Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Genre: Fanciful Fiction
Themes: Imagination, Emotions
Grade Level: K-2
Curricular Connections: Physical Education (Large Motor Skills), Health (Dealing with Feelings), Writing (Patterns in Prose and Poetry)

Max, dressed like a wolf, is angry because his mother has sent him to his room without any supper for acting like a monster. In his imagination, Max transforms his room into a jungle and sails away on a ship in and out of days to the land of the wild things. The monsters with their too large eyes and claws are going to "eat him up!" Max is able to tame them, and they declare him the king. Max declares a wild rumpus, but when it is over, he decides to go back home. So he leaves the land of the wild things, and sails in and out of days back to his room, and then he goes down to dinner where it is waiting for him, still hot.

Classroom Suggestions:

1. In physical education class, you could create your own wild rumpus. The teacher can call out movements for the students to perform such as "stomp your feet."

2. Students can discuss what makes them angry, and how they act when they are angry. Teachers can then lead a discussion about healthy ways we can deal with anger. Students can write or draw a picture of a healthy way to act when they are feeling angry.

3. Students can write or draw a picture of another adventure Max might take when he is sent to his room again. If writing, encourage students to use the author's writing technique of repetition.