Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

Over the years, I have committed many a children's book to memory, reading them over and over. However, I am hard pressed to find a book that evokes such a thrill of imagination and adventure as the simple, 10 sentence book Where the Wild Things Are .

Each of my children, around 2 1/2 years old, has gone through a phase where they are obsessed with this book. It is probably because around that age most children are Wild Things. The book begs to be read aloud. It invites the child to shout out, "I'll eat you up!" And we always hum a merry tune during the three beautifully illustrated pages of the Wild Rumpus.

The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta, Ga is currently running an exhibit dedicated to Where the Wild Things Are and Maurice Sendak. We attended the exhibit with one of my dearest friends and her two boys today, and we all were smitten with the delights of acting out Sendak's masterpieces.

The children made cake on the "set" of The Night Kitchen. 

 

I captured this magically perfect image of Little J in Max's boat wearing a paper crown we had made with her white sweater hood up like Max's costume. 

Giggles were had by all in a ginormous version of Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months , which had a slide leading into the bowl.

The exhibits were beautiful and interactive, providing a window into the life and mind of Maurice Sendak. Listening to audio of Sendak being interviewed by Terry Gross for Fresh Air brought me to tears.

In particular, the story behind the finding of Grimm's Dear Mili and the choices of Sedak for the illustrations were particularly moving for me.

 We brought a copy of the book to add to our collection of Senak books.

 And, I also had to purchase this sticker in the gift shop. I am indeed the Queen of All Wild Things in our house.

What I love most about Maurice Sendak's books is the complexity. I can read the books with my two-year-old, and she finds them adventurous and fun. I can read the books with my eight-year-old, and we delve into these deep conversations about what the books mean in her eyes. And yet, as an adult, the books may mean something entirely different. That is what the magic of children's books is all about- life re-imagined.

I think what made it so special was that it felt like living inside his children's books.
 The entire exhibit was magical. If you live within driving distance of Atlanta, I encourage you to go.
 

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