Tuesday, May 8, 2012

It's a sad day in the life of Maurice Sendak's fans

     When you opened your special Internet site this morning, I'm sure you saw the news.  Maurice Sendak, one of America's favorite writer/illustrators of children's literature, passed away at the age of 83.
     If you don't know who he was, that's a shame.  His most famous book, "Where the Wild Things Are" was made into a movie...about a little boy named Max, who had a fight at home and runs away into the woods. He finds a boat there, jumps in, and ends up on the open sea, destination unknown. He lands on the island of the Wild Things, and soon he becomes their king. But things get complicated when Max realizes that the Wild Things want as much from him as he wants from them.  It was a fantastic movie!
     Maurice Sendak has been called one of the most important, if not most important, writers and artists to ever work in children's literature.
     His books of fantasy and imagination have fans ranging in age from five to seventy.  His books-turned-films have stayed in the minds of the millions who delighted in seeing his stories on the big screen.
     And now there will be no more of Maurice's special talents...the stories that delight and haunt us, the pictures of big and small monsters with funny faces and sometimes kind, loving arms.
     In checking our library, I found we have three books by Sendak:  1) Pierre (1991), Higglety Pigglety Pop! (1967), and Where the Wild Things Are (1963).  But there are more through the Interlibrary Loan.
     Even if you don't have a child to read to, these books are wonderful reading for adults.  You might try the following for delightful entertainment:
  • Bumble-ardy (2011)
  • Mommy? (2006)
  • Very Far Away (2005)
  • Sign on Rosie's Door (2002)
  • Kenny's Window (2002)
  • We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy (1993)
  • Some Swell Pup (1992)
  • Seven Tales (1991)
  • Alligators All Around (1991)
  • and more....
     He might have seemed like a funny-looking old man, even cranky in the interviews he gave, but he was an amazing artist and writer.
     I'll miss those special talents of his.  Just like I miss Shel Silverstein's.

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