BANNED – In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
posted in Book Reviews |
Another award-winning book that some folks try to keep off of library shelves is Maurice Sendak’s surreal dreamscape In the Night Kitchen. In this fantastically illustrated book (which garnered Caldecott honors in 1971), Mickey hears strange noises in the night, and falls “into the light of the night kitchen.” Mickey unfortunately falls straight into the batter of three jolly bakers who — seemingly without a clue — proceed to bake Mickey into their cake. Mickey, being a resourceful young guy, kneads a dough airplane out of the cake and flies away to safety, helping the bakers complete their creation along the way.
Now this story is certainly strange. Mickey nearly being baked into a cake may not sit well with many adults, but kids get a kick out of his quick-thinking and his ability to outsmart the three adult bakers. Thankfully, the bakers don’t have an ounce of evil in their dispositions – but they also do not seem upset in the least at their surprise ingredient. The whole story feels so bizarre that there’s no doubt that Mickey is in the middle of a dream. As with Where the Wild Things Are, another of Sendak’s amazing dream stories, Mickey seems only momentarily in danger — the story quickly becomes focused on the child’s bravery, smarts and resourcefulness. And it’s no surprise that the illustrations are in a class of their own — funny, rich full-color spreads that kids can pour over for hours.
Now being Banned Books Week, you’ve got to be wondering, “Why all the fuss over this charming picture book?” Here’s the thing — Mickey’s entirely naked, displaying the “full monty” in not one but three of the book’s detailed illustrations. And I guess naked toddlers seem obscene to some folks. In fact, In the Night Kitchen has made the lists of the 100 most challenged books in 2000 – 2007, and in 1990 – 1999. But there is absolutely nothing sexual about this book, so don’t be shy. Read this silly and engaging story to your kids, and see if they don’t laugh and smile from beginning to end.
