Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. NY: HarperCollins.

Max is a mischievous little boy. He gets in trouble with his mother and is sent home without supper. As he paces in his room, a jungle begins to grow around him. He jumps on his boat and floats the isle of wild things. When he arrives, he becomes their king and the wild rumpus begins. After a few pages, Max begins to smell some wonderful cooking. He decides to return home on his boat and back to his room where he finds his supper waiting for him.

The book Where the Wild Things Are is a great example of plot. Max's story begins with his acts of defiance that land him in hot water with his mom. The author uses this inciting incident to develop the story. Max's room begins to grow and change into a forest. He meets the wild things after traveling for an undefined amount of time. He dominates the wild things and becomes their king, but when he smells the wonderful smell of his mother's food, he abandons the isle and returns home to his supper. The story has a beginning, middle, and end that are linked together by an amazing story. The author used less than 200 words to create this very loved book. In the book Where the Wild Things Are the evaluative criteria of character is exemplified. Max is a young boy with a rebellious streak. He has talked back to his mother and has been punished for it. This event makes him instantly relatable to the reader. The reader remembers having done something like that or at least wanting to, and can sympathize with the character. The reader is then carried along on an adventure with Max that eventually leads him back home to his warm bed and supper.