Here are 79 books that Where The Wild Things Are fans have personally recommended if you like Where The Wild Things Are. Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of They All Saw a Cat

Regina Linke Author Of Little Helper

From my list on picture books that have more layers than cake.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I first started to teach my son how to be a good person, I came face-to-face with the question of what “goodness” even meant to me. Living in Taiwan at the time, I started studying what Chinese philosophy had to share on the topic, and I started drawing and writing stories that would make certain concepts easier for young readers to explore with their grown-ups. Parables and fables have long been engaging tools to convey morals and values. Though the values may change over time, I find the format to still be a wonderful tool to explore some of life's biggest questions.

Regina's book list on picture books that have more layers than cake

Regina Linke Why Regina loves this book

I think empathy is such a doozy to convey without sounding preachy, and even more difficult for young children to grasp when their cognitive development might not be up to the task.

So, I love how Wenzel invites the reader to look at the same cat from different perspectives, like a mouse, a fox, a bird, and even the cat itself. How we perceive the world and ourselves depends on so many things that each perspective can be vastly different from one another, and each perspective is also valid. 

By Brendan Wenzel ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked They All Saw a Cat as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel - New York Times bestseller and 2017 Caldecott Medal and Honor Book

"An ingenious idea, gorgeously realized." -Shelf Awareness, starred review
"Both simple and ingenious in concept, Wenzel's book feels like a game changer." -The Huffington Post

The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?

If you and your child…


If you love Where The Wild Things Are...

Book cover of Mamiachi & Me: My Mami's Mariachi Band

Mamiachi & Me by Jolene Gutiérrez,

Mamiachi & Me is a lyrical and empowering picture book about what it means to be a mariachi in an all‑female band.

Today, Rosa will take the stage next to her mami and play along with her popular mariachi band. But Rosa begins to worry. What if the audience doesn’t…

Book cover of Big Wolf and Little Wolf

Regina Linke Author Of Little Helper

From my list on picture books that have more layers than cake.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I first started to teach my son how to be a good person, I came face-to-face with the question of what “goodness” even meant to me. Living in Taiwan at the time, I started studying what Chinese philosophy had to share on the topic, and I started drawing and writing stories that would make certain concepts easier for young readers to explore with their grown-ups. Parables and fables have long been engaging tools to convey morals and values. Though the values may change over time, I find the format to still be a wonderful tool to explore some of life's biggest questions.

Regina's book list on picture books that have more layers than cake

Regina Linke Why Regina loves this book

I adore how this book shows beauty as something irrevocably tied to heartache.

While both Big Wolf and Little Wolf have their own expectations for the little leaf, what happens is – as it often does in life – neither. But, instead of becoming a source of disappointment, Brun-Cosme shows us that what happens is something more and even more poignant, an invitation to show up for one another even in imperfect ways.

By Nadine Brun-Cosme , Olivier Tallec (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Big Wolf and Little Wolf as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

A picture book that is unique in mood and tone about the friendship that develops between a solitary big wolf and a little wolf. It's about what happens when a solitary wolf becomes a lonely wolf. Named a 2010 Batchelder Honor Book for being an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States


Book cover of The Bridge

Regina Linke Author Of Little Helper

From my list on picture books that have more layers than cake.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I first started to teach my son how to be a good person, I came face-to-face with the question of what “goodness” even meant to me. Living in Taiwan at the time, I started studying what Chinese philosophy had to share on the topic, and I started drawing and writing stories that would make certain concepts easier for young readers to explore with their grown-ups. Parables and fables have long been engaging tools to convey morals and values. Though the values may change over time, I find the format to still be a wonderful tool to explore some of life's biggest questions.

Regina's book list on picture books that have more layers than cake

Regina Linke Why Regina loves this book

While some people might find this book to be one where nothing happens, I find it as tickling as a pipe cleaner through the brain.

This isn't easy to do in a children's picture book, but Lindström is a master. I think sparseness in both the illustrations and the words is the book's biggest strength, as it challenges the reader to take a few meager breadcrumbs and try piece to something together, and the more you try, the deeper you go down the rabbit hole of good, evil, intention, and reality.

By Eva Lindström , Annie Prime (translator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Bridge as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

“The Bridge is so many things at once. It is very funny, it is very mysterious, it is very beautiful, and it is like no book I’ve ever seen. I love it very much.” —Jon Klassen

From beloved Swedish children’s author-illustrator Eva Lindström, The Bridge is the story of two wolves, one pig, and a bridge—and what it means to embrace the absurd twists and turns that life sometimes has in store. Perfect for fans of the down-to-earth charm and wisdom of William Steig and the sly wit of Jon Klassen.

