Book Description

In the forty years since Max first cried "Let the wild rumpus start," Maurice Sendak's classic picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. Now, in celebration of this special anniversary, introduce a new generation to Max's imaginative journey to where the wild things are.

Winner, 1964 Caldecott Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)
1981 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Illustration
1963, 1982 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1963, 1982 (NYT)
A Reading Rainbow Selection
1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Children's Books of 1981 (Library of Congress)
1981 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing 1988 (NY Public Library) ... Read more

Reviews (195)

A Great Children's Book, in Many Ways
Max puts on a wolf costume and feels mischievous. He breaks some rules and is sent to bed without supper. From there, his imagination takes over, a jungle grows in his bedroom, and he goes on a magical journey of (self-)discovery. The world he explores is populated by colorful, scary, and somewhat silly monsters who all get tamed by Max.

This book is beautifully illustrated, the story flows rapidly and flawlessly, and the language is simultaneously simple and loaded with meaning. While it is unlikely to happen, watch out for your children trying to write like Sendak, with his trademark run-on sentences.

This is the first book I remember reading by myself. It holds a special place in my heart.

Wow! I think that any child can sympathize with Max as he just wants to do what he wants to do, and then gets in trouble for breaking the rules. We also can understand how his frustration and anger cannot be sustained in the face of parental clarity, consistency, and calm strength. He works through his anger during his "journey" through the "jungle" and tames himself as he tames the monsters. Along the way, he discovers how lonely he is and how much he dislikes disapproval. The ending is simple, happy, and realistic.

This is a great book to read with your children, and then turn over to them to read on their own. It opens the door to discuss many simple but crucial issues of childhood. Please buy this book and use it.

Wild About Wild
Maurice Sendak is one of those great children's book creators who could write and draw. He helped me dream as a young boy, and I should pay him credit for helping me imagine things today.

When I was little, I'd stare at the page long after my mother finished reading it to me. Sendak seemed to have found my creative pulse, as he drew me in to wonder about his world of pretend monsters. The monsters are not quite so terrible, and could be considered friendly.

Max and I are both boys, and it must ordinary for we boys to get in a terrific amount of trouble in the process of playing. I related to Max. He sounded like a real boy. I was never quite sure what a rumpus was, but I knew it sounded like a lot of fun.

The pictures are cool. There is a rich, full-of-flavor tension in the art. The expressions and poses of the characters come across as genuine.

Don't be fooled by the amazing pictures. You'll enjoy the carefully laid story just as much, and your child can close his eyes and imagine his own version.

A wonderful book. A classic. If you've got kids, or if you read to your family's or neighbor's kids, this is one book which will be dog-eared from numerous reads.

I fully recommend "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak.

Anthony Trendl

not as good as new books
I am almost 7 and my teachre said we have to say why we like a lot of books or do not like a lot of books this summer on amazon and then print out them and give them to our new teacher next year So I am starting with this book.

My dad reelly likes this book because he said it was good when he was a kid. I dont like it. The pictures are boring and the story is not long. My dad reads this to me a lot and I like the books that are newer. New books have pictures that are pretty and the storys are funner and longer. This book has pictures that look old. I wish my dad would read this to himself and let me read something diferent. Nichole

the book I loved best as a child.
My love affair with Maurice Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are" goes back further than I think I can remember. I fell hard for the vibrant prose and unbelievable illustrations. It is a beautiful book throughout and it has absolutely withstood the test of time.

I am twenty-four years old now. I love this book as much as I did the first time I read it. This book speaks to places in the heart and the mind that you sort of forget about as you age. It's a magical book, it never fails to transform me.

Long live King Max....and all of his beautiful monsters.

Great book!!
I took a children's literature class a few years ago in college and I am now expecting my first child and I remembered this book and have recently purchased it. It's absolutely wonderful!! ... Read more

Book Description

This 4-volume boxed set contains an alphabet book, a book of rhymes about each month, a counting book, and a cautionary tale all written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Includes the titles Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup with Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre. (Titles available separately in library and paperback editions.)

Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)

Reviews (11)

A Must for any child's library
My mom bought this for me when I was a child and we read them so much we wore them out. The second set she bought was for my children and we are well on our way to the third set. Nutshell means just that - child sized books that look just like Mom sized ones. We read all four 'lil books' every night. Your kids will love them too.

Delightful Series Exploring ABC's, Months of The Year, etc.
I re-discovered this collection two years ago, and took a very fond walk down memory lane - I loved these as a child. My two-year old recently became hooked, and I have now had the exquisite pleasure of revisiting "Chicken Soup with Rice", "One was Johnny", "Pierre", and "Alligators All Around" on a regular basis. With the same arch humor and sly drawings that Sendak brought to "Where the Wild Things Are", the four books in the Nutshell Library entertain as they instruct. The rhyming pattern makes it very easy to memorize (I've gotten to be a whiz at reading in semi-darkness circa bedtime...) - in fact, my daughter can "read" almost all of "Chicken Soup with Rice" now by associating the rhymes with the pictures. This collection is a rarity in children's books - it's fun for both kids and parents! Plus, it easily fits into a purse or diaper bag to take along on trips - whether to the supermarket, or Grandma's. And the kid-sized volumes are a delight for small hands. DON'T MISS IT!

Memories of a lifetime
I heard these books put to music when I was in first and second grade, and they have stuck with me and allowed me to teach them to my children. Finding them in book form is just amazing. These books are classic and belong in any child's library.

The joys of repetition
If you have children you know that they love to hear the same stories over and over and over again. If you are a good parent you'll be required to read the same books night after night after night. Some books can take it, others you'd put in the shredder if you had one handy, and were devious enough to blame the children themselves for losing it. To our shame, some of us have been that devious.
The Nutshell Library, however, can be read a thousand times and each time the reader finds truth, beauty, life lessons, and the best darn rhymes around. Even a shy parent finds the ability to read with verve and feeling, night after night after night. My personal favorite is Alligators All Around, unless I happen to be reading Pierre.

