I wrote out a very lovely post about the book Where The Wild Things Are but it got deleted so I’m just gonna ramble on for a few.
I love books. I loved books growing up, I was a bit of a hermit and books were a way to explore the world without actually leaving my house. I’ve always hoped to pass that love of books onto my daughter and was getting a little worried when she didn’t became an instant fan at the age of 1 but I am happy to tell you that Where the Wild Things are has ignited her passion. We bought it a couple of weeks ago and have read it at least 3 times a day ever since. She already knows most of the words and I just love the way she pronounces “Tewible” so cute.
My Evangeline is a Wild Thing at heart and I love how this book lets her explore that Wild side of her but at the same time teaching her that there is a time to put it away. My favorite line
“After a while Max wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.”
Eva’s favorite line is
“They gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.”
I remember when my 3rd grade teacher read us this book in class. I never had the book at home but just hearing it that one day in class had left a lasting impression on me.
I fell in love with Maurice Sendak when I heard that he said he would tell parents to “go to hell” in an interview when asked “What do you say to parents who think the Wild Things film may be too scary?” I also love how he says “We don’t want children to suffer. But what do we do about the fact that they do? The trick is to turn that into art. Not scare children, that’s never our intention.”
With that being said Eva has not seen the movie yet because I do want to see it first, mainly because I don’t want her to have nightmares and she is still only 2 after all.
What are some of your favorite childhood books that you have been able to pass on to your children?
Shannon says...
Hello!
My son loves Goodnight Moon. He loves it so much that we might need to get a new one soon, because it’s almost falling apart it is so worn!
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Keith Wilcox says...
Goodnight Moon was a good one. My best friend’s favorite was always Where the Wild Things Are. He keeps a copy of it in his desk to this day even though he doesn’t have any kids
My favorite was Dionysus and the Pirates. I don’t know why I liked it so much, but the kids adaptation had great art. I think it was just a matter of familiarity more than anything.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Jill says...
We need a new copy of Goodnight Moon as well. She hasn’t been interested in it in a while but I now she will come back to it!
February 5th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Mom says...
I just did the same thing you did. I some how deleted the two long paragraphs I was typing. Bummer!
I was telling you about how we went to the Santa Ana Public Library the same on I went to as a child with my mother and sisters. I asked about books I used to get there not knowing the authors name or book titles. The department looked the same to me and a library worker was seated behind an old wooden desk. Do you remember that day? I told her the books characters were animals and the covers were all orange. She told me the author is Thornton Burgess. I did not have a library card for Orange Co. A few years ago your dad and I were in a used book store in Oregon and I found one. I will show it to you soon. Your blog helped me remember I have it. I did not share my love of these books with you. I want to with Eva though. He wrote hundreds of books for children about Old Mother West Wind, her children the Merry Little Breezes and all the woodland animals who have the cutest names like Sammy Skunk. Thanks for the memories.
February 7th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Jill says...
Can’t wait to come over and see them. We are overdue for a visit. You did pass some of your favorites onto me though. Except for Nancy Drew I never could get into that one.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Heidi says...
THE LITTLE PRINCE. THE LITTLE PRINCE. If you’re not familiar with this book, check it out. I plan to have children simply so I can read it to them. Also, anything by Roald Dahl.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:36 am
angry mother says...
Hi, just came across your blog, and am enjoying reading it.
Believe it or not, Where the Wild things are were one of my favorites, I can’t believe it’s done the rounds for so many years. As I didn’t grow up in the US, many of the books here are unfamiliar to me, but I am getting introduced to the now by my kids.
My youngest like a lot of UK stories, like the Gruffalo and Charlie and Lola.
I am passing down my love for Roald Dahl, the Narnia Chronicles, the house on the prairies, Anne from Greengables to my daughter. Can you imagine getting to read all these great books for the first time – I am jealous:)
take care
angry mother
February 12th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
WarsawMommy says...
Well, I’m a bit limited as I live in Poland, and bookshops (even here in the capital) don’t have a brilliant selection for kids. Having said that, my Dad bought my sons some great kids books back in Canada: a selection of Dr. Seuss books (LOVED them as a kid), and I picked up some Robert Munsch online (‘Love You Forever’ is a big hit around here). I think I may try ‘Where the Wild Things’ are in a year or so – must buy it online, though!
February 17th, 2010 at 1:56 am
Eddy says...
Where the wild things are was one of my favorite books when i was young. Remember getting dad to read over and over again.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Unplanned Cooking says...
My boys love that book. It both terrifies and delights them.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:55 pm
TORI says...
My 6 year old son LOVES all Cat In the Hat/ Dr. Seuss books. I am sooo glad. I loved them too when I was a child.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:59 am
seekingelevation says...
Hi there,
Great post, even if the original is lost in cyberspace. My almost-three-year old went through the requisite Goodnight Moon phase as well, which I had never read as a child. To my sheer delight, he spent a good year or so obsessed with anything by Richard Scarry. I’m hoping for a sharp turn towards the classics, like some good Sylvia Plath or Hemingway, but right now he’s seriously into anything about sharks.
http://seekingelevation.blogspot.com
February 28th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Erik Nelson says...
Thought maybe your readers with “little ones” might enjoy this clip.
It is a delightful new series set in 1890 San Francisco about a little cable car finding his way in a big cable car world.
http://www.cubbietown.com
Cheers!
Erik Nelson
http://www.cubbietown.com
http://www.cubbietown.blogspot.com
March 9th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Misa says...
I love books, too! My favorite, and the first one we bought our kids, was Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. (yeah, Tori!)
Do love Where the Wild Things Are, too.
So many good books!!!
March 9th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Jackie J says...
As fans of your site and book reviews, the HarperCollins Children’s Books publicity team would love to get direct contact information and work with you in the future. I understand that you cover primarily children’s picture books. Can you confirm this so that we can send you books that are suited for your site?
March 15th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Misa says...
Love the books. Just saw the movie and hated it.
March 16th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Bingo Reviews says...
I have loved books since I’ve been able to read. I always remember reading, where the wild things are. It’s a classic and I’ll never get sick of reading it. The movie definitely did a bad job portraying the book, but no ones prefect I guess.
April 6th, 2010 at 1:38 pm