A pig drives by looking for a bridge but…


If you love Maurice Sendak...

Book cover of Floretta

Floretta by Joan Budilovsky,

Floretta- the story of an old woman who discovers life beautifully anew thru the helping hands of a child. The chakra colors of dawn and twilight are woven through the pages as the cycle of life is magically composed. The subject of “heaven,” has the potential to open discussions with…

Book cover of Waiting

Regina Linke Author Of Little Helper

From my list on picture books that have more layers than cake.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I first started to teach my son how to be a good person, I came face-to-face with the question of what “goodness” even meant to me. Living in Taiwan at the time, I started studying what Chinese philosophy had to share on the topic, and I started drawing and writing stories that would make certain concepts easier for young readers to explore with their grown-ups. Parables and fables have long been engaging tools to convey morals and values. Though the values may change over time, I find the format to still be a wonderful tool to explore some of life's biggest questions.

Regina's book list on picture books that have more layers than cake

Regina Linke Why Regina loves this book

Despite the constant presence of mobile devices, I think that life – at its core – is still an experience of watching and waiting.

I love that this book shows how we each wait for different things to happen, and how different things can make us happy. Things happen, some people come and stay, and some go, and nothing lasts forever. And that is also a part of life, a river that remains constantly in flux.

By Kevin Henkes ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Waiting as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Caldecott Honor and Geisel Honor Book What are you waiting for? An owl, a puppy, a bear, a rabbit, and a pig-all toys arranged on a child's windowsill-wait for marvelous things to happen in this irresistible picture book by the New York Times-bestselling and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes. Five friends sit happily on a windowsill, waiting for something amazing to happen. The owl is waiting for the moon. The pig is waiting for the rain. The bear is waiting for the wind. The puppy is waiting for the snow. And the rabbit is just looking out the window because he…


Book cover of Deadly Trespass

Meredith Marple Author Of The Year Mrs. Cooper Got Out More: A Great Wharf Novel

From my list on people with other animals in the mix.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a former independent publisher and current writer of memoir and fiction. My degree was in zoology (animal biology), which got me my first job in educational publishing. After a solid career in textbooks, I switched over to trade publishing and finally writing. I may have left the "hard science" behind, but I continue to be fascinated by human and animal behavior, which shows up in my reading and writing. 

Meredith's book list on people with other animals in the mix

Meredith Marple Why Meredith loves this book

The animal is a wild pack of gray wolves. Also a dog. The human is a capable and complex fifty-year-old divorcee who is determined not to let politics defeat the wilderness in her state of Maine. A vibrant and educational novel. Though I live in Maine part-time, I’m an indoorsy type. Author Neily is an outdoorsy type, and she proves it with her plots, settings, and characters.

By Sandra Neily ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Deadly Trespass as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner: Mystery Writers of America McCloy Award. National finalist: Women’s Fiction Writers Association “Rising Star” contest.

Cassandra Patton Conover is about to become an outlaw. Searching for her wayward dog in Maine’s dense woods, she finds her best friend Shannon crushed under a tree. Then she finds tracks larger than any animal she knows and a mystery only wild animals can help her solve.

Before she can absorb the loss of her friend, Patton is hired to guide a surly reporter who suspects extinct wolves have returned to Maine, but the forest has too many agendas. A billionaire hopes wolves…


Book cover of Hit by a Flying Wolf: True Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation and Real Life with Dogs and Wolves

Kari Neumeyer Author Of Bark and Lunge: Saving My Dog from Training Mistakes

From my list on dogs who rescue us as much as we rescue them.

Why am I passionate about this?

I made so many mistakes with my first German shepherd, Isis, that I wrote a book about her in hopes of saving other people from the same heartbreak and frustration. Then I wound up living with two more German shepherds with similar challenges. Our current dog, Bailey, was undersocialized before we met her, but our past experience showed us how to help her live her best life anyway. My dogs have enriched my life so much that my favorite books are about the ways they save us as much as we save them. 

