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Quick answer: If you love Where the Wild Things Are, try In the Night Kitchen, The Gruffalo, Harold and the Purple Crayon and Jumanji. All send a child into a strange place where imagination takes over and bedtime comes in time.
Maurice Sendak's 1963 picture book shows Max sent to his room, sailing to an island of wild creatures and finally returning home. Children love how it treats big feelings as real and safe to explore. The books below share that mix of adventure, monsters, imagination and a cozy ending, and they suit ages 3 to 7.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the Night Kitchen | Maurice Sendak | 3-7 | more Sendak |
| Outside Over There | Maurice Sendak | 4-8 | fairy-tale mood |
| The Gruffalo | Julia Donaldson | 3-7 | read-aloud rhymes |
| Harold and the Purple Crayon | Crockett Johnson | 3-6 | imaginative play |
| Jumanji | Chris Van Allsburg | 5-9 | adventure and suspense |
| There's a Nightmare in My Closet | Mercer Mayer | 3-6 | bedtime fears |
| The Monster at the End of This Book | Jon Stone | 3-6 | interactive fun |
| The Snowy Day | Ezra Jack Keats | 2-6 | quiet wonder |
| The Story of Ferdinand | Munro Leaf | 3-7 | gentle stories |
| Tuesday | David Wiesner | 4-8 | wordless wonder |
| Go Away, Big Green Monster! | Ed Emberley | 2-5 | first scary books |
| Not Now, Bernard | David McKee | 3-6 | silly monsters |
| The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Eric Carle | 1-4 | toddlers |
| Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day | Judith Viorst | 4-8 | big feelings |
| Owl Moon | Jane Yolen | 4-8 | nighttime adventures |
1. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
Mickey falls out of his bed and into a night bakery. A playful, dreamy companion to Sendak's best-known book.
Best for: more Sendak.
2. Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak
Ida goes through a window to rescue her baby sister from goblins. Strange and beautiful, a bit more serious.
Best for: fairy-tale mood.
3. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
A clever mouse invents a terrifying creature to scare off predators and then meets it. Rhyming, funny and easy to read aloud.
Best for: read-aloud rhymes.
4. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A boy draws his own adventures with a purple crayon. Simple art and a very imaginative idea.
Best for: imaginative play.
5. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Two children play a board game that makes the jungle come alive. Moody illustrations and a thrilling plot.
Best for: adventure and suspense.
6. There's a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer
A boy confronts the nightmare in his closet and finds a surprise. Gentle and comforting for children who fear the dark.
Best for: bedtime fears.
7. The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone
Grover begs the reader not to turn the pages, because there is a monster at the end. Interactive and funny.
Best for: interactive fun.
8. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Peter explores a snowy city. A quiet, lovely classic that won the Caldecott Medal.
Best for: quiet wonder.
9. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
A bull prefers smelling flowers to fighting. A gentle classic from 1936.
Best for: gentle stories.
10. Tuesday by David Wiesner
Frogs rise on lily pads and fly across a town at night. A nearly wordless picture book that won a Caldecott Medal.
Best for: wordless wonder.
11. Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Die-cut pages build a green monster and then make it disappear. Helps children feel brave.
Best for: first scary books.
12. Not Now, Bernard by David McKee
A boy is ignored by his parents until a monster eats him. Dark humour that kids tend to love.
Best for: silly monsters.
13. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A caterpillar eats through foods and becomes a butterfly. Colorful, simple and a classic for good reason.
Best for: toddlers.
14. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Alexander has a day when everything goes wrong. It shows that big feelings are normal.
Best for: big feelings.
15. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A child goes owling with her father on a winter night. Soft, atmospheric and a Caldecott winner.
Best for: nighttime adventures.
How to Choose
For younger toddlers, begin with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Go Away, Big Green Monster! or The Snowy Day. For preschoolers who like silly monsters, choose The Gruffalo, Not Now, Bernard or The Monster at the End of This Book. For dreamy journeys, pick In the Night Kitchen, Harold and the Purple Crayon or Tuesday. Slightly older children may like Jumanji and Outside Over There, which are more intense. Read slowly and let your child point things out. These books reward repeat readings, and many children want the same story every night for weeks.
Related: 15 Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing You’ll Love · 15 Books Like Into the Wild You’ll Love: Wilderness, Adventure and Self-Discovery
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Where the Wild Things Are for?
It is usually for ages 3 to 7, though many younger and older children enjoy it.
Did Where the Wild Things Are win an award?
Yes, it won the Caldecott Medal in 1964.
Is it too scary for toddlers?
The monsters are friendly in the end, but a very sensitive child may prefer gentler books.
Which Sendak book should I read next?
In the Night Kitchen is the most popular follow-up.
Which books help with bedtime?
Owl Moon, There's a Nightmare in My Closet and The Snowy Day work well.
Are these good for reading aloud?
Yes, The Gruffalo and The Monster at the End of This Book are made for performance.
Which books are best for a first library trip?
Start with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Snowy Day and The Gruffalo.