Where the Wild Things Are

OnenightMaxputsonhiswolfsuitandmakesmischiefofonekindandanother,sohismothercallshim'WildThing'andsendshimtobedwithouthissupper.ThatnightaforestbeginstogrowinMax'sroomandanoceanrushesbywithaboattotakeMaxtotheplacewherethewildthingsare.Maxtamesthewildthingsandcrownshimselfastheirking,andthenthewildrumpusbegins.ButwhenMaxhassentthemonsterstobed,andeverythingisquiet,hestartstofeellonelyandrealisesitistimetosailhometotheplacewheresomeoneloveshimbestofall.WhenMauriceSendakwontheAmericanLibraryAssociation'sCaldecottMedalforWHERETHEWILDTHINGSARE,hesaid:Max,theheroofmybook,dischargeshisangeragainsthismother,andreturnstotherealworldsleepy,hungryandatpeacewithhimself...fromtheirearliestyearschildrenliveonfamiliartermswithdisruptingemotions,fearandanxietyareanintrinsicpartoftheireverydaylives,theycontinuallycopewithfrustrationasbesttheycan.Anditisthroughfantasythatchildrenachievecatharsis.ItisthebestmeanstheyhavefortamingWildThings.“看似是一个幻想故事，其实它源自桑达克儿时的自我，每个人心中都潜藏着自己童年的影子。”《野兽出没的地方》是莫里斯·桑达克经典系列三部曲之首，其他两部为《厨房之夜狂想曲》（1970年出版）和《在那遥远的地方》（1981年出版）。《纽约时报》评价说《厨房之夜狂想曲》是一部非常有魅力的幻想故事，当属经典。而《在那遥远的地方》被《新闻周刊》评价为“推动图画书向前迈进了一大步”。作为世界知名的图画书作家，桑达克在图画书领域做出了突出贡献，他于1970年被授予国际安徒生奖插图画家奖。