Nutshell Library
I remember reading these books some 40 years ago & I still can remember some of the rhymes. I loved them then but couldn't find them anywhere. So now I'm getting them for my grandchildren and great-nieces & -nephews to enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

Maurice Sendak's beloved Where the Wild Things Are, winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal, is now available in a newly revised Spanish edition exclusive to Harper Arco Iris. Spanish speakers and listeners will now be able to join Max as he sets sail and becomes king of all Wild Things.

Reviews (7)

Spanish, Yes! English, Yes! French, NO!
I like this in English, LOVE it in Spanish and deplore the French translation.

The spanish moves along smoothly, neatly matching the english yet retaining enough of its own flavor so that it's not a painful literal translation of the original (see: Cat in the Hat for awful translation).

The french translation is so bad I couldn't get more than a few pages in before I lost it in crankiness. Results in a very different feel/flow.

As a kid, I loved it!
I have the English version, but I love this book! The story line is cute, and the artistry is spectacular!! It makes you feel that even though you may be small as a child, you can be as big as a monster!!

just as fun in Spanish
I was afraid the text would be too long or the pictures too scary for my 4 month old to enjoy this, but I was wrong. She thinks it's great, and we love looking at the monsters together.

One of our favorites!!
I bought this book because, although I'm not completely fluent in Spanish (yet!), I wanted to expose my son to different languages. I love Where the Wild Things Are, so this seemed an obvious choice for us. The story is wonderful and imaginative. The illustrations are some of the best in children's literature. Some of the pages in the book have no narration. Only pictures. So it appeals to younger book enthusiasts who aren't quite old enough to read. One of the best additions to your home library you'll ever find!

Beautifully written and a lovely story.
I have two copies of this book, one given as a present by my sister and one bought by my wife. This is one of the loveliest books I have ever read to my children. At some moment, I felt my voice tremble and almost started to cry. It's kinda cinematographycally written and ilustrated. The characters - the mother and the boy - are very well described, and this is a typical situation that happens to everybody, that's why this is a so lovely book. Everybody should have it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When asked, Maurice Sendak insisted that he was not a comics artist, but an illustrator. However, it's hard to not notice comics aspects in works like In the Night Kitchen. The child of the story is depicted floating from panel to panel as he drifts through the fantastic dream world of the bakers' kitchen. Sendak's use of multiple panels and integrated hand-lettered text is an interesting contrast to his more traditional children's books containing single-page illustrations such as his wildly popular Where the Wild Things Are. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

God Bless Milk and God Bless Me!
Maurice Sendak is one of my very favourite children's authors and illustrators. However, I wasn't introduced to "In the Night Kitchen" until my husband insisted we buy it for our child. He loved it when he was a kid and loves it still (by the way, and this may be irrelevant, he's a great cook).

The story is about a little boy whose dream takes him to the Night Kitchen where the bakers are making the morning cake. The bakers have a glitch and Mickey is able to come to the rescue. And of course, Mickey is the reason why there are delicious things to eat in the morning (hooray for Mickey).

The whole idea of bakers working in the wee morning hours creating yummy things for our breakfasts is an intriguing idea and one that isn't talked about very often. However, those croissants, bagels, and delicious pastries are made in "Night Kitchens" the world over. This book, besides being entertaining, is actually educational.

The illustrations are vivid and are reminiscent of big cities (like NYC). The style is bold and engaging. Yes, Mickey is nude sometimes but I don't feel the drawings are graphic. Unless you have strong feelings against any portrayal of nudity, don't let that put you off. The book is certainly is worth a read (and you can always preview it before you share it with your kids). You may love it as we do.

I liked it
I remember reading this book as a child and I have to say that I was neither disturbed by the nudity nor frightened by anything in the book. we must remember that Sendak is writing for children and as much as we hate to admit it adults often have no idea what will or will not frighten a child, at the same time each child is very different and what may frighten one child may not affect another in the least. From what I can tell children at a young age do not think being naked is a bad thing and the idea of playing in cake batter is a pleasent idea.
When it was read to me I was not at all embarrassed that Micky was naked in fact to me that was just part of the fun.
A children's story should be written for the audience and I think that Sendak possesses an incredible talent for telling the stories that children will love. And the really important part after all is that the child loves it.

we bake cake! and nothing's the matter!
Mickey is a fantastic throwback to the lovely lovely adventures of Little Nemo In Slumberland, an illustrated comic in American newspapers during the early 20th century. Like Little Nemo, Mickey's adventures drift from panel to panel in a dreamlike trance. The cooks who look like Oliver Hardy always struck me as the best part of the book; as well as Mickey floating in the giant bottle of milk as his little dough plane disintegrates.

Why do people find this book controversial? They are the same people who fear and have stifled the powers of their own imaginations. We have all had strange dreams like this, and Sendak has beautifully captured those sleepy moments. Why are they bothered by Mickey's state of undress? Who cares?

This is a wonderful book!!
My mother read this book to my sisters and I many times when we were children. I still love it! I have bought it for all of my friends who have children. Lesser known than "Where the Wild Things Are", but just as wonderful.

Neat story and great illustrations
I bought this book for my yet to be born child because my husband and I love cooking and we liked "Where the Wild Things Are". I really liked the story and the illustrations are wonderful.

It was noted in the other reviews, but I will mention it here as well that in select frames, Mickey is naked and does have a penis. If anyone has any concerns about this with reading it to their children they should probably find a different book. ... Read more

Book Description

‘Each month is gay, each season nice, when eating chicken soup with rice.’

