We've taken a couple of weeks to complete this one, due to a holiday that fell on a Monday, and a rare visit from beloved family that fell on a Friday. Additionally, this lapbook required a goodish deal of work on the prep work - lots of cutting; and we did some inking; and because there are a number of components to it, I've been trying to figure out how we are going to assemble the layout of the thing. But it's fabulous, and we've enjoyed it immensely, and can't wait to finish it up!
Hands DOWN, this was my FAVORITE book as a child. Funny... I was just thinking how my parents probably don't know, and never knew, that. That seems a little sad to me. I sure hope I remember 'the little big things' about my children.
It was SO my favorite, that I bought this book for my child while she was still an infant. I MEANT my daughter would grow up with this classic!
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Most of you read, or had read to you, this beloved children's book, too. Many of you love it as much as I did, but for those who aren't familiar, I will give a short summary:
This book, both written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, is brilliant - start to finish. The illustrations are SO rich and creative, that this book won the Caldecott Medal in 1964. (For those who don't know, the Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.)
But the story is brilliant, too.
What I love is that there is a much deeper lesson to be learned here besides, "Don't act up. Being wild isn't fun all the time." Granted, this is what most probably get out of it. I know, as a child, I got little more than that - I did glean, without being told, or it being expressed within the book, that Max must have had some remorse for screaming at his mother. But, again, there IS a deeper lesson here, and I wish an adult in my life had shared that with me. I've certainly shared it with my daughter.
That lesson is about how we should act toward others, and the importance of words we use when speaking to others.
In the story, after his mother has scolded him, he screams at his mother, "I'll eat you up!" and he doesn't mean it in a cute or a nice way. He's really ticked at his mother, and these words can be interpretted as on the verge of a threat.
Then, off to his room he's sent, where, shortly thereafter, he sets sail on a magical journey. Once he arrives at his destination, it is interesting to note that he is almost immediately put in charge of the wild things. A perceptive parent will make a connection here, because at home, it is clear that Max is a little boy who has some degree of problem with the authority of his mother. In this magical world, HE is 'in charge'.
What does he do as King of the Wild Things? He's wild, of course, and encourages this behavior of the Wild Things (which, I'm sure wasn't so hard for them to do) ;-)
Over time, Max *does* tire of being in this place; of being in charge, and of doing what he wants... of being wild. He's hungry. He's sort of lonely. And, having expended all this 'wild energy', he's now spent. He's quiet, and reflective (as reflective as a young boy could be, I suppose). He decides he's ready to go home, because he wants to be 'where someone loves him best of all'.
"Ahh," we parents say (and some children think). "He misses his Mommy."
But Mr. Sendak brilliantly takes the story to a deeper lesson, (if only you'll catch it) in my humble opinion...
When Max announces he is leaving, the wild things are not a happy bunch. They want him to stay. And then they tell him so, using words mighty familiar to Mr. "Wild Thing" Max:
"Please don't go! We'll eat you up! We love you so!" (emphasis mine).
Remember in the beginning of the story, when Max screamed at his mother that he would eat her up?
Well, I think that Max got a taste of his own medicine, there. He heard those words back, from these creatures who claimed to love him. I think he might have realized that those words just aren't loving words. I think he got to see that, even when we may not even mean ugly words, that it still stings to hear them said to us, and just maybe, he realized that he shouldn't be saying those words, himself. To anybody. Especially his mother.
The book doesn't take the story in this particular direction - however, I think it promotes excellent conversation with our littles about what is appropriate behavior, what isn't, and why we must choose our words carefully with everyone... especially those we love.
Perhaps I have over-analyzed this for you; if so, I apologize. But whether you choose to take a discussion of this book into a deeper direction with your child, or not... it's just a truly delightful read, for parents and children, alike.
Again, I've always loved this story. In fact, I love Where the Wild Things Are even more NOW, as an adult, and as a Mommy :-)
And my daughter loves it, too!
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