Beloved "Wild Things" Author Maurice Sendak Has Died (1928-2012)
"Please don't go. We'll eat you up, we love you so."
One of the most influential children's authors of the past century has died.
Though best known for creating the wild rumpus nightmare, Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak wrote and illustrated dozens of children's books during a career that spanned 60 years. He brought nightmares and mosters to illustrated life, creating a new style of children's literature - less flowery, more gritty. His unsentimental storytelling appealed to kids and adults. In fact, Sendak didn't consider himself a children's author at all - just an author who wrote stories “about human emotion and life,” as he told People magazine in 2003.
Time magazine once called him "the Picasso of children's books."
Though his biggest hit (Wild Things) was published in 1963, Sendak never slowed down. His most recent book, Bumble-Ardy, was published last September.
Watch this space for a more comprehensive look at Sendak's life and work in the days to come.
>See all of Maurice Sendak's books.
Jill on May 08, 2012 at 08:13 AM
It is very sad that Maurice Sendak has died. As a teacher of k-2 students, I used his books alot. I taught many a first Grader to read using his Chicken Soup with Rice poems each month of the year!!Loved Where the wild things are andPierre was fun to read. He will be kmissed but will live on through has wonderful books!
Sandi on May 08, 2012 at 01:07 PM
Max was my alter ego. There are no other authors to quite catch the imagination as Maurice Sendak did. His stage creations for the Seattle Ballet's Nutcracker make the ballet. Farewell.