... Read more

Reviews (23)

A great way to learn the months
This is a book of poetry about the months of the year. It goes through each month and has a cute little poem to go along with it. I love this book because it is a really fun way to learn the months and the poems are very creative. The author's purpose for writing this book was to give children a fun way to learn the months. The children can also learn things about poetry and rhythm through reading this book.

a good swingy rhythm for reading aloud
This is a great little book to read aloud- it has a nice rhythm as well as good repetition that little ones like, in the lines about "chicken soup with rice". The child gets to go through the months of the year and go to wonderful places like Bombay and down the Nile, all the while, eating, well, you know what they get to eat. Some kids will have Maurice Sendak's version of ice skating or how to treat roses in their heads for a long time and they won't even know where it came from. Surprise! It came from this little witty book. :-)

Can't explain why
This book has been a favorite of mine since I was able to read. It was one of my first introductions to poetry, and the humorous rhymes have been an inspiration to me in my own writing. This is the type of book that college students reminisce about and bond over--it really is that simple and good.

Chicken Soup For the Funny Bone
This is a short and sweet little book that can be read in just a few minutes, but every minute will be filled with fun! In cleverly silly rhymes Maurice Sendak takes us through the twelve months and thoroughly entertains us with his characteristic illustrations featuring the little dark-haired boy we've come to know in some of his other stories. The non-sensical inclusion of "chicken soup with rice" in all of the rhymes makes the months all the more memorable and easy for kids to recite, a great little device. The paperback edition is very affordable but I suspect you'll love this one so much that you'll want the hardcover in your library.

In December it will be, my snowman's anniversary...
My daughter loves all the "Really Rosie" books. She was introduced to the Really Rosie CD performed by Carole King (also available on Amazon!) on her 1st Birthday and now, a year later, she knows all the songs. As far as the books go, we own: One Was Johnny, Alligators All Around, & Chicken Soup w/Rice. These books are well written with clever art work by Maurice Sendak. Plus, they are really cheap!! Highly recommended :) ... Read more

Book Description

Why do the storks no longer come to the little Dutch fishing village of Shora to nest? It was Lina, one of the six schoolchildren who first asked the question, and she set the others to wondering. And sometimes when you begin to wonder, you begin to make things happen. So the children set out to bring the storks back to Shora. The force of their vision put the whole village to work until at last the dream began to come true.

Winner, 1955 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)
1963 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

Reviews (21)

Each time I read this book, I love it more.
This is so much more than the story of a group of school children trying to bring storks to their Dutch fishing village on the North Sea. It is a story of people - people everywhere. It is a story of how important people are, irregardless of their age, physical condition, or how they make a living. It encourages us to go beyond what we see on the surface. It shows us that when we help others and care about others, good things will come to us. The children originally wanted to lure storks to their little village because the storks were said to bring good luck. Little did they know that storks would send good fortune ahead in the form of new-found friendships, help for others, and a community that came closer together than it had been before. Miendert DeJong does a masterful job of telling the story and providing strategically planted links as the events take place and unfold. I am an elementary teacher in Cabarrus County, NC. I have read this book to my children each year for many years. When I ask my new class if anyone has heard of the book, no one raises a hand. By the time we finish, the children feel like they have been right there with Lina and the boys. They have also grown to realize that Janus was far from being the mean old man that they met at the beginning. They realize that he just needed to be needed. Each time I read the book, I see more and I learn more. Don't read this story just once. You will be walking over a hidden treasure.

Breathlessly exciting!
Ok I'll admit I was very skeptical. The premise does seem a bit dry. School children band together to find a wheel to put on their school and attract storks....I was not excited by the prospect. Thank goodness I decided to read it aloud to my children anyway! Some parts of this book are so exciting and suspenseful that I literally had sweaty palms during the reading.

And just because it is a rousing good tale doesn't mean that there aren't some wonderful life lessons to be learned by it as well. Perserverance. Friendship. And the reality the EVERYONE has something to offer to common good. This is a timeless story with appeal to all ages. Grown-ups will enjoy reading this aloud as much as their children will enjoy hearing it. I confess....I read to the end because I couldn't wait for the next read-aloud session.

The most stupidest book I have ever read!
This book is so boaring. I mean storks! Thats for like 5 year olds. This book is for people who like nice calm books. This book doesn't even have have any action,unlike Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the Angel series. If I reccommened any books i reccomened Charmed, Angel, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer books.

A Classic Story With Heart and Soul
Meindert DeJong's literary voice is one of a old man sitting on a bench telling this charming tale with realism and character. This story takes you away to Shora, a small, fishing village where life has a pace of its own. The characters, mostly children, develop fully within the context of this inspiring story about their determination and ability to change their world. It is definitely one of those books you read furiously and hate to have end.

Wow
My title sums up my feelings about this book. The name "The Wheel On the School" sounds too much like a child's song than a Newbery Medal. When I started reading it though, I was hooked. It has a very original plot and is written by a great writer (He has won the most Newbery Medals and Honors ever). The basic plot: a girl named Lina goes to a school in Holland with five other kids. She decides to try to get some storks to come to her village, and all the school kids try to help her. I would highly suggest this book to anyone who does not mind reading a book this long. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Any collaborative effort by the esteemed Charlotte Zolotow and the illustrious Maurice Sendak is bound to be a success. These beloved creators of countless children's favorites outdo themselves with this 1963 Caldecott Honor-winning classic about a little girl in need of assistance. Finding a birthday present for her mother is no easy task for our heroine. Luckily, she happens upon the avuncular Mr. Rabbit, whose heart is in the right place, even if he doesn't always have the best ideas. Ultimately, his suggestions do come in handy, and between the two of them they determine the ideal birthday tribute: the gift of color. Children will join the protagonists in contemplating how to make the abstract tangible, and all readers will be delighted to see yellow translate to bananas, as green is given in pears, and blue takes the shape of grapes.

