Book Title: In the Night Kitchen
Author/ Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Harper & Row, Publishers
Date Published: 1970
ISBN: 0064430863
About the book:
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak is a 1971 Caldecott Honor Book. Sendak is also the writer of the ever popular and notable Where the Wild Things Are. In the Night Kitchen is a story about a little boy, Mickey, who heard a noise in the middle of the night, and as he wakes up to follow the noise he falls through the dark and into the night kitchen. He lands right in a bowl of cake batter being mixed by three identical bakers. They continue mixing, completely unaware that Mickey is in the batter. He jumps out of the baking pan right before it's placed in the oven, protesting that he is NOT the batter's milk, he is Mickey! Covered in dough, Mickey makes an airplane out of bread dough and flew back to the bakers. He stole the bakers' measuring cup and used it as a pilot hat. He flew into the night and into the carton of milk with his measuring cup hat. Using his cup he scooped milk into the bakers batter so that they were finally able to finish the morning cake. At dawn, Mickey crows like a rooster and slides down the milk bottle magically landing back in his bed.
Book Review:
Although there is some controversy about this book, I personally give this picture book a 4 out of 5. I chose this one particularly because I found in my childhood library back home and immediately happy memories came flooding back. Yes the story line is a little bit eccentric and ridiculous, but that's what makes it so great. The pictures as well as the story line can appeal to children and adults. It reminds us of those wacky, surreal dreams we have all had before. It's playful, fun, and encourages creativity and the use of imagination. I love it!
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