March 31, 2005 11:04 AM
Where the Wild Things Are
A few years ago, in his Breakpoint column Chuck Colson blasted Maurice Sendak's 1964 classic Where the Wild Things Are as emblematic of the "unfettered rebellion" which eventually gave rise to the counterculture. Pretty heavy, huh?
(Sometimes it's just a little too easy to see why people have a hard time with Christians.)
At the time, I was on assignment for a Christian Parenting Today article called "Story Power" so I had a great opportunity to address Mr. Colson's collosal misinterpretation. I love Where the Wild Things Are and have been reading it to kids for 34 years (Samantha's 35, but don't tell anyone, and my adopted Downzer boys are still just 4, 8, and 9 so they still love it). It's a must-have book for any family -- at least any family that wants well-behaved kids. Far from celebrating rebellion, it actually instructs children in the art of taming their emotions.
Here's the real scoop:
Max misbehaves at dinner and is sent to his room. (Max has parents who care enough to punish him when necessary.)
Max sails away to an island full of Wild Things. (Max cranks up his tantrum-a "wild rumpus" with the Wild Things.)
Max, "King of All the Wild Things," finally commands them to stop. (He realizes he can take control of his emotions.)
Though the Wild Things beg him to stay, Max sails home again. (He makes the right decision.)
In his room, he finds his warm dinner still waiting. (His parents haven't stopped loving him.)
Tripp and I have always loved reading this book to the kids because of the several pages with no text, where the wild things are dancing around, well, wildly. We like to do Native American-type chanting Ay-yuh-yuh-yuh, Ay-yuh-yuh-yuh for a few minutes before Max tells the wild things to Stop!
According to C. S. Lewis, "A book worth reading only in childhood is not worth reading even then." I agree, and have included a lot of information in The Mommy Manual -- which is due out next month -- on how to choose books for kids. In the meantime, for more, go here to read the rest of "Story Power."
Posted in Books, Church Issues, Family, Homeschooling, Mothering, Toddlers | Permalink
Comments
Amazing ... I never knew Colson said such a thing. My kids adore Where the Wild Things Are, and so do I.
FYI, I found your blog through the Suitable for Mixed Company blog.
Posted by: Amanda | April 8, 2005 6:45 PM
I think part of the book's genius is it speaks to parents, too. Children are wild, it's just their nature. Sometimes we get into the trap of trying to teach them to be small adults and in the process stifle their creativity. They aren't small adults, they are children.
And sometimes you just have to let them have a wild rompus.
Posted by: Ryno | September 23, 2009 10:59 PM