Kari's book list on dogs who rescue us as much as we rescue them

Kari Neumeyer Why Kari loves this book

Speaking of wolves, this book describes how wolves and wolfdogs can be safely contained and cared for. Author Nicole Wilde ran Villalobos Rescue Center back when it was a wolf rescue, and is also a specialist in domestic dog behavior. In this book, she opens up about the struggles she had with some of her own dogs. It’s very reassuring to read about experts having the same problems we do. Not only does Wilde describe the animals vividly in prose, but her photographs also are stunning. It bums me out when photos in dog books are grainy and black and white, or worse, when there are no photos at all. I want to see the dogs!

By Nicole Wilde ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hit by a Flying Wolf as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner 2015 Silver Award Benjamin Franklin Awards! Have you ever had to save a wolf from a rattlesnake? Or rehabilitate a dog who eats furniture and major appliances? Have you chased a stray wolf down suburban streets in the thick of a winter storm? Nicole Wilde has done all of those things and more. As a professional dog trainer and canine behavior specialist, executive director of a wolf rescue, and long-time Dog Mom, Nicole not only shares wildly fascinating stories of rescuing, training, and living with dogs and wolves, but also offers heartfelt insight into how she solved problems and…


If you love Where The Wild Things Are...

Book cover of Dudley's Day at Home

Dudley's Day at Home by Karen Kaufman Orloff,

“What does Dudley do all day while we’re away?” Sam wonders.

Mom explains that Dudley does ordinary dog things: he eats, naps, guards the house, and plays. But in Sam’s mind, Dudley’s day at home is anything but ordinary.

Delightful digital paintings depict the human activities Sam imagines Dudley is…

Book cover of Voice of the Just

Cy Bishop Author Of DragonBond

From my list on sassy non-human sidekicks.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always loved a good sassy sidekick, human or otherwise. I started my first book, DragonBond, at the age of fifteen, and throughout the various drafts between its inception and its completion, the dragon Axen’s sass game has always been fierce. Since then, I’ve published a total of thirteen books, seven of which are in the Endonshan Chronicles series. I have a Master’s degree in psychology which I use to create well-rounded characters with unique quirks and personalities. I hope you enjoy these picks and all the snark contained within!

Cy's book list on sassy non-human sidekicks

Cy Bishop Why Cy loves this book

This fun adventure features Alex, a bond man, and his wolf, Tala, who isn’t afraid to get her paws dirty or set Alex straight whenever he goes out of line. The two of them must deal with unjust accusations, banishment, a foreign land, and the intricacies of romance while assassins hunt them and a corrupt prince does everything in his power to bring them down. I found the relationship between Alex and Tala endearing throughout the novel, and I especially enjoyed Tala's larger-than-life personality.

By Sonja Hutchinson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Voice of the Just as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Who do you trust?

An unjust beating leaves warrior Alex scarred and deformed, unfit for duty—until a voice calls him to the forests. He is chosen to bond with Tala, a silver wolf, and share a telepathic link. She heals his injuries, and he uses his enhanced abilities to serve his people. He just has to avoid the royal family.

Prince Donal isn't satisfied ruling his realm. He also wants the smaller nation to the south. But Alex and the wolves stand in Donal’s way. He frames Alex for the murder of a foreign diplomat and deploys hunters to eradicate…


Book cover of Just a Little Run Around the World: 5 Years, 3 Packs of Wolves and 53 Pairs of Shoes

Margaret Moore Author Of From Sri Lanka with Love: A Tapestry of Travel Tales

From my list on travelogue memoirs to reminisce or plan a holiday.

Why am I passionate about this?

Primarily I’m a wife and mother, who loves holidays and writing about our experiences: from the many family holidays in a static caravan 90 minutes’ drive from our hometown in Scotland to the wonderful opportunities we’ve had to travel the world since, including through my work as a lecturer (when the family came too for a holiday while I worked!) or with friends. I like reading other authors’ personal experiences especially when I’m drawn into feeling I’m with the author during the travels, experiencing what’s not always included in travel guidebooks: the not-so-good as well as the good, the challenging as well as the amazing.

Margaret's book list on travelogue memoirs to reminisce or plan a holiday

Margaret Moore Why Margaret loves this book

I found myself regularly asking, 'How does she keep going!!?’ Rosie is an amazing person, battling through temperatures as low as -62 degrees C, deep snow, packs of wolves, a monotonous diet, and breaking equipment. After running and pulling a cart between 500 yards and 30 miles a day (depending on weather conditions), she reached home 5 years and 53 pairs of shoes later having run 20,000 miles around the world.

The book recounts all the challenges and how they were overcome. I felt it was a summary of diary writings which wasn’t always fluent or of the same level of detail but then I thought ‘no wonder!’ given the level of difficulty of the expedition. I felt compelled to read to the end of the book. An inspirational tale.

