In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Collection) Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Collection)
Book Review: I agree, it's a strange book...
Summary: 5 Stars
But children's dreams are often strange - and, unlike us, they don't always know that a dream is a dream. Reading a book about a strange dream where everything ends up all right is a good thing. They don't have to be scared of the real dreams, right?
I'm frankly stunned by the people who complain about the nudity. He's a toddler. Toddlers run around naked. Adults see toddlers naked. Your little boy knows what little boys look like, and chances are your little girl either does know (if she has brothers) or will know eventually. The facts of life? Just say "boys are like this, girls are like that". That's easy to understand.
I'm even more stunned by the comments "nudity is all right, but it doesn't belong here". If nudity is all right, why does it matter if a boy is drawn naked or clothed? Clothing might be inappropriate as well! Don't tell me *you* haven't had a dream of being naked.
My two-year-old niece loves this book. She loves the pictures "see that? see that?", and she likes the rhythm of the words. And she likes the idea that we have cake eeeeeeee-v'ry morning (even though we don't). I can hardly think of a better introduction to the world of dreamlike fantasy.
Book Review: Loved this as a kid...
Summary: 5 Stars
and now that I found out I'm having a baby, this is one book I can't wait to read to my child, as well as "The Bear That Wasn't" and Edward Gorey's "Mother Goose", which I also loved as a kid. Sure, there is a blip of nudity in one illustration and I am surprised at the virulence of some of the negative reviewers responses. Pornography? I had a little brother and knew about the difference between boys and girls before I could even read this book myself. There wasn't a big deal made about it, he was a he and I was a she and when he got his diaper changed, I saw why.If explaining the differnce between the genders to your kids makes you so uncomfortable, there are books for you to read to help you.Kids will find out eventually and the longer you keep it a mystery and make it "naughty", the more their curiosity will grow.It wasn't such a big deal in my household, my grandmother read this book to me and we laughed at Mickey having no clothes on and turned the page to continue the adventure, which it was, a wonderful kids adventure that made me imagine flying a dough plane through a cartoon nighttime city.I highly recommend this book to all.Book Review: My intact son adores this book
Summary: 5 Stars
My 18 month old son loves this book as does his 3 year old sister. (My son always points an Mickey's privates and excitedly yells "PENIS!" lol) It's a very creative story and it is beautifully illustrated.
Anyone who has a problem with the nudity must have some serious personal body issues his or herself. There is nothing "dirty" about the innocent way in which Mickey's nudity is presented. This book is about a dream Mickey had- and being nude in a dream is one of the most common dreams of the human race... that and of falling which Mickey also does. Besides, if he wore clothes, he'd get milk all over them. lol
Book Review: Raw, joyful--find me a preschooler not enchanted!
Summary: 5 Stars
We own around two hundred children's books. Very few of them have only one name on the cover, a single name that says it all. Dr. Seuss. Wanda Gag. David Small. Arnold Lobel. Jan Brett. Maurice Sendak. Of Sendak's masterpieces, only "In the Night Kitchen" is perfectly targeted to the toddler/preschooler. Every baby understands night, naked, milk, and kitchen--that magical place where grown-ups create food. If babies got into baking, if they became an ingredient even, they could cook up something fantastic, experience Mickey's euphoria. They know it. Is your *baby* shocked when Mickey sheds his clothes to gallivant around in the night kitchen? Of course not. The baby would do the same, given half a chance. Elements are unbound by gravity and bedtime, and they don't wear clothes! The beauty of the book is in its simplicity and delicious stream-of-consciousness. The joy of Mickey's discovery is contagious. In a day when most children's books (and food!) consist of mere merchandising, Sendak's classics are a breath of fresh air, and I venture to say there has been no better illustrator. Ever. All of my children have passed the apex age for this book, but I can't wait to grab a grandbaby and dive into the dough.Book Review: An excellent example of good children's literature
Summary: 5 Stars
In the Night Kitchen was given as a gift to my children, by a friend of the family. I vaguely remember the book from my own childhood. My youngest was thrilled with the book (8 year old) and it has become a favourite.
Night Kitchen certainly contains some nonsense verse, chanting and fantasy and anyone who has studied children's literature will know that all of these elements have an honoured place within children's literature.
My 8 year old loved the illustrations, thought the bakers were funny and liked when Mickey fell into the batter.
In the Night Kitchen is very good children's literature. When you read it to your kids you will see why the author has won so many awards. Not only is this a nice book to own, but a great book to give to friends. It falls into the "richly illustrated yet reasonably priced range" that I like when I want just something little to take to a friend's child when you are dropping in for a visit.