Last week’s opening of the movie “Where the Wild Things Are,” based on the famous children’s book by Maurice Sendak, has children and adults alike in an excited frenzy, and the Rosenbach Museum and Library is showing everyone that the wild things are right here in our own backyard with their “And It’s Still Hot: Where the Wild Things Are” exhibit.

Coinciding with the movie and offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of one of the most favored children’s books of all time, this exhibit features original drafts, manuscripts and sketches that allow the visitor a peek into Sendak’s mind and drawing board as he was working on the book.

“We have a broad range of materials from drafts to watercolor paintings and sketches that give our visitors a sense of the painstaking process that Sendak went through to create this book,” says Patrick Rodgers, the curator of the exhibit. “And we not only focus on the book itself, we also focus on what came after the book. It’s been a huge influence in pop culture since it was published in 1963.”

In the 1970s, Sendak chose the Rosenbach as the storehouse for his various works. The museum has thousands of original manuscripts, sketches and working materials, making it our resident Sendak-expert.

“We have Sendak’s original works, so we knew that we could answer the questions that our guests would have about the film. Someone can come to the exhibit and see Sendak’s perspective and then go see the film and see Spike Jonze’s perspective,” says Rodgers.

Not only is the museum offering this exhibit through Oct. 25, it is also offering “Too Many Thoughts to Chew: A Sendak Stew,” an exhibition based on food in Sendak’s works.

“Everything in this exhibit is related to food or eating or being eaten. Food meant a lot to Sendak and is prevalent in his works,” says Rodgers.

If you want to get a little more hands-on, the museum offers in-depth tours with Rodgers himself. In this tour you can get a backstage look at Sendak’s work and even hold Sendak’s original works in your own hands.

“Guests can safely handle some of the drafts and drawings that we have. They are a ton of fun and it’s great for kids. It’s so great to see people really get involved, and they often come out chuckling when they realize the humor that Sendak put into his work,” says Rodgers. “It can also be very emotional — many people remember this book from when they were younger. The message in the book is, basically, love, and that can be powerful.”

Whether your parents read you “Where the Wild Things Are” when you were a kid, or if you read it to your children — or both — this exhibit is something everyone can enjoy. So head down to the Rosenbach Museum and Library and let the wild rumpus begin.

If You Go:

“It’s Still Hot: Where the Wild Things Are” will be running at Rosenbach Museum & Library, 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103, through Oct. 25.

“Too Many Thoughts to Chew: A Sendak Stew” will be running through Jan. 17.

Tickets: $10 adults; $8, seniors; $5, students. Children under 5, free.

Info: 215-732-1600 or www.rosenbach.org.