Rating: 
Summary: Creative!
Review: Im sorry everyone for ONCE AGAIN mentioning the nude thing. God knows theres been enough of that. To the person who said it was their right to have an opinion. Well, thats true, but its our right to think your opinion is wrong and to proclaim your review as "unhelpful". I promise that my speakings of the nudity issue is over. Whew.:)
What more is there to say other than that the book is about a young boy who has a eventful and strange night? Oh and another thing, just because this book is strange doesnt mean it is horrible. The world needs more creativity. And this story and its beautiful illustrations bring the reader with just that. Do we need another reason to like Sendak?
R
Rating: 
Summary: Great, Dreamlike, Surreal Book - Obviously not for everyone
Review: "In The Night Kitchen" is the bizarre, surreal story of Mickey and his journey into the mysterious night kitchen where bakers are preparing the 'morning cake.' Mickey is the savior of the story getting the key ingredient, Milk, for the bakers to complete the cakes. Like "Where the Wild Things Are," "In The Night Kitchen" is the dream of the main character. Where Max's room turns into a jungle, Mickey "falls/ floats" down through his room into the fantastical kitchen-world that appears to be below his house. The story is a child's dream. It is not supposed to make perfect sense to adult minds. In all honesty, the book seemed a little weird and disjointed to me at first. But my son instantly loved it. He is now 3.5 and we have been reading this book to him pretty consistently for about a year and a half now. He still loves it. It grew on me as well. The subtleties in the art are very well placed, more so than "Where the Wild Things Are." If you realize the book is just the surreal journey of a child's dream you may not get weirded out by it, and may begin to appreciate the book for what it is, a great child's story. As mentioned, Mickey does get naked as he transitions from his bedroom to the night kitchen and into his 'dough-suit,' then again as he transitions back to his house. As it seems a lot of people get stuck on this one facet of the book. Chances are if a child being naked in a children's book makes you uncomfortable, you probably won't like this one for you kids and should probably just avoid it.
Rating: 
Summary: strange...and awful. Awfully strange!
Review: All the people that say that this book doesn't flow right, and that the little boy being naked isn't necessary... all these people happen to be right. "Wild Things" was a great kids book. The bottom line however, is that this is a strange book by a strange man.
Now, to all you enlightened elitists out there that want to "shame" me and call me a "book-burner" (or other such nonsense): YOU are the ones who should be ashamed! Can I not have an opinion on a book I read? Am I in some way obligated to emit flowing phrase for every piece of trash book in front of me (such as this one)? I didn't think so. I don't want your copy of this book burned; I just wouldn't recommend it, that's all. This is a free country after all. Just because I have a reasoned opinion on a subject, or an intellectual difference with YOU does not make me a "book-burner" (a ridiculous charge, and an insidious tactic). You "open-minded" librarian types should know better.
Now go ahead, thought-police: everyone clamour to say that this review "isn't helpful" to you, when in reality what you are really doing is protesting the fact that I simply don't agree with your effusive praise for this odd book. WHO ARE THE TRUE CENSORS I ASK YOU??
Rating:
Summary: If you can't get the pattern, rent the dvd.
Review: Honestly, we don't even own the book. (yet) We do have Where the Wild Things Are and my friend highly recommended the Scholastic dvd's. I found the WTWTA dvd and picked it up for that story. Lately, my son has been asking for the Night Kitchen- the last story on the dvd. The first time I heard it I was like "huh?" just listening to it- the lyricism of it appealed to me but the "milk in the batter, milk in the batter, we bake cakes and nothing else matters" just didn't make sense to my 31 year old mind. Then I watched it. Yep, it's Laurel and Hardy & their brother baking the cake, the Mickey oven is Mickey mouse (who I adore) and, holy cow, Mickey is NAKED! Majoring in children's literature, I knew immediatly that this book would be threatened to be pulled without having to read the reviews. The fact that it goes back to having a new baby in the house makes a lot of sense. (the most primal outfit we have is our own skin, right?) No, he doesn't HAVE to be naked, but isn't it beautiful how our kids don't have the hangups about it that we instill in them later? I think the images are so vivid and lovely that I am considering getting a copy of the book to tear apart and frame for my son's room.
