Originally published in 1963, it has become a much-loved favourite children's best-seller, and an acknowledged classic of 20th century children's picture books. Maurice Sendak said- 'Max, the hero of my book, discharges his anger against his mother, and returns to the real world sleepy, hungry, and at peace with himself . . . from their earliest years children live on familiar terms with disrupting emotions, fear and anxiety are an intrinsic part of their everyday lives, they continually cope with frustration as best they can. And it is through fantasy that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they have for taming Wild Things'.