2018 #7
June 9, 2008
Another 5 star! Man, I'm getting generous. You guys just keep bringing up stories that KICK TRASH! This is the greatest children's book in the history of time as far as I'm concerned. And I'll tell you something WICKED AWESOME about it that I figured out when I researched it for a play adaptation I wrote. **GET OUT THE COPY OF YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK RIGHT NOW**... Flip through the pages, and notice that on the first page the artwork is a small rectangle... then it grows larger and larger on every page, until the forest takes up one entire side by itself... then as Max sails on the ship it begins to creep into the other half of the page... and grow... and GROW... getting wilder and wilder until the Wild Rumpus Dance (made up of six solid pages of GORGEOUS artwork, NO WORDS)... then Max decides he misses home... and the artwork shrinks... and shrinks... until the last page, which contains no artwork at all, but simply the words, "and it was still hot." Subconsciously, your mind goes on this fantastical journey into the extreme creative right brain where there are no concrete thoughts or language, just drug-trippy monsters and mayhem... then it returns just as abruptly. IS SENDAK A FRIGGIN' GENIUS OR WHAT???? Man, I love that guy.
July 12, 2011
Through a Child’s Eye
(A Book Review of Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are)
I’m glad that I recently scored a vintage 1963 edition (pictures here) of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are in Booksale during one of the mini Meet Ups with my Goodreads-The Filipino Group friends. I breeze through the book in a matter of minutes while waiting for them, and right there and then something just hit me. Without a doubt, it certainly earns its place as a classic storybook of Children’s Literature.
Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of the rascal Max, who dresses up in his wolf suit and causes trouble enough to make his mother order him to go to bed without supper at all. As the title alludes, the picture book shows a child’s unbound and limitless wild rumpus of an imagination exhibited when Max reaches deeper within his imagining and sees his room transformed into a forest inhabited by the Wild Things — roaring and gnashing monsters with yellow eyes, sharp teeth and horns — where he, by a mere stare, can tame and be the king of them all.
I think what endears every child who reads Sendak’s picture book is that most of them can identify with Max’s feeling of resentment, that though he had had his share of fun out of it, he eventually grows weary and lonely, permitting him later on to go back to the place where he most wants to be and appreciate the most important thing he left behind: the need to feel loved.
At home, after a tiring yet fun-filled day with friends and before hitting the sack, I’m still at it, staring mesmerized by Sendak’s impressive work of art with its muted colors and cross-hatchings, that looks like sketches, add further magic, energy and excitement to every kid who reads it they would love to be in the shoes of Max, playing with the Wild Things on their “wild rumpus” where they can howl at the moon and swing from tree to tree in bold celebration of all the wildness they possess.
I rue the fact that I stumbled upon this picture book well into my manhood, but it definitely touched something in me — the book has this uncanny ability to enchant itself to the nostalgic memory of childhood, rekindling its innermost emotions. It’s as if I’m seeing the world again through a child’s eye.
Nevertheless, this is a book worth keeping — for every reading always brings a new perspective, a nuanced view of the book’s message — which I will one day read to my future children and let them discover for themselves a world of their own creation; a world where the wild things are, where only they has the power to tame.
_________________________
Book Details: Book #24 for 2011
Published by Harper & Row, Publishers
(Hardcover, 1963 First Edition)
42 pages
Read on: June 15, 2011
My Rating: ★★★★★
[See this review on my book blog Dark Chest of Wonders and for many others.]
May 2, 2025
It wasn’t necessarily a read-to-me favorite at my house, but it was one that my girls liked looking at. When they grew up and we cleaned out their childhood books, I didn’t have the heart to donate this one. I think it was mostly because it was one of the first books my girls wanted to “read” without me.
Five stars to a book that was a visual favorite.
Five stars to a book that was a visual favorite.
March 22, 2009
Of all the books I read my kids, and there are many, this is my favourite to perform.
It is so easy to turn Where the Wild Things Are into a a big, rollicking tickle fest, and I am never able to resist the urge. When those Wild Things show up with their "terrible roars" and "terrible eyes" and "terrible claws," I attack my kids with everything I've got until they are reduced to quivering masses of giggled out jelly.
And Max, the King of the Wild Things, is one of the coolest kids in any kids book ever. Sure he's being too much of a "Wild Thing," which gets him sent to bed, but he's not your modern kid. There's no brattiness and entitlement. Just a cool kid getting a little crazy on fun before being sent off to bed and a great adventure in his dreams.
And when he comes back from his adventure he finds his dinner waiting for him...and it's still hot.
Super cool fun for you and your kids.
It is so easy to turn Where the Wild Things Are into a a big, rollicking tickle fest, and I am never able to resist the urge. When those Wild Things show up with their "terrible roars" and "terrible eyes" and "terrible claws," I attack my kids with everything I've got until they are reduced to quivering masses of giggled out jelly.
And Max, the King of the Wild Things, is one of the coolest kids in any kids book ever. Sure he's being too much of a "Wild Thing," which gets him sent to bed, but he's not your modern kid. There's no brattiness and entitlement. Just a cool kid getting a little crazy on fun before being sent off to bed and a great adventure in his dreams.
And when he comes back from his adventure he finds his dinner waiting for him...and it's still hot.
Super cool fun for you and your kids.
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