By Rosie Swale Pope ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Just a Little Run Around the World as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

After her husband died of cancer, 57-year-old Rosie set off to run around the world, raising money in memory of the man she loved. Followed by wolves, knocked down by a bus, confronted by bears, chased by a naked man with a gun and stranded with severe frostbite, Rosie's breathtaking 20,000-mile solo journey is as gripping as it is inspiring.

Rosie's solo run around the world started out of sorrow and heartache and a wish to turn something around.

Heartbroken when she lost her husband to cancer, Rosie set off from Wales with nothing but a small backpack of food…


Book cover of Wild Harmonies: A Life of Music and Wolves

Adriana Barton Author Of Wired for Music: A Search for Health and Joy Through the Science of Sound

From my list on memoirs on music that explore the agony and the ecstasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

Music has been a passion ever since I joined my mother’s hippie jam sessions as a toddler. During my 17 years as a professional cellist-in-training, I tried Yo-Yo Ma’s Stradivarius and played Pachelbel’s Canon at a gazillion weddings. I even made it to Carnegie Hall, performing in a university orchestra on the gilded stage. But injuries, both physical and psychological, put an end to my classical music career. Trying to forget my cello years, I entered journalism, eventually becoming a staff health reporter at Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. Later, when a percussion workshop triggered a dramatic shift in my perspective, I answered the call to explore music in a more expansive way.

Adriana's book list on memoirs on music that explore the agony and the ecstasy

Adriana Barton Why Adriana loves this book

This book enticed me with the audacity of its premise: a quasi-mystical connection between classical music and the feral nature of wolves.

Renowned pianist Hélène Grimaud grew up a rambunctious child in southern France who found meaning in the melodies of long-dead composers. Years later, on a dark Florida night, she has a chance encounter with a wolf. Lupine mythologies permeate her story, and psyche.

No longer content to admire wolves from a distance, she later founds a wolf conservation centre in upstate New York. While this book may not be a literary tour-de-force, I was enthralled by the theme of “rewilding” music.

By Hélène Grimaud , Ellen Hinsey (translator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wild Harmonies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An acclaimed French pianist describes her life-changing first encounter with a wolf hybrid in 1991, her efforts to protect the threatened wolf species, and her foundation of a wolf preserve on the grounds of her New York State home. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.


If you love Maurice Sendak...

Book cover of Real Princesses Change the World

Real Princesses Change the World by Carrie A. Pearson,

Real Princesses Change the World is an inspirational and diverse picture book that highlights 11 contemporary real-life princesses and four heirs apparent from around the world.

Have you heard of a STEM-aligned real-life princess who is an engineer and product developer? Or a princess who is a computer expert? An…

Book cover of Linger

Michael Griffo Author Of Moonglow

From my list on changelings and their friends.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a writer I like to explore many genres, and one of my favorites is young adult supernatural.  I think I was destined to write in this world because the first book I took out of the library was Where the Wild Things Are. My favorite books as a teenager all dealt with supernatural themes – Summer of Fear, Carrie, and Audrey Rose. Writing about changelings allows me to explore the tenuous connection between what lies inside of us – our psyche, our minds, our souls – and what might exist on the other side of our known world.  It’s the search for that missing link that keeps me writing.  

Michael's book list on changelings and their friends

Michael Griffo Why Michael loves this book

I love when fantasy meets reality and that’s just what happens in Linger. A virus turns people into werewolves and the transformations are controlled by the temperature. A worldwide virus and an unpredictable climate? Talk about a dose of reality. Grace Brisbane is an anomaly – she was bitten by werewolves when she was young, but somehow has never shifted and as a result she’s dying. The book follows Grace as she and her friends try to save her life. It’s a fantastical story, but grounded in real human emotions. The perfect blend of truth and fiction.

By Maggie Stiefvater ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Linger as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

The LongingOnce Grace and Sam
have found each other they know they must fight to stay together. For
Sam this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace it means
facing a future that is less and less certain.The LossInto
their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and
danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a
wolf while denying the ties of being human. The LingerFor
Grace, Sam and Cole life is a constant struggle between two forces -
wolf and human - with love baring its…


Book cover of They All Saw a Cat
Book cover of Big Wolf and Little Wolf
Book cover of The Bridge

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Interested in wolves, cakes, and French travel?

Wolves 132 books
Cakes 16 books
French Travel 42 books