Thank you Charley for saying what I was thinking. I studied Children's Literature for my degree (many years ago) and if I remember correctly, "Where The Wild Things Are" broke barriers in children's literature of the time, and brought a return to the Victorian literary model of rebellious child, finding himself in a wonderland of potential danger that he gains control over. Think Peter Pan and Alice of Wonderland and Looking Glass fame. These heroes and heroines heralded a societal appreciation of childhood, a concept that previously was not all that wide spread.

WtWTA condensed the concept and put in reading level for the very young. Showed young readers also that no matter how misbehaved one is, Mother will always love you. Important in developing the sense of self.

My kids loved it and so did the children I taught. And yes, I acted it out and did voices. Max shows children how to face the monsters in their imaginations and to test their limits. It's all good stuff.