Greetings, Readers!
This week
I read a book that has been part of my most-loved book list since I was a kid.
Maurice Sendak wrote and illustrated “Where the Wild Things Are” (1963). This beloved
fiction book won the Caldecott Award in 1964. Its beautiful illustrations are
instantly recognizable, and the plight of Max is relatable to anyone who has
ever gotten a little too wild in their playing. In the story, Max is playing
make-believe, and when his mother cautions him to calm down, he tells her he
will eat her up. He is sent to his room without supper. There, he falls asleep
and dreams of being king of the land where the wild things are. However, even a
king misses his mommy, and when he wakes up he sees that she has brought him
his dinner. They both may have gone a little overboard, but they both
realize it and make peace. It is a great read aloud in the classroom, simply
to enjoy a wonderful book. Most children love “Where the Wild Things Are”, and
I think this repeated passage describing the monsters is part of the reason
they do:
“They
roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth, and rolled their
terrible eyes, and showed their terrible claws.”
When I read this story aloud, I ask
questions like, “How does Max’s character change from the beginning to the end of
the story?” and “What can you infer about Max’s dinner being in his room for him
when his adventure is over?” “What can you infer about Max missing ‘someone who
loves him most of all’?”
Happy reading, Wild Things!
Mrs. Ingersoll
This book has a great story line. It is very creative in its journey that the boy goes through. Your questions at the end of this post are great questions to ask students to get them thinking during and after the story is over.
ReplyDelete