Promotional Information

The original and much-loved children's classic, a best seller since 1967

About the Author

Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

Reviews

Sendak is the daddy of them all when it comes to picture books - the words, the rhythm and the design are all wonderful.
*S Magazine, Sunday Express*

The greatest picture book ever written
*Guardian*

Gripping, ingenious and uplifting . . . a shrewd, fierce, healing book
*Independent*

A timeless masterpiece. The illustrations, the fabulous monsters, the beautiful cross-hatching, and the surreal, dreamlike narrative beckons the reader to join the adventure. The themes are perfect for inspiring discussion on confronting life's scary things, mastering your fears and being brave, letting off steam, saying goodbye, and the comfort of returning home safe and sound
*Child Education*

An almost-perfect picture book stuffed with mischief, magic and meaning . . . Has a haunting depth that makes bedtime reading thrilling, a little scary, but also empowering
*Junior*

This is my never-fail picture book. The text is very short, but utterly perfect, the illustrations are tremendous
*Jacqueline Wilson*

The key to Sendak's success, and to the continuing hipness of his book, is that it's hero is not a good child . . . the book is, in fact, extraordinarily childcentric, a book written for and about terrible infants, the kind of terrible infants that most children really are and that all adults remain for much of the time
*The Times*

One of the best picture books ever – so it is not at all surprising (though lucky for me) that the wild things are in a very wild wood. The story follows the pattern of the old fairytales: the young hero goes into a forest that is genuinely frightening. But thanks to his own courage and independence, he earns a kingdom and comes home to a hot supper. It is one of the few modern and original children's books.
*The Guardian*