Parents' Guide to

Where the Wild Things Are

By Mary Dixon Weidler, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 2+

Classic all-ages masterpiece has a wild imagination.

Book Maurice Sendak Fantasy 1969
Where the Wild Things Are Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 4+

Based on 12 parent reviews

Katherine R.
Katherine R. Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
June 17, 2024
age 3+

Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Parent of 5-year-old
December 23, 2021
age 13+

Welcome to the Space Jam

See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Wild child Max gets sent to bed without his supper after threatening to eat his mom. Well, he'll show her, right? In his room -- or, at least, in his mind -- a forest grows. Max boards a ship that takes him across oceans and days to the home of the wild things, which threaten him with snarls and claws and eye-rolling. Does this frighten our little wolf-boy? Of course not! Max hypnotizes the monsters, who declare him the most wild thing of all. Max joins in on the fun but quickly bores of the new adventure and sails back home -- to find supper in his room, still hot!

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12 ):
Kids say (19 ):

This wonderful book is arguably Sendak's best work -- and one of the true classics of children's literature. Perhaps the most appealing element is the wordless series of illustrations in which, after Max begins the "wild rumpus," he and his new friends dance and cavort through six pages of some of the most whimsical, enchanting, and unique artwork in children's literature. The message of unconditional parental love is reassuring to young ones and a perfect ending to the story.

There's a reason why this won the Caldecott Medal. Sendak's giant monster characters are iconic. While they are described as scary in the book, their faces and lumbering frames make them appear almost jovial. You can almost feel the room shake when you watch them cavort in the forest. Max and his new friends dance and cavort through six pages of some of the most whimsical, enchanting, and unique artwork in children's literature.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Max's behavior. Why does Max act the way he does?

  • If he loves adventure so much, why does he go back home to his parents?

  • Which is your favorite of Max's monster friends?

Book Details

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