The soft, muted colors of Sendak's illustrations are reminiscent of a Monet landscape--utterly appealing and dreamy. And the reflective, sing-song dialogue between Mr. Rabbit and the girl is as deliciously lulling as a shady swing in a hammock. This quiet, peaceful book is a treasure for any shelf. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A lovely bedime story
As a student at West Virginia State College I was required to view a Calecott honor award winning book. I chose this book because of the beautiful illustrations. A little girl asks the assistance of Mr. Rabbit in deciding what to get her mother for her birthday. Mr. Rabbit suggests some rather foolish gift for each of the colors the little girl says her mother likes. He suggests such things as a red roof and a blue lake. Each time he also suggest a fruit of that color. The little girls says her mother likes that fruit but she needs something else. After they go though a few colors the little girl relizes she could make a fruit basket. Mr. Rabbit says he has a basket.

The perfect picture book for bedtime or rainy days
This was my favorite book when I was little. The dialogue, which follows a clearly-defined pattern without being repetitive, and the gorgeous illustrations are calming without being boring. Now that I am expecting my first child, I am thrilled to see that this classic is still in print.

A beautiful book - both the idea and the illustrations!
This book has been a favourite in my family for about 30 years! The central idea of the book is simple and heart-warming, and is demonstrated in an almost hypnotic formula throughout the text. This means that, after just a few pages, the child being read to can join in and have the satisfaction of guessing correctly part of what is coming next. The theme is one which can be applied in the child's own life, and from my own experience, I can promise that it stays with you for a very long time. The illustrations are beautiful; as far as I know, they are quite unique in Mr Sendak's output. They add meaning to the text, and help to make this a classic. I would recommend reading this to anybody from 3 to 7 (and any adults who happen to be around!). ... Read more

Book Description

Grandmother likes Little Bear's picture so much she sends him a thank you kiss. "Will you take it to him, Hen?" she says. Hen passes the kiss to Frog who passes it to Cat who passes it to Little Skunk until Hen decides there is too much kissing -- and finally gives the kiss to the Little Bear.

Reviews (4)

A wonderful book for bedtime
My son, 2 1/2, loves Little Bear from the cartoons on Noggin and was thrilled that we found these books to read to him. He often selects this book (or one of the other Minarik books) from his bookcase at bedtime for my wife or I to read to him. The stories are brief but entertaining and the illustrations are rich and engaging. The books are a bit flimsy and I would prefer that they be available in a more durable format but that is a minor issue compared to the wonderful content of these books.

cute story for beginning readers and/or Little Bear fans
This story about Little Bear is a charming introduction to the world of reading for beginners, especially for those who are already familiar with this gentle cub and his friends. Little Bear is a sweet child to his mother and father, and a good friend to Duck, Hen and Cat. Minarik's simple narrative will be easy enough for young readers, and Sendak's illustrations will hold their attention.

In this story, Little Bear draws a picture for his grandmother, and asks Hen to take it to her. When Grandmother sends a kiss back to Little Bear, Hen carries it until she sees some friends, then she passes it along to Frog, who carries it until he sees a pond and passes it on to Cat .... This is a fun story with a few simple lines and large illustrations on each page. Kids will enjoy the funny ending (and so will you).

My daughter showed real interest in learning how to read
My daughter is 5 years old . She watches Little Bear on T.V. and wants to learn how to read this book because of the show . I will buy more of these books soon as long as she is interested in them . I will also buy them for my niece and nephew as well . I really like the easy to read words that don't discourage kids from wanting to learn to read .The paperback books are easy to take with us . Thank you ,

One of the cutest books I've ever read
This book is cute and funny! The way the animals pass on the kiss and little bear receives it makes this story one of my favorites. The Little Bear series is one of the best. ... Read more

Book Description

Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. At night she helps him get to sleep. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday.

Reviews (12)

Little Bear is Awesome!
This book is great for kids just learning to read. The pictures are fun to look at, and kids will have fun reading the book. I thought it was a good idea to put different stories into one book so kids can choose what the want to read on their own.

a favorite at our house
Our daughter is 2 1/2 and loves all the stories in this book. She asks to have Little Bear for her bedtime story several nights a week. She even acts out some of the stories in her pretend play and "does" the things that Little Bear does, like going to the moon and making Birthday Soup. This book is certainly a family favorite.

Little Bear
This book is about a little bear that goes outside and plays in the snow. He also goes to the moon and meets a moon mother. On his birthday he makes birthday soup for his friends because he thinks his mom forgot it was his birthday. He has trouble going to sleep so he makes wishes and one of them come true. Then they talk about all of the events that already happened in the story. The lesson this book teaches is that you should have fun and listen to your parents. THE AGE LEVEL IS UNDER 7

four charming Little Bear stories
These four stories about Little Bear and his friends are a charming introduction to the world of reading for beginners. Little Bear is a sweet child to his mother and father and a good friend to Duck, Hen and Cat. Minarik's simple narrative will be easy enough for young readers, and Sendak's illustrations will hold their attention. The four stories are: What Will Little Bear Wear?, Birthday Soup, Little Bear Goes to the Moon and Little Bear's Wish.

A soothing alternative to ninjas and power rangers.

Sweet moments and memories
The lovely and sweet stories easily capture the attention of my three-year old daughter (who has English as her second language). The stories are beautifully read out, with wonderful background music. Almost every night my daughter and I listen to several Little Bear stories before she goes to bed. We will often discuss the stories afterwards. This is the closest and most cherishable moment between us. The unfortunate thing is that she is most unwilling to turn off the cassette player, which somehow often delay her time for bed. ... Read more

Book Description

Ms. Piggle-Wiggle's left her upside-down town house and has moved to a farm in the country. With the help of her cows and pigs and horses, she's still curing girls and boys of their bad habits. So whatever the problem-from pet forgetter-itis to fraidycat-ness-the parents all exclaim, "Better call Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle!"

