Kenny's Window Hardcover – November 26, 2002

I discovered this book listening to the audio version by Tammy Grimes, now sadly out of print. (The vinyl sells for $944.) It is not quite up there with "Where the Wild Things Are" or "In the Night Kitchen", but it is very good. I'm not sure how well it would go over with children, but is should please adult fans of Maurice Sendak.

This is a lesser-known work of Maurice Sendak, but it is my favorite of all. The audio recording by Tammy Grimes is exceptional, and it is how I originally came to know the story. The illustrations are beautiful, and they complement the story very well. I would recommend this book for children and adults.

A gift for my adult Son.

Kenny is a wonderful book and can be appreciated in different ways depending on the age of the reader. It's slightly dark and certainly complicated, but even as a child I loved the world Kenny envisions even if it took me a few years to realize that it's at times sad, at times scary and certainly imperfect. Kenny (even as an adult) is still hands down my favorite fictional character ever created. Maurice Sendak has passed away, but the fact that I can still step in the worlds he created by simply opening a cover and start reading is a wonderful thing. I would especially recommend Kenny's Window for introverted kids, there's a lot of pressure to be gregarious and social as a kid and many times we forget that some kids would rather sit silently and read. Reading a book that basically says it's okay to be quiet, introverted and in your own head is something I especially appreciated and something parents with even the best intentions sometimes forget.

Great

Kenny's Window is a very interesting book. I have always been a fan of Maurice Sendak's illustrations, but he is also a good author as well as a brilliant illustrator. A young boy named Kenny has a dream where he is in a garden. One half of the garden has the sun shining and the other half the glowing moon. There is a tree covered with white blossoms and a train. But there is also a four-legged rooster who gives Kenny seven questions to answer. If he answers them all correctly, he will be allowed to live in the garden. The book deals with Kenny's quest in trying to decipher the questions, and maybe learning a little about himself. The illustrations that accompany this book are not as lavish as some of Sendak's other works like "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Outside Over There", yet their beautiful simplicity capture the mood of the story. Very young children may not understand some of the hidden meanings found in the story. I'd recommend this book for 6 to 7 year olds who are starting to get more out of books than just looking at the pictures. Kenny's Window is an enjoyable read.

beautiful book