Let The Wild Rumpus Begin!

"Max said, 'Be Still!' and tamed them with the magic trick of staring into all their yellow eyes without blinking once, and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all and made him KING of all wild things." -from the book, Where the Wild Things Are

As a child I found the classic book, Where the Wild Things Are, completely delightful! In college, I studied Sendak in a Children's Literature course and became enamored by the genius of author/illustrator Maurice Sendak! Then, sharing the book with my own children and having them discover Max and adore the Wild Things was another thrill.

Finally, this book, so sparse on words but amazing illustrations, becomes a full length feature film; another watershed event! Yes, I was a skeptic if it would work... but the movie, Where the Wild Things Are, exceeded my expectations! Truthfully, I was leery about the book-to-movie project until the opening credits. Once I saw it was produced by Tom Hanks and Maurice Sendak...instant relief! I knew Sendak would make sure the film didn't lose the magic and brilliance of the book!

The book still captivates me as an adult! Who doesn't lose control and become a "wild thing" every now and then? Who hasn't made mischief and screamed "I'll eat you up!" (or worse) to someone they love! Who doesn't want to run away sometimes! And who wouldn't love to take on our greatest fears and stare them down until they fear us! But, when all is said and done, it can be lonely at the top (as Shakespeare said: "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."); so who wouldn't want to be able to go home again and find their dinner still there (and still warm)!

Anyone who hasn't acted out like Max, wanted to escape like Max, or turned their surroundings into an enchanted forest like Max is missing out on some of the greatest parts of life, namely, letting your imagination run WILD! And, anyone who hasn't come home again, is missing out on discovering what LOVE is all about! (sidebar: check out Karen O singing "All is Love" for the movie soundtrack - awesome!)

"Inside each of us is a wild thing." -from the movie trailer