Where The Wild Things Are

Title: Where The Wild Things Are
Author: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Harper Collins    
Date of Publication: 1963
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Genre Designation: Children’s Fantasy
Readability Lexile: K-2 (ages 5-8)

Summary:
Our main character Max causes all sorts of crazy adventures when he decides one night to put his wolf costume on, which ended up with him in his room with no dinner.  Once inside of his room, Max was surprised to find a forest growing which soon overtook his entire room.  Max was suddenly on a voyage exploring the forest along with the “scary” wild monsters that kept surprising him along the way.  After awhile Max began to grow tired of being the king of his forest, and sent his wild things away without dinner.  Max left too, but this time he went back to his own room without the forest.  Not only did Max find his bed, but he also found his dinner, which was still warm. 

Evaluation:
I enjoy this story because it shows an entire cycle of behavior.  The story shows Max choosing to misbehave, which in turn results in him being sent to his room.  Once Max is sent to his room, we as the reader join Max inside his imagination as a way of calming himself down.  I believe that the author Maurice Sendak does an amazing job of using Allegory within this story.  We can see this literary element by comprehending the story in different ways.  One way that we can understand the story would be in its literal terms, which would be that it was about a boy who got sent to his room, played with some monsters and then came back to his room and ate his dinner.  Another way the story could be interpreted which may be more of a symbolic manner would be that when we are upset we can go away to where we are the king or queen, and return when we are calm and ready.  The story also uses the element of hyperbole and the idea of exaggeration throughout the story.  This can be seen when the author is describing the wild things or the surroundings of the forest. 

Illustrations:
One of my favorites parts of this book were the illustrations.  The reason being because they allowed the reader to get lost within the story as well.  The illustrations a great combination of dark and mysterious yet they are not scary for the reader.  There is a break in the book were it is just illustrations with no words, which I think is magnificent.  It allows the reader a chance to build the story on their own, and to play with Max and the monsters all while reading the story. 

Mini-Lesson:
We will be working on the idea of analogies within this lesson.  The first step will be for each student to make their own monster using brown lunch bags and then decorating it with different art supplies that will be set out for them.  Once this is completed the students will then start the next part of the lesson which is a short writing prompt.  On a 1/2 sheet of paper it will say, “When I feel wild I...” the student will complete the sentence and draw a picture.  On another 1/2 sheet of paper it will say, “When my monster feels wild it...” the student will complete the sentence and draw the picture. We will then turn the monsters into mobiles by using string and construction paper.  The students will then share either with individually with the teacher or in front of the class how they and their monster’s actions compare, how are they alike and different.  These can now be hung from the ceiling or sent home.