It on Mulberry Street , '' was rejected by more than 25 publishers before Vanguard Press put it out in 1937 . Maurice Sendak 's legendary `` Where the Wild Things Are '' -LRB- 1963 -RRB- , though recognized with the Caldecott Medal -- the highest honor for a picture book -- was controversial for its drawings of monsters and its mischievous hero , Max . But almost all classics share some characteristics , says Alida Allison , a San Diego State University English professor and member of that California school 's National Center for the Study of Children 's Literature . `` Every one of them ... has the same reassuring pattern of ` home , away , home , ' '' she says . `` The basic plot begins with a happy family situation . Then one extremely curious or transgressive child goes out on his or her own . And , no matter how ` bad ' the child has been , he gets to come back home . '' The child is welcomed back to the family and often gets something to eat , she adds . -LRB- One exception : Seuss ' `` Mulberry ,
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- They feature characters such as hat-wearing cats , very hungry caterpillars , nice girls named Madeline and naughty boys named Max . `` The Very Hungry Caterpillar '' by Eric Carle turns 40 this year , and 29 million copies of it have sold since 1969 . Parents read them to their children , forming a powerful bond . Years later , those former children read these children 's picture books to their children , and the thread between generations is extended yet again . `` Children 's books live a long time because you always have children growing into them , '' says Pat Scales , president of the Association for Library Service to Children and a retired school librarian . `` And parents read -LSB- to their children -RSB- what was read to them . '' The making of a classic is a strange alchemy of skill -- a good story , strong illustrations -- and luck . It 's not easy to appeal to three audiences : publishers , parents and -- oh , yes -- children . Dr. Seuss ' first children 's book , `` And to Think That I Saw