Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak wrote and illustrated Where the Wild Things Are in 1963. This book is a classic and a Caldecott Medal winner. I remember this book from my youth and now enjoy sharing it with my children.

Max is like any child, in which he is mischievous. When sent to his room without supper, a forest grows in his room and he sails away in a private boat, "...in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are." Max manages to tame the wild things and become their king, until hunger and loneliness gets the best of him. He returns home to find his supper waiting for him in his room, and it is still hot.

There are several pages in this book of illustrations without text. Wordless books (or sections of books) are great for children to fill in the details and tell their own story within the author's story. If you have children, you've probably experienced the wild things in your home, and helping children connect the literature to their prior experiences and knowledge facilitates comprehension and learning.