Module 2: Where the Wild Things Are and Old Yeller

Summary: A little boy who finds himself in trouble with his mother for acting like a “wild thing” escapes to an imaginary world inhabited by other wild things where he soon becomes king of these creatures and all is well until he finds himself longing for the comforts of home.

Citation: Senkdak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. Harper Collins Publishers.

Impressions of the book:
The artwork is amazing. Max has quite an imagination. I have to admit this was never my favorite book even when I read it as a child. The "wild things" scared me a little, even though they turn out to be harmless.

Review: Booklist starred (November 1, 2007 (Vol. 104, No. 5))
"Preschool-Grade 2. This simply written but subtle book became a classic not only because it legitimized children’s angry feelings—and their ability to use their imaginations to deal with those feelings—but also because it showed punishment and love coexisting in a parent-child relationship. When mischievous Max, wearing his wolf suit, romps around the house and drives his mother to distraction, she calls him “Wild Thing” and sends him to bed without his supper. But in the quiet of his room, a forest grows, where claw-footed monsters with horns, Wild Things just like Max, lurk and leap. Max joins their “wild rumpus” and is made “king of all wild things,” but still he misses his home. When he finally returns, he discovers his supper waiting, and it is still hot. Where the Wild Things Are, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1964, has never gone out of print and is now available in several editions including paperback and a twenty-fifth anniversary remastered version. The year 2008 is sure to bring even more attention to this beloved children’s book: Dave Eggers will publish an adult novel based on the 338-word story at the same time that a combination live-action and animatronic movie, scripted by Eggers and directed by Spike Jonze, is released. How Jonze will translate Sendak’s exceptional crossed-hatched-watercolor artwork to the screen remains to be seen."
Booklist. (2007). [Review for the book Where the wild things are by Maurice Sendak]. Booklist. 104 (5). (Referenced from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=e854cf82b2b4053a0921c73e7fbd8815)

Lesson: The vivid characters and setting and the exciting plotline make Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak [HarperCollins, 1963] a great book for teachers/librarian to use to teach students about story elements. Students can read and discuss the Caldecott-winning story then use a story map to identify the book’s setting, characters, conflict, and resolution.
Sheakoski, M. (2010). Where the Wild Things Are Reading Lesson Plan: How to teach elementary students story elements using a story map. Primary School @ suite 101. (Referenced from http://megan-sheakoski.suite101.com/where-the-wild-things-are-reading-lesson-plan-a219321)
Summary: A teenage boy has to put down the dog he has grown to love when it becomes rabid with hydrophobia.

Citation: Gipson, F. (1956). Old Yeller. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Impressions of the book:
I was very impressed with the writings of Fred Gipson. I love the fact that he is from Texas and his story takes place in frontier Texas. I had not read the book before and wish I had. He really gives a clear picture of what life was like back then with lots of detail.

Reviews:
"A bestseller for generations, the combination of excellent writing and the sensitivity to human emotions places it on a shelf with the classics in juvenile literature." -- Saturday Review of Literature
Saturday Review of Literature. (n.d.). [Review for the book Old Yeller by Fred Gipson]. Saturday Review of Literature. Referenced from http://www.amazon.com/Old-Yeller-HarperClassics-Fred-Gipson/dp/0064403823

"Exciting and heartwarming indeed." -- SLJ.

School Library Journal. (n.d.) [Review for the book Old Yeller by Fred Gipson]. School Library Journal. Referenced from http://www.amazon.com/Old-Yeller-HarperClassics-Fred-Gipson/dp/0064403823

Suggestions for library setting:
I think a librarian could provide a book talk on the book for students especially seventh graders who study Texas History. This will give them some insight on frontier life in Texas and also how children around their age had a lot more responsibility back then. They would also learn how hard it is to do the right thing.