Reviews (3)

Read this!
This is the last of the four Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books, but it was probably my favourite when I was little - I loved horses as a little girl, and these stories include a pony. My parents read the Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books when they were kids, and these books have been a family tradition.

The stories aren't coy about the fact that they set out to show how kids ought to behave, but they're so much fun that I don't think anyone minds that they teach a lesson. After all, who minds when Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is the teacher? These stories, unlike those in the other 3 books, are set on a farm, and teach kids about responsibilty, self-reliance, and trust. Read them if you have kids, read them if you don't have kids. Just read them!

A children's classic
I grew up reading the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series. I loved every single story and I still remember them vividly. They may be a little dated but the lessons are still current and they are still very amusing.

Excellent book. I'm ordering them for my daughter!
I remember sitting in the library when I was little reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books over and over again. I loved everyone one of her "cures" and now that I have a daughter of my own I want her to have her own copies of these classics from my childhood. ... Read more

Book Description

'A classic recording for children,' is what School Library Journal said about this award-winning recording. Also included on the tape are Outside Over There, In the Night Kitchen, and The Nutshell Library.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

"Please don't go, we'll eat you up, we love you so!"
I personally never liked Sendak's WTWTA. Or In the Night Kitchen. Or Chicken Soup with Rice. Or anything ever illustrated or written by him. So, I'm not a fan. Got it?

But WOW, was I ever wrong. I just didn't get it before, but listening to Tammy Grimes narrate and with the addition of Herr Mozart, it's like being transported into what must have been a fascinating mind who could write so well for children.

Buy this CD for your 4 year old + child with imagination to spare and he'll be begging for it. It's become a TREAT 'round these parts.

Even as adults, it's still amazing to me and my siblings
My siblings and I listened to this wonderful cassette as children and to this day treasure it. We have passed it's wonders onto our own young relatives and soon to our own children. It will stay with you forever for the words of Maurice Sendak make your imagination take flight and the voice of Tammy Grimes is so captivating; the best I have ever heard these fabulous stories read! The addition of the music of Mozart truly inspires the mind of children and adults alike.

A Wonderful Reading by Tammy Grimes
The Sendak stories read by Tammy Grimes capture the spirit and fun of the text and pictures without "talking down" to children. My kids have loved it from age 18 months to 7 (and counting). A wonderful interpretation of wonderful stories. ... Read more

Book Description

‘A vividly realistic story of China during the early days of the Japanese invasion [which tells of young Tien Pao’s journey to find his family].’ —C. ‘Valuable as enrichment literature for elementary students involved in Chinese studies.’ —Scholastic Teacher.

1957 Newbery Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1956 (ALA)
1956 Children's Book Award (Child Study Association) ... Read more

Reviews (8)

House of Sixty Fathers
I read this book aloud to my sixth grade reading class. They loved it, and always wanted to hear more. Its also a great way to introduce students to some of the history of China, Japan and US involvement in the war there.

My 3rd grade son loved this book!
Boys can be picky readers, so I always take notes if they actually love a book. My 8 year old carried this book everywhere and told be about it every night for a week. Besides Redwall or Harry Potter, this is the first book he has raved about.

Brought back memories...
I told my young son about what a good book this was when I read it growing up, encouraging him to read it as well. He too enjoyed it, and I read it again in my fifties. Excellent book, would certainly encourage children to read it. Now in his teens, we still use a memorable quote from the book, "the heart understands without words".

Great
It's a nice exciting book. You can't really stop reading it. The pictures are great. It is a book that you have to read before you grow up to much. I didn't like that book for one reason- it was really sad. Sad books are okay, but not that great unless it is very exciting but this was an exciting book. So let's aplaud for Meindert DeJong

Remembering 5th Grade!
I remember reading this book in 5th grade. The imagery and the writing was beautiful, not to mention the story. I recommend this book to all kids! It has a great sense of history and culture. In a time when video games and tv are taking over, it's a good book to sit with your kids to talk about the importance of family. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The fact that George MacDonald--a scholar as well as a preacher and writer--once read this fairy tale to his students instead of giving them a lecture says volumes about the man and his beliefs. It also says much about his faith in the power of stories. The Light Princess is a simple enough tale, clearly written for children--a princess at her christening is cursed by a wicked witch with lightness (she floats blissfully about the castle all day long, and gets into all sorts of adventures, as one can easily imagine)--yet it holds a powerful spiritual truth. Gravity, weight, sorrow, suffering--all of this the princess misses, but with all of these she misses love, for what is love without weight, without body?What is love without falling? She discovers this truth, of course, only at the last minute when a faithful prince loves her enough to die for her.

Sometimes it's not a ponderous lecture--or sermon--that we need in order to experience what incarnation is about. --Doug Thorpe. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My most beloved MacDonald book!
When I received this as a gift, I had already read and thoroughly delighted in "At the Back of the North Wind," "The Princess and the Goblin," "The Princess and Curdie," and "The Golden Key." When you read MacDonald, if your heart is right, you feel sheltered--the world he creates for you is as trustworthy and pure as C. S. Lewis's Narnia or Rivendell of Tolkien's Middle Earth. At the same time, you feel challenged to transform your own world and make it more like MacDonald's.

I was expecting another dose of the same awe-inspiring goodness without false piety or preachiness that is MacDonald's literary legacy. In "The Light Princess," however, there was an unexpected ingredient--a sharp wit that pervades the whole book and made me laugh out loud more than once. In a modern world where wit and vulgarity are viewed as conjoined twins, how satisfying a book this is! MacDonald infused delicious humor into his characters without losing the innocence. I fell in love with this book by page three, and it has surpassed "The Princess and the Goblin" as my favorite work of George MacDonald.

The fact that my favorite illustrator of all time, Maurice Sendak, added his talents to this book is icing on the cake. Sendak always grabs the heart and soul of the written work and renders it into drawings too evocative to be believed. The drawing of the prince with only his head above the water took my breath away, and in one fabulous illustration, the hilarious expression on the face of the gravity-deprived infant princess as she floats away reflects the hilarity of the story itself.

