FESA Staff's Favourite Book: Where The Wild Things Are

Happy 2024, everyone! To kick off the new year, we are starting a new series of posts. This new series will highlight favourite children's books from FESA's staff. Maybe our love of these books will encourage you to check them out or share them with a loved one.

Our first book is Where the Wild Things Are, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak in 1963. Where the Wild Things are is a classic, and was adapted in a film back in 2009. And, while Where the Wild Things Are isn't exactly an unknown, book; its popularity is well-earned.

“When Max dresses in his wolf suit and causes havoc in the house, his mother sends him to bed. From there, Max sets sail to an island inhabited by the Wild Things, who name him king and share a wild rumpus with him. But then from far away across the world, Max smells good things to eat...”

My personal experience with Where the Wild Things Are is that it has always been around. I attended a story time reading of it at the Calgary Public Library when I was a kid. What I found engaging about the book was how it captures the power of a child's imagination. The worlds kids create, and the excitement of play.

Growing up and reflecting back on the story beyond Max's journey to The Land of the Wild Things, Where the Wild Things Are, is a wonderful introduction to emotions like anger, fear, and love, and healthy relationships and communication.

Maybe try pulling your copy off your shelf, or if you don't have one you can always borrow it from the Calgary Public Library, put on your favourite wolf PJs, and read aloud to your child with the monster's voices.