Wild Thing! (Where The Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak)

Member Name: sambam000

Product:	Where The Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
Date:	20/06/09 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Classic book.

Disadvantages: None.

Being keen to start building up a library of books for my son from an early age, I turned to some of the classics I enjoyed as a child (probably more for my own gratification than anything else!). This in turn got my husband reminiscing - the most outstanding being, in his opinion, 'Where The Wild Things Are'.

Personally, I had never encountered this book. (Where have you been I hear you cry!). My husband is American, so I put it down to the fact that it must have been more popular across the pond, where indeed it was first released over 40 years ago. I bought the book anyway, keen to see what all the fuss was about!

I bought the hardback version, which is a large oblong book. The pages have very little writing - perhaps only a line or two, & the writing is large so that children can read it easily. The main thing about the book are the illustrations. They take up most of the book & are beautifully drawn.

The story covers a young boy who is sent to bed without any supper for being naughty. His bedroom then transforms into another land & he sails away to where the wild things are, where he becomes their leader. He finally sails back home (after what we're led to believe is years), back to his bedroom where he finds his supper waiting for him...and it is still hot.

The magic of the book is the perception by young children as to whether the story is real or was just a dream.

I have to say, after all the hype from my husband, I was expecting more from this book. But then again, I didn't experience it as a child when it would have seemed much more enchanting. Hopefully my son enjoys it as he gets older.....

Price-wise, it's quite expensive. RRP £12.99, with Amazon selling it for £11.69 (price correct @ June 2009). Paperback edition also available.

(Also published on ciao under the same username).

Summary: Expensive for a childrens book.