If some of MacDonald's other stories have turned you off because they are too long, too "deep" or whatever, don't miss this treasure as a result. It is MacDonald-Light, and by that I mean not only easy to read, but typically illumined with beauty and truth. Plus, it's a love story that pokes fun of its own sentimentality. Anyone not brain-dead and heart-numb ought to adore it.

bad characters, but good story
To start with i would like to say that i loved bothe the princess and the goblin, and the princess and curdie, so i have nothing agains mcdonald in general. i thought that i would love this book, and i liked the beginning, but after that it started to go downhill. the story wasn't bad, but most of the characters were. the king, even though it said he was kind, only showed meaness and cloesed mindedness. the queen was also closeminded and did nothing when her husband bullied her. and the princess only cared about her self. even though that was part of the curse, it still annoyed me that she could be so shallow. i have no idea what the prince saw in her. despite these faults the story still had a good moral and wasn't a totaly bad read, all in all it could have better, but it could have been a lot worse too.

Delightfully Whimsical Fairy Tale
George MacDonald was a Scottish clergyman of the mid-to-late 19th century, now known best for a variety of children`s fantasies, such as The Princess and the Goblin (recently made into a moderately successful animated feature), The Princess and Curdie, and the remarkable At the Back of the North Wind, as well as such adult novels as Lilith. Those are novels, but he also wrote some shorter pieces, perhaps aimed at a slightly younger audience (though very enjoyable for all ages). The Light Princess is one of these. (Another is The Golden Key: both books are available in very attractive Sunburst paperback editions, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak).

It is the tale of a princess who is cursed by a mean, jealous, witch so that she has no gravity. The book is full of puns, so MacDonald makes much both of her weightlessness, and the lack of gravity in her character. Naturally her parents are upset and try to have her cured, but to no avail (although the efforts of a couple of Chinese philosophers to provide a cure are rendered amusingly). However the Princess is quite happy with her "light" state (of course it is in her nature to be always happy). In the way of things, a Prince appears, and falls in love with the Princess. Then the witch realizes that her curse has failed to make the Princess unhappy, so she takes further steps, which are thwarted by the selfless behavior of the Prince, and which result in the Princess recovering her gravity: not an unmixed blessing, but one which her new maturity allows her to realize is best in the long run.

This is a delightful story, told with just the right mixture of whimsy and mildly serious moral comment. The characters are lightly and accurately drawn (the Princess` parents and the Chinese philosophers in particular, are delightful), and the story is predictable but still quite imaginative, with a number of nice touches to do with the Princess` weightlessness. Maurice Sendak`s illustrations are wonderful as usual.

MacDonald Magic
As a connoiseur of fairy tales, I consume en masse, but this George MacDonald classic stands out in my collection. Witty and sweet, this book was as appealing to me as an adult as it would be to any juvenile consumers with a glimmer of pixie dust in their eyes. Any child who loves C.S. Lewis's classic Chronicles of Narnia will delight in the author who fascinated and influenced Lewis in his own writing. MacDonald never writes to condescend, and thus he entertains all who read. The humor and twists in the story excite and enrapture, while the force of honest spirituality give it a lasting impetus and impact. The Light Princess is truly a nugget from the Golden age of children's literature.

Classic Fairy Tale "Light" + a Twist = a Must Read
Are you a George MacDonald fan (as C.S. Lewis was), a Fairy Tale fan (Do you still remember the funniest lines from "The Princess Bride"?), or do you just enjoy a good story? Then you will love this "forgotten" classic.

In this little book, MacDonald uses a classic fairy-tale formula: King and Queen forget to invite The Bad Fairy to the new baby's christening, bringing down the Bad Fairy's ire and a creative enchantment on the little princess - even while the author pokes tongue-in-cheek fun at fairy-tale convention. What complications does this enchantment bring to the royal household? Does anyone figure out how to break the spell? Does the prince (there's always a prince!) who falls in love with her ever have his love requited? Will there be a Hans Christian Andersen ending, a Disney ending, or something even better?

Other authors (such as E. Nesbit) have humorously played with the classic fairy tale plot, resulting in creatively entertaining stories; but none have done so as movingly as George MacDonald. His little story sneaks into the back door of your emotions, as its plot "twists" bring the story more depth than you were expecting.

Fun? Yes. Spiritually true? Yes. It is, in a word, wonderful. ... Read more

Book Description

In Nutcracker, the premier children's book illustrator of our time adds his own magic to a story that has long enchanted children and grown-ups alike. Maurice Sendak created this illustrated version of Hoffmann's wonderful tale, basing his illustrations on the sets and costumes he designed for a dance production staged by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

ignore the editorial reviews *and* the review below this
Maurice Sendak's lusciously illustrated edition of E.T.A. Hoffmann's _Nutcracker_ is the most thorough and engaging edition of the book I have seen. The story was interesting to me on one level as a child and it still captures my attention as an adult. It is not a black&white, good&evil translation--the grey areas are emphasized. I *will* agree with the review preceding this in that Amazon does need to clean up its reviews of this book! Please.

Fascinating, for every season
This book was a gift to my family when I was a child - I loved it then, and enjoy it more every time I re-read. The story is more than just the plot for a ballet. There is a lot of background, description, and insight included, and they do a lot to make the book fantastic. What elevates this work to magnificent is the artwork done by Sendak. It is lush, detailed, and beautiful. I can't say enough about the quality of this book, and urge everyone to find their own copy. This is not just a Christmas story, but a wonderful parable for every season ... Read more

Book Description

Little Bear meets Emily, a human girl, and her doll. ‘Once again Little Bear proves himself to be as wistful and tender a little creature as exists in the child’s library.’ —K.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

charming beginning reader
These stories about Little Bear and his friend Emily are a charming introduction to the world of reading for beginners. Little Bear is a sweet child to his mother and father and a good friend to Duck, Hen, Owl and Cat. Minarik's simple narrative will be easy enough for early readers, and Sendak's illustrations will hold their attention. The four stories are: Little Bear and Emily, about the friends' meeting; Duck, Baby Sitter; The Party at Owl's House, in which Lucy falls from a tree; and "Your Friend, Little Bear", about Little Bear's coping when Emily goes away for the school year.

