Banned Books Week
Day #4: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This beloved children's book is also 1964's Caldecott medal winner. Nationally recognized and yet- banned!
The reason for the banning: Banning reasons for Where The Wild Things Are really run the gamut. The book includes such erroneous things as: Max throwing a tantrum, him going to bed without supper, and of course his imaginary friends promote witchcraft and supernatural events. Critics claimed the book was dark and disturbing, saying it gave children nightmares. Obviously that didn't last long because now I think it's hard to find a nursery without it this classic!
The reason for the banning: Banning reasons for Where The Wild Things Are really run the gamut. The book includes such erroneous things as: Max throwing a tantrum, him going to bed without supper, and of course his imaginary friends promote witchcraft and supernatural events. Critics claimed the book was dark and disturbing, saying it gave children nightmares. Obviously that didn't last long because now I think it's hard to find a nursery without it this classic!
Recently I chatted with my sister Marissa about the book. She is the assistant managing editor of a children's magazine called the Friend. And she's pretty much a wizard (oops that's probably frowned upon by banned book fanatics!) at all things pertaining to children's literature and print media. She shared many cool thoughts so I asked her to guest blog today!
Here she is:
"What’s the big deal with this book, anyway? If you’ve ever asked that question—or been afraid to because you might be gobbled up by wild thing groupies—don’t feel bad. I spent years in the child lit industry before I finally gained an appreciation for what some people call the best picture book of all time.
The story revolves around pajama-clad Max, a young boy who gets sent to his room and travels to an imaginary land where he is made king of the wild things. After quite the wild rumpus, he ends up back at home, finding a hot dinner waiting for him.
I never disliked the book, but it was never my favorite. When I started working in the world of publishing, I decided I needed to figure out just what the magic was all about. I mean, I know grown adults who continue to claim it as their favorite book! It’s inspired sequels, movies, spin-offs, clothing, and stuffed animals for decades now. Finally, I asked colleague and author Mackenzi Lee, who studied the book in grad school, to enlighten me.
“It was one of the first picture books to be neither moralistic or super-happy-sunny-childhood-yay!” she said. “It engaged with darkness and the idea that children experience darkness in their lives, same as adults. Instead of hiding children from that, we should teach them and give them the tools to deal with it.”
Hmm. The more I thought about that, the more I saw the value of Max’s adventure. I looked up Sendak’s Caldecott speech (which Lee described as “freaking lovely,” and I have to agree), and was drawn to this quote:
"Certainly we want to protect our children from new and painful experiences that are beyond their emotional comprehension. ... That is obvious. But what is just as obvious—and what is too often overlooked—is the fact that from their earliest years children live on familiar terms with disrupting emotions, fear and anxiety are an intrinsic part of their everyday lives, they continually cope with frustrations as best they can. And it is through fantasy that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they have for taming Wild Things."
FOR TAMING WILD THINGS. Cue mental “click” moment. Like, I get it.
I thought of the ugliness in today’s world, and the many children who are undoubtedly confused and angry and scared on a daily basis. Instead of these wild emotions consuming them, unchecked and painfully raw, wouldn’t it be great if each child became king over their inner rumpus? With the power to command their internal claws and teeth to BE STILL? Acknowledging that the wild exists, but confident in their power to reconnect with those who love them “best of all” whenever they’re ready?
I’m still mulling over these ideas, reading the book anew through this lens of shifting understanding. I’ve learned a lot about the book’s history—how Sendak struggled with his own darkness from the Holocaust, and how the book was originally supposed to be about wild horses. How, when it was published in the 1960s, it received mixed reviews, but won the Caldecott and is now considered groundbreaking. The more I read, the more I’m grateful that Max and his wild things are part of our lives. He’s a mischievous, courageous, hungry little kid, and I see myself in him more often than I expected.
Who knows, this might just become my favorite book ever."
A big thank you to Marissa! So many great ideas to think about. For this book I created my own version of Max's hooded pajamas and crown.
You can find the listing in my Etsy shop here
Pattern credit:
Hat- Sarah Zimmerman of Repeat Crafter Me basic hat pattern, plus my own ideas.
Crown- "Princess Crown" by Fashion Crochet Design
