In the forty years since Max first cried "Let the wild rumpus start," Maurice Sendak's classic picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. Now, in celebration of this special anniversary, introduce a new generation to Max's imaginative journey to where the wild things are.

Get on your wolf suit and join Max for a wild rumpus adventure! Many parents will remember Where The Wild Things Are from their own childhood, while more kids are recognizing it today because of the recent movie that has come out. But, as in most cases, nothing beats the book! This classic is a winner of The Caldecott Medal for The Most Distinguished Book of the Year. A great book for beginning readers, the words are not overwhelming on any page, good sounding-out words, and maybe a few new ones for your child to learn. The heavily stenciled pictures grow in size with Max's imagination. The first few pictures are contained in a small box in the middle of the page, but as Max travels farther from home the pictures grow to take up three quarters of the page. After Max arrives in the land of the wild things and is named king, the pictures completely overtake the pages in full colored two-page spreads depicting Max and the Monsters wild adventuring.

Max's strong personality and unabashed imagination will easily encourage your children to join in his adventure, conjuring up the wild land in their own minds, experiencing how much fun frolicking with the wild things is, and undergoing the challenging travel between home and the land of the wild things. This may give your child an idea the next time he or she is told to go to their room and think about what they've done - will they really reflect, or will they escape to an imaginary exotic land like Max? Be prepared for questions about whether or not this land really exists. For some young ones the wild things may seem scary at first, but hopefully over time they will realize how much fun Max had with them, and be able to conquer that fear.

I remember my mom reading this book to me when I was just four years old. I wanted to read it together since it was my big brother's favorite book, but then the monsters scared me so bad that my dad had to lay with me until I fell asleep. I took a year hiatus from this book, but when I braved it again I was thrilled with the adventure - no longer afraid at all!

--Audra