Where the Wild Things Are

Sendak's book has been a children's classic for more than 20 years, and this audio version only makes it better. Peter Schickele manages to portray all of Max's emotions--anger, sadness, joy, and loneliness--using varied pace, elongated words, clear enunciation, and the staccato pattern of young children's speech. And while at first he sounds too gruff, as soon as he softens his voice, his performance becomes the epitome of the lightening fast mood changes of childhood. The jazzy musical accompaniment--full of drums, trumpets, and horns--also by Schickele, builds to a crescendo during the "wild rumpus." An excellent reading of a true classic, and a book young children will certainly identify with. W.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

No one articulates the child's psyche like Maurice Sendak. With humor and empathy, he creates fantasy worlds in which the youngest children can safely explore their scariest, meanest, most imaginative thoughts and feelings. This production introduces new generations to his best classics, from the trilogy composed of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, IN THE NIGHT KITCHENâ and OUTSIDE OVER THERE to THE NUTSHELL LIBRARY, which teaches skills like the alphabet, counting, and the names of the seasons. Tammy Grimes brings these fantasy worlds alive for today's preschoolers. Her portrayal of the irrepressible Rosie models the use of the imagination to banish boredom. Even parents will chuckle at the gentle lesson on caring taught by young Pierre. N.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine