In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Collection) by Maurice Sendak
|
List Price: Our Price: $10.18 You Save: $7.77 (43%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $7.39 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Collection)
Book Review: Holding the Test of Time
Summary: 5 Stars
In this book Mickey (who looks a lot like Max from Where the Wild Thigns Are) finds himself floating in a surreal kitchen where he is baked in a cake, makes a suit and airplane out of dough, and eventually saves the day by delivering milk to the chefs. The story is absurd and silly snd there is no real conflict-just pure unapologetic fun.
Sendak's books have touched many different generations of children-I remember them as a child and kids still read them. This is the true test of a great children's book. If each new generation embraces a book then it is truly wonderful, and that certainly goes for Sendak's work. Everyone knows and loves Where The Wild Things Are-his most famous work-and those characters and stories have become staples of children's literature.
Another indication of quality is if when those same children grow up, they still read and appreciate the book. My roomate from California (total surfer dude dharma bum beatnik) brought 4 books to college with him; Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, On the Road, In The Night Kitchen, and Where the Wild Things Are. And i have to agree, his work-particularly his artwork-only grows more fascinating with age. And the art is one of the most striking aspects of Sendak's work. it is incredibly fine and detailed while still retaining a simplistic cartoon-like feel. Great book. Buy it for your kids, for you, for the future.
Book Review: A Surreal Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a crazy childrens book about a boy named Mickey, who we first meet attempting to go to sleep in his bed. However, a racket below his room prevents him from falling asleep. After asserting himself and yelling at whoever is making the noises to keep quite, he falls out of bed. He falls through the dark of his house, out of his pajamas, and ends up falling right into a bowl of cake batter in the night kitchen (a dream inspired city, with buildings made of food products), where three fat bakers make the "morning cake." The bakers mistake Mickey for milk, and mix him into the batter along with other ingrediants. After thoughouly stirring him in the cake, the bakers put the bowl of batter in the oven. Luckily, Mickey pops out and jumps into a pile of bread dough. He fashions an airplane with it, and takes off determined to get the bakers milk. It just so happens that one of the buildings is a giant milk bottle. Mickey dives in, and pours some real milk into the cake below him. With everything straightened out, Mickey jumps off the milk bottle and floats back into his pajamas and into bed, where he finally falls asleep. This is a weird story that may seem strange to adults, but all kids seem to love. On the whole, if you're tired of reading the same old story to your kids each night, this is the book for you.
Book Review: God Bless Milk and God Bless Me!
Summary: 5 Stars
Maurice Sendak is one of my very favourite children's authors and illustrators. However, I wasn't introduced to "In the Night Kitchen" until my husband insisted we buy it for our child. He loved it when he was a kid and loves it still (by the way, and this may be irrelevant, he's a great cook).The story is about a little boy whose dream takes him to the Night Kitchen where the bakers are making the morning cake. The bakers have a glitch and Mickey is able to come to the rescue. And of course, Mickey is the reason why there are delicious things to eat in the morning (hooray for Mickey).
The whole idea of bakers working in the wee morning hours creating yummy things for our breakfasts is an intriguing idea and one that isn't talked about very often. However, those croissants, bagels, and delicious pastries are made in "Night Kitchens" the world over. This book, besides being entertaining, is actually educational.
The illustrations are vivid and are reminiscent of big cities (like NYC). The style is bold and engaging. Yes, Mickey is nude sometimes but I don't feel the drawings are graphic. Unless you have strong feelings against any portrayal of nudity, don't let that put you off. The book is certainly is worth a read (and you can always preview it before you share it with your kids). You may love it as we do.
Book Review: My daughter adores this book even if I don't.
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't want to give this book five stars. I fought against it, because I don't particularly enjoy the book. The illustrations aren't that attractive to me and it took me a while to get used to the rhythm of the words.Having said that, I give this book five stars because my daughter LOVES this book. I sometimes have to hide it at night because I'm so tired of reading the "Mickey" book. Apparently Sendak knows an awful lot about what children like and how their minds work, because my daughter seldom tires of the story. (Her favorite part is when Mickey takes the measuring cup and goes up and up over the Milky Way.)
I'm honestly a little surprised over the "nekkid" controversy. It's not like the boy is drawn in explicit detail! My daughter's seen boy babies getting their diapers changed, so the concept of a penis is HARDLY frightening/startling/damaging to her. Geez, lighten up people!
Also, for those who were complaining about the concept of cake for breakfast, why don't we consider how many American children get French toast, pancakes, donuts, poptarts, or sugar-coated cereals for breakfast? Hardly nutritionally superior to cake, so I'm not lying in bed at night obsessing about the poor nutritional messages this book is sending to my child. :-)
Book Review: Raw, joyful--find me a preschooler not enchanted!
Summary: 5 Stars
We own around two hundred children's books. Very few of them have only one name on the cover, a single name that says it all. Dr. Seuss. Wanda Gag. David Small. Arnold Lobel. Jan Brett. Maurice Sendak. Of Sendak's masterpieces, only "In the Night Kitchen" is perfectly targeted to the toddler/preschooler. Every baby understands night, naked, milk, and kitchen--that magical place where grown-ups create food. If babies got into baking, if they became an ingredient even, they could cook up something fantastic, experience Mickey's euphoria. They know it. Is your *baby* shocked when Mickey sheds his clothes to gallivant around in the night kitchen? Of course not. The baby would do the same, given half a chance. Elements are unbound by gravity and bedtime, and they don't wear clothes! The beauty of the book is in its simplicity and delicious stream-of-consciousness. The joy of Mickey's discovery is contagious. In a day when most children's books (and food!) consist of mere merchandising, Sendak's classics are a breath of fresh air, and I venture to say there has been no better illustrator. Ever. All of my children have passed the apex age for this book, but I can't wait to grab a grandbaby and dive into the dough.