Not to degrade those who have rated this book low on the scale, I mean, to each his/her own, but it's "not making sense" is part of the beauty of it. I wish I could count the number of times my 5 year old son has told me something that doesn't make sense. Jimbo from Treasure Planet has planted a garden, taken a train, and uses mulch chips from our garden as his surf board.
This beautiful imagry and creative story are masterfully woven together to make this a childhood (and beyond!) classic.
I am hoping to find an autographed copy to add to my son's autographed book collection. That's the ONLY reason why we don't own it yet.
Rating:
Summary: My son loves it!
Review: I discovered this book by accident a few months ago, and picked it up when I noticed that it was a Caldecott Honor Medal winner. I read through it and found it confusing, yet interesting. My three-year-old goes through 2-3 week periods in which he has a favorite story that must be read every night at the end of our reading time. Lately, it's been "Where the Wild Things Are." So, tonight, I decided to begin the evening with "In the Night Kitchen." My son was transfixed by this story. He immediately wanted me to read it again. To the logical, adult mind it makes no sense. It didn't surprise me at all to read that previous reviewers were reminded of a drug trip. But from my child's point of view, it was a fantastic story. His eyes never left the pages, and he frequently nodded or exclaimed, wide-eyed, with mouth open. I found the rythym and cadence of the words, and it flowed very well. If you find the book odd, just think of the words to the countless nursery rhymes that you've recited and loved so many times over the years. There are quite a few that make no sense at all! At least, not to grownups:)
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Adorable!
Review: I have the dvd for this and it was the best $10 investment ever. The music for this book even captures my 2 year olds attention. My son adores this. Clearly a favorite. He even sits and sings "I'm not the milk and the milk's not me" "I'm mickey". Ask my son his name (Ethan) and he'll tell you "Mickey". It's amazing. He loves to act this story out. He has never once made anythying out of Mickey's lack of pajamas. He has recently started yelling "QUIET" at people.. hm.. wonder where he got THAT from?!
I highly recommend this book, but even more so the dvd.
Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: I remember reading this book as a child and I have to say that I was neither disturbed by the nudity nor frightened by anything in the book. we must remember that Sendak is writing for children and as much as we hate to admit it adults often have no idea what will or will not frighten a child, at the same time each child is very different and what may frighten one child may not affect another in the least. From what I can tell children at a young age do not think being naked is a bad thing and the idea of playing in cake batter is a pleasent idea.
When it was read to me I was not at all embarrassed that Micky was naked in fact to me that was just part of the fun.
A children's story should be written for the audience and I think that Sendak possesses an incredible talent for telling the stories that children will love. And the really important part after all is that the child loves it.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely book for eternal rereading
Review: I'm hardly surprised there are people objecting to Mickey's nakedness.. skin seems to terrify the small-minded.
As a kid, I read and reread this wonderful book, devouring the intricate backgrounds, dreaming of piloting a plane made of dough. I'm not sure I ever noticed he was naked: it just fits the story. Don't we all dream that we're unclothed, one time or another?
My son, now 28 months old, loves this book; we've got it memorized and recite it on long car rides. He dances with the chefs and makes airplane noises. He has yet to notice Mickey's ever naked, but if he does and seems repulsed by it, I'll come back and mea culpa. I doubt I'll have to. I'm more afraid he's going to start expecting to have "cake every morning."
Buy the book. Read with your children. Share the joy of these wonderful pictures and sweet story. Ignore the naysayers. .
Rating:
Summary: An excellent example of good children's literature
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Neat story and great illustrations
Review: It continues to amaze me how much of my childhood I can't remember. All the lesson I've learned from my parents were taking in, whether I truly listened was a different issue entirely. So when I recently mentioned to them that I remember this book. They were surpirsed. They joked how they wish other things they had read or said to me would of stuck as well. I'm 32 now, and what I do remember most about my childhood is a full of books. In The Night Kitchen - is one of those. I remember loving it so much back then that I asked if they still had it. Surprised and grateful - the book remains in our family. I'm looking forward to reading it again. In that instant I become the child in the backseat. "Are we there yet..."
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