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In the Night Kitchen (by Maurice Sendak)

common sense media says

Sendak's timeless nursery rhyme is a joyride.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this story raised a minor furor when it was published 30 years ago because it showed a little boy's penis (hardly graphic, just a loop of a line) -- which served only to draw attention to this marvelous picture book. Sendak's artwork is boldly expressive and adds to the story's momentum. The unpredictability of the language will challenge older kids.

Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.

More on In the Night Kitchen

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about Mickey's nighttime journey. What lures him into the kitchen in the first place? What makes him want to keep exploring the strange nighttime landscape?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Maurice Sendak takes children for a joyride in this timeless nursery rhyme featuring Mickey, who tumbles from bed into the baker's night kitchen. Mickey's exploration of the strange night world is so vividly drawn readers almost live the dream, before returning safely to bed.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Like a memorable nursery rhyme, Sendak's story can be a quick and easy experience, but probably even young readers will be drawn to ponder its suggestiveness. Mickey's experience comes full circle -- bed to kitchen to bed -- which gives the verse a sense of completion, though the text has some curious turnings: "Then Mickey in dough was just on his way."

Some of the book's artwork is set in multiple panels to a page, a handsome screen of images that feels like a dance sequence, following Mickey's actions as set against a panorama of the city at night, a city of saltcellar, milk carton, and egg-beater architecture.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Maurice Sendak
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date: January 1, 1970
Number of pages: 32
Paperback price: $6.95

This review was written by Peter Lewis
 
 

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

CSM Screen ...
teen, 13 years old
 
Ummmmmmm...
Kinda Iffy when it showed Mickey naked. Honestly...

 
I remember reading it when I was a child
When I was a child this was on my list of most favorite titles. I can see how some people such as those who have never traveled out of the US would see this as containing inapropriate material. So Mikey is naked in this book...Big Deal!!! It is the way we were created. This book is clean and aprpriate for children of all ages.

Spiff
adult
 
Kind of a weird book...

 
One of my favorite children's books!
This is one of my all time favorite children's books - I love the words, the illustrations, everything about it! My girls (5/8/10) have all enjoyed it since they were teeny! You can't go wrong with Sendak!

lilmissfrankie
kid, 12 years old
 
........
it was kinda weird seeing mickey nude

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