Maurice Sendak in His
Own Words & Pictures

Most people jump to Where the Wild Things Are when they think of Maurice Sendak, but there is much more than one story to this exhibit.
On my first trip to the The Breman Museum, I was excited to check out the museum and learn more about this beloved children’s author. My toddlers, on the other hand, were really focused on the hands-on aspects of this exhibit. They could have stayed all day and slid into the bowl of chicken soup from Chicken Soup with Rice over and over again.
It was hard to pull them away from the play kitchen with giant pots and more from In the Night Kitchen.  If your kids are a little too young for Where the Wild Things Are, read In the Night Kitchen with them before you go so they are familiar with the author.
Kids will also enjoy dressing up as wild things, playing on Max’s boat and reading a book on Rosie’s stoop. Oversized versions of Sendak’s books are available to read and flip through for taller readers. Toddlers will need a lift to see the pictures.  
Tip: Go on a Family Sunday for special guests, crafts and additional activities to get the most out of the exhibit. The next one is 2-4 p.m. on May 31, with guided tours of Where the Wild Things Are, screenings of Sendak’s short films and a “How to Read to Your Children” program. Plus, a creative writing workshop for ages 10-16 with Evelyn Walsh will use games and prompts to spark ideas (workshop is $25).
– Laura Powell

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