Where the Wild Things Are book spread.
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (1963), has always been my favorite picture book. I say this realizing that it is a bit of a cliché. But it is the first book I can remember that I truly loved and would re-visit throughout my life. In kindergarten, we were allowed at some point during the day to pick a book from the small, one bookcase library, to sit and read. Every day I chose the same one, unless someone beat me to it. But I don't recall that happening at all.
The illustrations are so beautiful and while I didn't I related to Max being punished, I don't recall that happening much either. I did and still do relate to the imagination he displays. It can take you from somewhere mundane, to someplace wild.
Max by Chris Censullo.
Max and Wild Thing by Chris Censullo.