For anyone who grew up reading Where the Wild Things Are, no doubt just thinking about the book brings back all sorts of memories from when you were a kid: where you lived, who you read the book with, and, most importantly, how you felt when you read this strange and wonderful story. I was always captivated by the monsters, with their funny hippie hair and mish-mash of animal parts, but I also felt kind of bad for Max. He seemed like such a lost and unhappy kid - at least until he got his supper.I've been thinking a lot about this book lately, no doubt in response to seeing this trailer for the film adaptation (those of you worried about the film staying loyal to the crazy sensibilities of Maurice Sendak's original vision can relax, it looks fantastic). But seeing it also made me want to dive back into that original tale, so I wandered over to the children's book section this afternoon and pulled it from the shelf. Nearly 50 years after publication, I can say it definitely stands the test of time. Lushly illustrated and fully engaging, it's a book that will still appeal to children for all its wildness, although you can almost appreciate more as an adult. Try it... it only takes a few minutes to read and you'll be amazed at what it brings back!
If you are interested in reading more about the film adaptation done by indie director Spike Jonze, the New York Times did a great feature article in their Sunday Magazine, which you can read here (login may be required).
I'm also really excited for this movie! The screenplay was written by one of my favorite authors, Dave Eggers. He's also releasing a novel version to be titled Wild Things (and I hear there's going to be a special edition with a furry cover).
If you want a sneak peek at the novel, the New Yorker has a short story called "Max at Sea" by Eggers available online here: http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2009/08/24/090824fi_fiction_eggers
I just read it and I think it's great, especially if you've read the original Sendak.