Everyone knows New York City is really where the wild things are. Spike Jonze adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic 1963 children's book "Where The Wild Things Are" hits theaters October 16th.

In addition to a fashion collaboration with Opening Ceremony and a pop up shop in LA, Warner Brothers and the City of New York are sponsoring events and cultural happenings during "Wild Things Week" to coincide with the film's release. But before you go dressing up like Max for Halloween, you may want to check out one of the following events, and learn a bit about the story behind the story that is required childhood reading.


Where the Wild Things Are: Original Drawings by Maurice Sendak- October 6- November 1st
Morgan Library and Museum, 225 Madison Avenue

"Exhibition features original drawings and manuscript pages from the book. Twelve drawings and two manuscript pages will be on view in the Morgan's historic McKim building. Includes such iconic images as Max in his wolf suit, grinning in his tree-filled bedroom; his arrival in the land of "wild things"; and his triumphant departure by sailboat. Also on view are a pencil drawing for the cover illustration of a sleeping "wild thing" as well as a preliminary sketch-not incorporated into the final published version-of a mischievous Max on all fours atop the dinner table slurping a strand of spaghetti."

Spike Jones: The First 80 Years- October 8th-18th
Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street

"MoMA's Department of Film presents the first-ever retrospective of Spike Jonze (b. 1969, Rockville, Maryland), celebrating his work as a director, producer, cinematographer, writer, actor, choreographer, and sometime stuntman... Jonze, who came up with the exhibition's wry title himself, participates in an opening-night discussion with Maurice Sendak and exhibition curator Joshua Siegel."

"Wild Things" Circle Time- Sat., Oct. 10 – Fri., Oct. 16 (closed Tues., Oct. 13), 4 PM daily
Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn

For the 5 and under set, "listen to the story of Max as he boards his private boat and sails across the ocean to the land Where the Wild Things Are. Let your wild thing out by roaring your terrible roar, gnashing your terrible teeth, rolling your terrible eyes, and showing your terrible claws!"

Painting & Story Time at the Queens Museum of Art, Sun., Oct. 11 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM; readings at 2 PM & 3 PM
NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park

"Embark on a tour of the panorama of the City of New York and imagine yourself as a Wild Thing on the loose, get messy and paint your own Wild Thing, and listen to the story of Where the Wild Things Are in both English and Spanish."

Creativity Courses at the Children's Museum of Manhattan , Mon., Oct. 12 Various times
182 Lafayette Street

"Make a Wild Thing mask out of textured fabrics and paper, and participate in an interactive reading of Where the Wild Things Are during which the storyteller will play Max and the audience will act as the Wild Things."

Wild Things Workshops at the Staten Island Children's Museum, Mon.,Oct. 12, Tues., Oct. 13, Fri., Oct. 16 & Sat., Oct. 17 Various times
1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island

"Create your own Wild Thing out of clay, bake some chocolate bark, and come face-to-face with a real live Wild Thing at the Staten Island Zoo."

Where the Wild Things Are Celebrity Reading, Tues., Oct. 13, 4 PM
The New York Public Library, 455 Fifth Avenue

"Max Records, Catherine Keener, and Forest Whitaker from the film will read Maurice Sendak's classic children's book aloud to children of all ages at the South Court Auditorium in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building."

New York City Premiere of "Where the Wild Things Are," Tues., Oct. 13, 7 PM
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center

"Welcome the cast and crew of "Where the Wild Things Are" on the red carpet. The film stars Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara and Forest Whitaker."