2012 marked the passing of one of the master’s of children’s book writing and illustration, Maurice Sendak. While best know for his iconic book ‘Where the Wild Things Are’, it is more for his overall body of work that i will remember him. As a child who did not love those tiny books that made up “The Nutshell Library“? I will always admire the beauty of his illustrations in books for other authors, including “Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present” and “A Kiss for Little Bear“. “In the Night Kitchen”, caused controversy for it’s display of child nudity (!) but really, Mr Sendak was no ‘never nude‘, and he wasn’t afraid to go boldly where others would dare to go.
We will miss his astounding talent, so smartly nurtured by the publishing powers of his day.
This excerpt is from an interview Sendak did last year with Terry Gross on NPR. For me it topped his legendary appearance with Steven Colbert. Instead of almost falling out of my chair laughing like i did watching the Colbert interview, my eyes teared up for entirely different reasons. I think that tell a little about the depth of the man.
RIP Maurice Sendak.