A wonderful rediscovery!
I just found this book in a used book store recently and I am thrilled! I remember Little Bear so well from childhood. I bought the book and it proudly sits on my shelf waiting for the day when I have a child to share it with.

This book will give you warm fuzzys! Else has created a wonderfully warm, sweet and adorable book with cute characters.

You and your child will really enjoy it! Don't pass it up!

A childhood treasure waiting to be discovered
As a little girl in the early 1960's, Little Bear's Friend was one of my favorite books. What a joy to discover that this old friend is still available for my three year old daughter to enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on a Czech opera that was performed 55 times by children in Terezin, a Nazi concentration camp, Brundibar is an odd, urgent little tale of a brother and sister who are desperately trying to get their hands on some milk for their sick mother. They race to the village center, only to discover that they need money to buy milk. Unfortunately, all the money in town seems to be going to the nefarious hurdy-gurdy man, Brundibar. Enter three talking animals and 300 willing children (bearing balloons stating "WE DON’T MIND SKIPPING SCHOOL"), and things start looking up for little Aninku and Pepicek. Retold by playwright Tony Kushner and illustrated by Caldecott Medal recipient Maurice Sendak, this operatic story is just nutty enough to become a favorite for open-minded young readers. Sendak fans will smile to see the village baker, who bears a striking resemblance to the baker in Sendak's In the Night Kitchen. His chaotic, jam-packed illustrations reveal witty little subplots to the libretto text (written all in upper case), which sharp-eyed readers will enjoy discovering. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Nothing ever works out neatly...
A book sorely in need of annotation. Retold by Tony Award winning playwrite Tony Kushner and illustrated with grace and aplomb by Maurice Sendak (the thinking kid's illustrator), the tale of "Brundibar" is retold in an entirely new format. Originally an opera performed by the children of Terezin (a Nazi concentration camp) for those Germans who had to be convinced that everything was just ducky in the camps. The children were, needless to say, killed after the final performance of this piece, and so the opera is as light-hearted as it is chilling. In the plot, two children attempt to find fresh milk for their ailing mother. Only milk will do. But they are chased away by the nasty Hitler look-alike, Brundibar, and must gather their forces (some 300 children or so) to face up to the bully.

Sendak and Kushner have created a story that fulfills several needs. It tells a story that has links to horrors unimaginable. At the same time, they have created a whole new text that deserves examination. That and it's darned purty. The pictures in this book are amazing, filled with tiny details that make a person think. When the brother and sister gather 300 children with them for aid, a Kilroy character holds a sign saying, "People are happy helping. It's never hard to find help. It is only hard to know that it's time to ask". The fact that Kilroy is best associated with the American GI forces in WWII may or may not be important to the scene. At any rate, it sparks dialogue. The book is Sendakian in the extreme due to the odd combination of realism and outright peculiarity. The ice-cream seller is going to give me nightmares for months, I'm sure.

I don't think this is necessarily a book for children. And there is nothing wrong with that. Why can't we have a couple picture books in this world that are NOT for children? We have animated films for adults. And video games for adults. Why not picture books that tackle history and art in one fell swoop? That isn't to say that this book is inappropriate for children. It isn't. They may, in fact, be enchanted by the tale. But in the event that they are not, it comes as little surprise. Kids aren't going to grasp the eloquent scene of children flying on blackbirds away from their sobbing mothers. Or the black smoke that billows from the oven conjured up by the children's singing.

A problem with the book comes with the lack of further information about the story's origins. The story never directly says anything about Terezin, and the brief bookflaps only mention the incident in passing. Facts (that the children of Terezin died after the show, for example) are not gone into with any depth. An author's afterword, or perhaps some sort of note explaining what inspired this story, would be greatly appreciated. Similarly, the illustrations are filled with little details that would yield a lot of pleasure for readers if they understood their significance. When the children are banned to the alleyway and sit under newspapers, what do the newspapers say? What is "skola" as written on the fence in one scene? Is it significant that the milkman is from Mekos Dairy?

"Brundibar" isn't a perfect creation. But it's a necessary one. Even if you don't understand it completely, you should at least try.

Wow.
I think I'm qualified to say whether a book has real quality as a book for kids--this one does. The story is lovely, a straight-forward folktale/teaching story on the importance of working together to overcome adversity. The language glitters and charms, as anyone who has seen Tony Kushner's plays would expect. And Maurice Sendak's illustrations are his most lucid, enchanting and charming since In The Night Kitchen. My five-year-old loved it, loves the story of two enterprising children defeating an adult bully, and has asked to have it read for the past few nights, since we got the book.

The backstory of the book--the fact that it is based on an opera written by the children of Teresienstadt concentration camp--is hinted at very subtly. If one is aware enough to pick up the clues (ranging from a gateway that reads "Arbeit Macht Frei," like the entrance to Auschwitz, to the yellow stars marking Jewish characters, to the barely legible program from the premiere of the opera, behind a handwritten note), the story is there. I found it gave the story a depth and resonance that stayed with me. If, on the other hand, you don't know about it--I certainly wasn't going to point it out to my kids, just yet--the book still works beautifully.

All in all, this is a beautiful work from two of the most remarkable artists who have been active in American popular culture in the last fifty years.

