In the Night Kitchen: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner (Caldecott Collection)

"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.

Little Mickey goes to bed and dreams of an adventure in the night kitchen. He almost gets baked into a cake (whoops!), makes an airplane out of dough, and saves the day by diving into a milk bottle to retrieve the missing ingredient for the bakers. Yes, its a strange story, because, you know - it's a *dream*, people. It's so evocative because it's so surreal, it is one of the most perfect renderings of the dream-state ever created. The illustrations are unbelievably gorgeous. Yes, the little boy is naked at times, and yes, you see his penis. If you think that's a big deal, nothing I'm going to say is going to convince you otherwise. But I am going to say that the nudity is not incidental. One of the primary delights of this book (and of dreaming for that matter) is it's sensory aspects - the great visuals of the city made of pantry items, the wonderful smells of baking, and of course, the feeling of food. If you have a kid you know that they love to play with food. Imagine how awesome it would be to roll around naked in cake batter, wear a cake suit, and go swimming in a big bottle of milk! I love this book, and have loved it for 30-some years. My little girl loves it too, and I hope she will read it to her kids as well! BTW, if you are a fan of the book, don't miss Stephen Colbert's discussion with Sendak on the Report [...]

I've purchased this book many time, and think maybe I've also written many reviews for it...Oh, well, here goes another one! LOL! When my children were young, over thirty years ago, this was their favorite book. My kids made me read it so many times that they actually knew it by heart! Whenever I am invited to a baby shower where they ask guests to bring a book for the baby instead of a greeting card, this is the book I bring. I recently did some research on this book and was surprised to find out that it was actually ban in some places because the little boy in the book is naked in some of the pictures, and heaven forbid, has a penis. I laughed so hard; I was shocked that an adorable drawing of a little naked boy would offend anyone. The words God Bless are also used a couple of times: "God Bless Milk, and God Bless me." And I totally approve and have no problem with that either. The story is about a little guy that can't fall asleep and ends up having a dream where he floats up to the Night Kitchen. It's a fun and creative story that your child will love.

Great book and artwork. Kids love it. Arrived well packaged in good condition. As pictured and described. Well pleased customer .

I bought this book because my former students loved the book. I thought it was because of the novelty of the naked boy illustrations. So, I thought my baby would like it some time down the line. I started reading it to him when he was a few months old because I like the off beat rhymes. Now my son is almost 10 months old and LOVES this book, particularly when I read it. I lay out several books every night and he always chooses this one, often times twice in a row. He tolerates most other books and will pay attention off and on, but he will listen with rapt attention to the whole book every time I read it. I've considered taking it out of rotation because even though I enjoy it, you can only take so much of a good thing! But I'm so happy he loves it! As for the cake controversy, it's clear that this is a narrative of a child's dream and cake isn't literal. The cake is a metaphor for the sun. The bakers bake in the night kitchen all night so the cake(sun) can rise every morning, with the crowing of the little boy. Thanks to Mickey sleeping and dreaming the sun rises each morning. That's how I plan to explain it anyway. As for the nakedness, there is nothing lewd about a cartoon boy and his vague nakedness. It's natural and innocent. If you think nudity is something shameful then don't buy or read the book!

My son, toddler age, loves this book. I think it’s weird but he really likes it.

Loved this book as a child, and buy it for the children of friends when I need to buy a gift.

I think the book is fun and jovial. I just remember loving it as a child and I never saw or had the ability to understand any of the possible "deeper meaning" controversies regarding some of the book's content. I read it to my sons and they enjoy it. I think that's all that matters. The author acknowledged some of the controversies as intentional including the look of the bakers. It's okay with me.

I've always loved reading this great classic to children. but in the age of supermarkets, existence of the bakers 'down below' is difficult to visualise. But it can generate a discussion on this topic!

honestly, when i first read this book to my son i was a little unsure, but quickly we grew to enjoy it. it's a strange little story with some almost psychadelic illustrations and each time we read it differently than before. and now both my 3 1/2 y.o. son and i think it's hilarious. recommended.

でてくる単語は、あまりなじみがないものもあります。また、英語の構文もフォーマルなものではなく倒置文などもあります。正直、最初は文章のよさがわかりませんでした。しかし、子供に何度か声をだして読みきかせているうちに、韻やリズムのよさがわかってきました。 内容は、ミッキーという男の子が、夜の台所でパンを焼くために必要な牛乳を、パンでできた飛行機でとりに行くというナンセンスなもの。ミッキーが牛乳をとってきてくれるので、朝にパンを食べることができるという結論です。パン作りのおじさん達の絵が、すこし不気味なのが気に入っています。ですが、我が家の子供は、ミッキーがお父さんとお母さんと一緒ではなく、一人でベットに寝ているという事実が、衝撃だったような、、、。

Un clásico encantador. Le doy 4 estrellas solo porque no pude conseguirlo en español, pero es totalmente encantador y el precio me parece justo.

Bom