Map Your Journey Activity and “Where the Wild Things Are” Book Review

by Ashley Beecher

Max, the little boy in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, gets sent to his room without supper for being a little too mischievous. Shut in his room, Max imagines himself on a journey to where the wild things are. He becomes king and declares a “wild rumpus,” only to decide at the end that he misses home.

Despite the book’s age, the concepts inside are timeless. Kids still get in trouble and they still create intricate and interesting adventures when they put their imagination to work. Also, kids love monsters. All of these concepts keep the book relevant and enjoyable for kids today.

Parents will appreciate this book because it teaches kids how to deal with boredom. Max takes an entire adventure, but of course a forest and a boat don’t really appear in his room. He imagines them. Imagination is a powerful tool for bored children to use anywhere and there are no limits. In fact, the middle of the book provides an opportunity for children to use their own imagination, because the pages depicting the “wild rumpus” don’t include any descriptions. The more kids practice with their imaginations, the more creative they can be.

The sweetest part is at the very end, when Max returns home and finds supper waiting for him in his room. Isn’t that a tender reminder that Max’s parents love and care for him?

To buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Exercise your imagination and create a map of your own adventure. Where will you go and what kind of obstacles will you face? Who will you encounter? Will you return to your starting point or take off on another adventure right away?

Supplies:

Free printout, crayons or markers, optional map embellishments (cotton balls, dried leaves, crumpled paper, etc.)

Directions:

1. Draw interesting shapes to show land on your map. Decide what kind of environment each section of the map will be. Desert? Forest? Volcanos? Planets? Get creative.
2. Mark your starting point.
3. Mark your destination.
4. Include obstacles and landmarks that help you get from starting point to destination. A space map might include asteroids or black holes. A jungle might have dense vines or wide rivers.
5. Draw your path from the starting point, through the obstacles and landmarks, to the destination. Consider what it will take to get from your starting point to your destination. A spaceship? Bridges? Lava shields?
6. Color the map and add labels and any other final touches (you could even add texture to your terrain with optional embellishments).

Different Variations:

• For Younger Children: Print the map of Max’s journey and add your own creative spin.
• For Crafty Children: Make your map 3D. Use pipe cleaner, small toys, stickers, or other supplies to make your map really come to life.
• Get Moving: Go out to a real place (a park, mall, or your neighborhood) and draw a map as you walk. Mark the path you take through the place on your map.