Pretentious adults take note. Children beware!
An excellent book for the same pretentious, self-congratulatory grown-ups who give themselves little kisses of self regard for their Channel 13 memberships and who shiver with uncontrollable pleasure at the very mention of "culture," or "art." Children, however, will be, as mine was, and I was, bored. My child is too young to also have been repelled by Tony Kushner's fake, artsy-fartsy poeticisms that make reading the book out loud a tedius struggle, though he was not too young to have wondered, as I did, if an actual STORY was going to begin at some point. A good reliable general rule of thumb, especially where children's books are concerned, is that when critics fling about raves involving high school lit terms like "allegory" the cautious reader without a lot of loose pocket change will walk on by. THE WILD THINGS, for eg, is a great book that hasn't got much of a story story, but that has a LOGIC and a story type rythym and language that doesn't try to force the ball out of the park.

priceless
Over six decades ago, the opera Brundibar (Czech slang for bumblebee) was written. When the writer (Adolf Hoffmeister) was imprisoned by the Nazis in Terezin, the opera he and Hans Krasa wrote was smuggled into the camp. The children performed the opera; it kept their minds off the impending doom. The Nazis even filmed one of the 55 performances for a propaganda film, showing Terezin to be a model city for the Jews. Kushner and Sendak collaborated for over three years on this book, which recreates the opera in book form. At one point, Sendak even tore up all his drawings and started over. This is a masterpiece for children as well as adults. The prose is lyrical in tempo and style; the drawings are exquisite. The use of colored and Italian pencils evoke the crayons that the children of Terezin used (under the teaching direction of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, who was deported to Terezin in 1942, and then murdered at Auschwitz in 1944.) In the story, a brother and sister are sent by a doctor to the village's market square to fetch milk for their ill mother. Here they meet the milkman, the baker, and the ice cream maker. But without money, they can buy no milk. They spy Brundibar, a children hating, loud, brash, mean, street musician, dressed in a Napoleon hat and old medal filled uniform. With him around, they can make no money singing to pay for the milk. But with the help of some talking animals and other children, they perform a lullaby and earn the needed funds to help their mother. Brundibar is defeated (When performed as an opera, the children and audience understood that Brundibar represented their jailers.) Adults will note the last page, in which Brundibar writes a final note. Bullies and Brundibar vow to return one day. The note is written on the replica of a crumbled invitation, the actual party invitation that the Nazis used to invite dignitaries and Red Cross officials in 1944 to the actual performances, replete with a dancing man with a Jewish star on his costume (who is recreated in the role of the doctor).

An Instant Classic
Brundibar is another complex yet simple Sendak work. Tony Kushners lyrical prose matches perfectly with Sendak's incredibly vivid and beautiful illustrations.
Like other Sendak works, this book has several levels. It's a great kids story about bullies and how they can be dealt with. On a more adult level, its about how WWII and the Holocost affected the children of Europe, christian as well as jewish.
The text is adapted by Kushner from the libretto of the Opera by the same name. While the words stand up well on their own, the book flys on the wings of Sendaks wonderful art. Several stories are told within the story if the reader pays close attention to the details present in every illustration.
This book is destined to be a classic. (...) and buy a timeless piece of art from people who helped define the artform of the picture book. ... Read more

Book Description

With just 27 words, the inimitable Ruth Krauss created a charming little universe.

Now Maurice Sendak has turned her bears into a troupe of players in a slapstick comedy starring a familiar boy in a wolf suit.

Reviews (1)

"Bears" rhymes with "Everywheres"
This is a great book that my two-year old loves.Simple rhymes, lots of bears to look at and fun to read aloud.Definitely recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like all best friends, George and Martha do everything together--go to the movies, play at the beach, and just hang around not doing much of anything. No matter that they happen to be gigantic hippopotami, they learn the same lessons humans do about the ups and downs of true friendship. George and Martha teach each other (and adoring readers) that even in a close friendship, privacy is important, practical jokes can sometimes backfire, and among other things, pouring split pea soup into your loafers to spare the chef's feelings is not the best laid plan.

What's remarkable about the stories in this wonderful collection is the emotion James Marshall infuses into his understated, charming text and illustrations. Each brief tale is always humorous, never preachy, and his drawings--deceptively simple in appearance--are guaranteed to spark feelings of empathy, delight, and self-recognition. Maurice Sendak, in his foreword to this 25th anniversary compilation edition of all 35 stories, notes, "Those dear, ditzy, down-to-earth hippos bring serious pleasure to everybody, not only to children. They are time-capsule hippos who will always remind us of a paradise in publishing and--both seriously and comically--of the true, durable meaning of friendship under the best and worst conditions." (Ages 4 and up) ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Life Lessons
We started watching the George and Martha TV series while living in Australia. I don't know who is more enamoured with the series - my daughters, or myself. These stories, different from the tv show as far as I can tell, all teach a lesson in friendship. It's a fun way to let those lessons about being a good friend sink in with your child. George and Martha are hilarious, and we love following their adventures. It is a book that even an adult without children might enjoy reading. A real page turner and a well made, quality book!

The Best Book on Friendship Ever Written
Have you or anyone you know ever been troubled by the complexities of friendship? This endearing collection of vignettes in the lives of two very dear friends, models how to get through the peaks and troughs of human relations. I have had two best friends for over thirty years and I know friendships take a lot of work. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote wonderfully about friendship but James Marshall wrote these profoundly simple, almost poetic stories about two hippos who err, forgive, sacrifice, love, and put up with each other in a most charming and edifying fashion that everyone can understand. George and Martha books are adored by children and adults; they are well illustrated, in simple language and highly allegorical. I have given them as greeting cards to celebrate, apologize, teach, support, and grovel. I bought this full collection as a birthday present for a teenager who loved the stories as a child, and deeply appreciates the lessons as an emerging adult. (Frankly, I wanted to keep it for myself -- but that would have been too selfish, so I bought another.) Enjoy this book and benefits of dear friends.