The Night Jacob Wore His Wolf Suit

I know the story of Where The Wild Things Are almost entirely by heart from reading it to Jacob and Jordan so many times. All my kids have loved this book, but Jacob loved it most and I always had to read it with Jacob's name instead of Max's name. Last year for Christmas I gave Jacob this Hallmark ornament because it is his story. I also called him last Friday when the film came out because Where The Wild Things Are will always remind me of that little, serious, boy of mine who liked to pretend he was Max.

I have yet to see the movie, but I recently read interviews of Maurice Sendak in Newsweek and in the newspaper. He's a cranky old curmudgeon, but very interesting. When asked what makes a good kid's story he said, "How would I know? I just write books." His response to parents who think The Wild Things movie might be too scary was, "Go home."
In the documentary on Sendak called Tell Them Anything You Want, Sendaks advice was, "Quit this life as soon as possible."

One of Sendak's favorite scenes in the book was interpreted differently in the movie. In his book it was important that Max stayed in his room. "It was so much about the ability of children to imagine themselves in another place. By his imagination he was able to get through those few hours where he was isolated and trapped," said Sendak. He also described children as complicated creatures who can drive you crazy.

Clearly this man is an artist who created a lasting, memorable book. There have been mixed reviews of the film, but I'm looking forward to seeing it. When I do, I know it will remind me of my children, their childhoods, and of Jacob. Of a time when I was his mother reading to him at bedtime and traveling "through night and day, and in out of weeks and almost over a year to Where The Wild Things Are."