The first two illustrations are significantly smaller than the white, empty space that surrounds them. Nodelman draws our attention to how space mirrors Max’s constriction. After all, it’s natural for a child to want to run around, explore, and create things, etc., yet Max’s mother calls him a “wild thing” because of it. Because the narrator tells us that Max is creating mischief, and because he is sent to his room for it later, we can assume that Max is in a sense constricted. Our initial perception of Max is that he causes trouble. The first illustration we see is of Max nailing fabric to the wall in an attempt to create a tent, which is followed by an image of him holding a fork and chasing a terrified dog down the stairs. We are not only told so, but are shown so. Max is first introduced to us as a character that makes mischief. It is interesting to note how Sendak uses the space allowed on the pages of his book to mirror Max’s own mood. One of these features is “space.” Nodelman points out that Sendak sometimes frames his illustrations in white space and other times doesn’t, depending on what sort of mood he wants to convey (Nodelman 52). Nodelman introduces the various features of picture books and the ways in which they create meaning. Prior to reading Perry Nodelman’s Words About Pictures, I had no knowledge regarding how picture books functioned and the reasons they could have such an impact on their audience. It is astounding the impact that children’s literature has on a child’s imagination.

I don’t recall being afraid of the creatures instead, I remember my absolute fascination with them. I would often have dreams about the Wild Things and about embarking on adventures with Max. My experiences with the book were rather peculiar.

I remember how thrilling it was for me to read it over and over again and imagine that my own bedroom was growing into a forest. The result is this fabulous collector's edition panoramic print presenting Sendak's entire painting, as opposed to having to see it printed with the gutter of the book in the centre of the image.Ĭopyright 1963 printed on reverse.Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are was my favorite book as a child. This gorgeous print was published in 1971 as an edition specially re-photographed from the original artwork held at the Sendak Archives at the Rosenbach Museum & Library. The book has been adapted into an animated short, an Opera, and a motion picture, and the picture book itself is still in print over 50 years after it's initial publication. Written and illustrated in 1963 by Maurice Sendak, 'Where The Wild Things Are' is one of the most popular picture books ever published. Medium: Lithograph print on Acid-free PaperĪ beautiful large full colour print of this classic image.

Where the wild things are illustrations