Children's Book of the Week!

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak

Plot: The book tells the story of Max, a little boy who takes an imaginary journey to a land of "Wild Things." As Max's imagination unfolds, his bedroom is transformed into an entirely new world. When he sails to the land of the Wild Things, they quickly make him their ruler. The Wild Things are tames under Max's fearless leadership and enjoy a "wild rumpus" planned by Max. Ultimately Max leaves the land of the Wild things, despite their loving protests, to return home where he finds his dinner waiting for him.

• Read this book with your child and discuss what the themes, characters, and lessons are.
• Ask your child questions to help them develop cognitive thinking. (What kind of "wild rumpus" would you have? What would you do at a "wild rumpus?" What are some of the words in this story that help you make a picture in your head? Have you ever felt like Max did in the beginning of the book?)
  Hold your own "wild rumpus" where your child plays the part of Max.
• Draw a plot line with the beginning, middle, and end of the book from your child's perspective.
• Draw pictures of Wild Things together, discuss the monsters and their actions towards Max. One trick to use to help your children's phonics would be to draw monsters from letters. Example- a bear monster out of the letter B.
• Cook a dinner together
• Take this fun quiz with your child. http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/O/1/62.asp

This book is a wonderful tool to use to help children with phonetic awareness, which is key to successful literacy skills. Make sure that when reading aloud, you put emphasis on the actions and descriptions. Use a dramatic verbal expression technique; make it fun!