2. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

 


Sendak, M. (1984). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper & Row.

 

This is a story about Max.  Max is causing mischief and his mother sends him to bed without supper.  Max’s imagination kicks in and his room transforms into a forest.  He sails on the ocean in a boat to where the wild things are.  The wild things try to scare Max, but he tames them and becomes their king. Then the “wild rumpus” begins. They dance and play.  Max sends them to bed, and he begins to miss his home.  He waves goodbye to the wild things and sails back across the ocean to his room.  He finds supper waiting for him.

 One possible theme of the book is 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 the reality of being sent to his room without supper.  He conquers the “Wild things” and has no one to answer to: he can do what he wants. When the wild things go to bed and everything is quiet, Max begins to miss home and the love and structure that is there with his mother.

I did a search on activities to go along with this book.  There were many art project ideas like mask and sculptures.  I found one idea where students write a sequel to the book. Max returns to see the wild things again, this time as an older child. This is a link to a site with ideas and lessons on using the book across all curriculums.

https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/where-the-wild-things-are

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