Where the Wild Things Are

By Maurice Sendak

Copyright 1963 

Winner of 1964 Caldecott Medal

My childhood copy of Where the Wild Things Are

Max is a little boy with boundless energy.  One afternoon, Max’s mother gets a little fed up with his rambunctious behavior and calls him “Wild Thing”.  His temper gets the best of him, and after talking back to his mother, he is sent to bed without his supper.  

Besides his boundless energy, he also possesses a very active imagination.  Max imagines adventures on an island far away where he becomes King of all the Wild Things.  After a “wild rumpus” in the forest Max becomes sleepy and loneliness sets in.  

“The wild things roared their terrible roars 

and gnashed their terrible teeth and

 rolled their terrible eyes 

and showed their terrible claws but

 Max stepped into his private boat 

and waved good-bye.”

Happily, when he sails back home from his adventure, he is welcomed by his familiar, comfortable bedroom and his still warm supper.

Like Max, it’s easy to let an angry attitude get the best of us.  Take a lesson from Max, and next time that happens, go off by yourself for a little while and let your imagination take you somewhere fanciful.  Maybe someplace where you have more control over your life.  Or maybe just a place where you can hear the lapping waves.  Then, step back in your boat and head home.  The cause of your anger will still be there, but you should have a little more patience to deal with it.