I realized early on that Calvin’s (Max’s) crown was very important to the children. On the first day Calvin came, he asked if someone could help him by making a paper crown. It was quickly put together, Calvin’s head was measured, and a few slits were cut on the top. The crown was hurriedly made and nothing special to look at. But when we joined Calvin the first time and he picked one child that would put the crown on his head, the crown immediately grew in significance. Each time we told the story with Calvin, a different child was picked. And each time, the other Wild Things children waited, breathless, while the crown was placed on his head. It was always placed with such care and diligence. Afterwards, the crown was cared for and placed in a special spot until the next time we would see Calvin.
When it came time to make Calvin’s costume, I knew this would be an important piece, and indeed it was.
When it came time to make Calvin’s costume, I knew this would be an important piece, and indeed it was.
A plan was made by the committee to make a new crown. It would be a little bit bigger. The top would have “up and down, up and down cuts.” And, it must have a jewel.
Tricia: What kind of jewel? Where will we get it?
Cece: My mom has one, I can ask her for it. Or maybe who made it for her can make us one.
James: I saw one outside in the sandbox once.
Ames: I have something, I really have something. It’s in my backpack. It’s really what we need.
Ames went to his backpack and pulled out a little ziplock baggie of bottlecaps, his smile wide. In my own head, I had a moment of worry for Ames’ feelings of rejection. Surely the other children were thinking of a sparkly, shiny, glittery jewel and would let Ames know that bottlecaps were not worthy of the crown. But I was wrong.
James: Yes! That’s good!
Lousia: I brought those once, but we used them all in the art room.
Ames: These are for the art room, but we can save one. I’m going to save one in a good saving spot.
Ames proceeded to pull out one special bottlecap and place it in a little cabinet drawer in the cubby room. The conversation turned to the secret saving spot for the special jewel and how they would not tell anyone it was there. A week later, when it was time to make the crown, the bottlecap jewel was still safely tucked inside the drawer. The crown was made.
Tricia: What kind of jewel? Where will we get it?
Cece: My mom has one, I can ask her for it. Or maybe who made it for her can make us one.
James: I saw one outside in the sandbox once.
Ames: I have something, I really have something. It’s in my backpack. It’s really what we need.
Ames went to his backpack and pulled out a little ziplock baggie of bottlecaps, his smile wide. In my own head, I had a moment of worry for Ames’ feelings of rejection. Surely the other children were thinking of a sparkly, shiny, glittery jewel and would let Ames know that bottlecaps were not worthy of the crown. But I was wrong.
James: Yes! That’s good!
Lousia: I brought those once, but we used them all in the art room.
Ames: These are for the art room, but we can save one. I’m going to save one in a good saving spot.
Ames proceeded to pull out one special bottlecap and place it in a little cabinet drawer in the cubby room. The conversation turned to the secret saving spot for the special jewel and how they would not tell anyone it was there. A week later, when it was time to make the crown, the bottlecap jewel was still safely tucked inside the drawer. The crown was made.
I knew it would be a hard to decide who would do the crowning for the final Storytell. I considered putting it up to a vote, asking Calvin to pick, drawing a name out of a hat. Then without quite understanding why, I realized it needed to be the youngest of our group. When I announced it would be Izzi, no one complained or even questioned. Izzi thought she might need some help, and so Callum was brought on for the task.
I often wondered what the crowning meant for the children. Was it Max they were crowning—and by doing so honoring a secret version of their own wild selves? Or was it Calvin they crowned—an almost, kind-of adult (but who acted like a child) that listened to their ideas, and invited them on a wild rumpus? I think I will never understand, but can only bear witness to the magic of the crowning moment.
I often wondered what the crowning meant for the children. Was it Max they were crowning—and by doing so honoring a secret version of their own wild selves? Or was it Calvin they crowned—an almost, kind-of adult (but who acted like a child) that listened to their ideas, and invited them on a wild rumpus? I think I will never understand, but can only bear witness to the magic of the crowning moment.