Where the Wild HUGS Are…

This weekend, we went to a great Where the Wild Things Are event held jointly by a toyshop, Henry Bear’s Park, and a bookstore, Porter Square Books, in Cambridge.  (As you may be aware, we’re big fans of the book.) 

It was great.  There was a chance to meet a Wild Thing (a toyshop clerk dressed in an elaborate costume with a HUGE head), face painting, a Wild Things puppet show, and then a parade to the bookstore a couple of storefronts down for a reading of Where the Wild Things Are. 

Luke and Charlotte attended in costume, of course.  Charlotte was dressed as one of the Wild Things (the one with chicken feet), and Luke was dressed as Max (in a wolf suit).

Initially, Luke was afraid to go anywhere near the Wild Thing.  I tried to explain that he was Max, the king of the Wild Things, but he didn’t go for it.  At least he didn’t go for it at first. 

After a little while, Luke became quite attached to the Wild Thing.  He gave her a hug and later explained who he was (“I’m Max”) and began telling her things excitedly (not sure what, exactly). 

At one point, we were in the back of the toyshop (attempting to give other kids a chance to meet the Wild Thing) and all of a sudden Luke took off toward the front of the store.  The Wild Thing’s ‘handler’ (she could probably barely see out of the costume and had to be lead by the arm) was escorting her to a side room for a break, and Luke must have been keeping an eye on things and took off after her. 

He kept close watch on the door through which she exited, and when she came back out, he made his way through people’s legs and went right up to her to tell her something else (again, not sure what).

Then all the kids lined up for the parade and followed the Wild Thing down the sidewalk to the bookstore and processed to the reading area at the back of the store.

The Wild Thing sat in a chair near the storyteller, and Luke barely took his eyes off of the Wild Thing.  He waved to her several times throughout the reading and exclaimed, “My friend is in the book!”

At the end of the reading, the storyteller asked everyone to say ‘goodbye’ to the Wild Thing, who stood up and was being approached by her handler.

Luke took this as his cue.  He stood up, went to the front of the audience, walked over to the Wild Thing (as its king, I suppose) and said, “Come with me…” taking her hand (and attempting to usurp the role of the handler). 

Karen and I froze, not sure what to do.  Charlotte, apparently thinking that her brother couldn’t do this on his own, proceeded to walk up to the front as well and stand next to her brother, for moral support, I suppose (and because she also likes to be at the center of things).

Adorable.  We eventually got Luke (and Charlotte) to return back to the crowd, without the Wild Thing, for another story.

I’ve included a short video snippet of Luke’s ‘Wild Thing’ hug below for your viewing pleasure.

I hope you enjoyed today’s serving of ‘mac & cheese’ (and that it’s still hot).