 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Where the Wild Things Are and Five More Stories
- Review Date: October 6, 2009
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Classic Sendak stories with simple animation -- delightful.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that children might already be familiar with the stories featured in this collection of short videos based on Maurice Sendak books. The videos are designed to complement, rather than replace, the featured books. In one story, Pierre, the boy behaves very poorly, including being disrespectful toward his parents, and then is eaten by a lion (though he lives to reform his ways). In another story, In the Night Kitchen, the boy briefly appears naked, which might produce some giggles from young viewers.
What's the story?
This collection of short videos from the Scholastic Storybook Treasures series features Maurice Sendak stories, including Where the Wild Things Are, about a child's fantasy world where he works out his frustration with being punished; In the Night Kitchen, where a boy imagines he's physically part of making the morning bread; Alligators All Around, One Was Johnny, and Chicken Soup with Rice are all educational (teaching the alphabet, numbers, months, respectively) set to songs performed by Carole King. And Pierre is a cautionary tale about a poorly behaved child whose choices get him eaten by a lion.
Is it any good?
Maurice Sendak books are lovely fantasies for children with sometimes-dark undertones that tap into the not-so-lovely aspects of childhood, like rebellion, anger, mischievousness, and annoyance. These short videos are a different way to engage children with literature they are familiar with and introduce them to less popular stories. The songs by Carole King in four of the shorts are catchy without being annoying, and they're a fun way to get kids engaged in letters, counting, and thinking about the calendar.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about fantasy. What's going on in Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen? Do you ever imagine that you're someplace different and have special abilities, like flying or ruling over animals?
Talk about the idea of "I don't care" that comes up in the Pierre story. Why does Pierre say that? If you sometimes say "I don't care," what are you usually feeling when you say it?
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AGE
Where the Wild Things Are & 5 More Videos contains porn & is inappropriate
The full frontal nudity is extremely inappropriate in a video that has been made of a time-honored children's classic story. It was also extremely unnecessary in that it has nothing to do with the story. Why couldn't he tumble out of bed into the kitchen while wearing his pajamas? Scholastic has deliberately introduced what is, clearly, pornography, into a children's classic that was published by a trusted source. Is introducing porn to children now your new corporate policy, Scholastic? Is this your real goal now - to desensitize the kids to porn? By the way, I have a Masters degree in Library Science with a concentration in Children's Literature. There is no excuse for your having done this. Nor is there any excuse for the way you have marketed it as normal, especially to teachers, librarians, parents, and children who trust your company. Shame on you, Scholastic!
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| Studio: | Scholastic |
| Director: | Weston Woods |
| Cast: | Carole King, Peter Schickele |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 54 minutes |
| DVD release date: | August 28, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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