The Life and Death of Maurice Sendak: June 10, 1928 to May 8, 2012
Hello Everyone,
I'm Not Quite Miss Rumphius and this is the blog for the Children's Department at North York Central Library. Welcome back.
Maurice Sendak, acclaimed author of Where the Wild Things Are, Outside Over There, and many other children's books died earlier today. He was 83 years old. It's difficult to sum up the impact Mr. Sendak had on the world of children's publishing and on several generations of children who read his books and pored over his pictures.
He was — like each one of us is, in the end — a bundle of contradictions. A private person and dutiful son, he took great pains to make sure his paren'ts never learned he was a gay man; yet he didn't shy away from the controversy that came with his portrayal of a naked child in the frequently-banned book, In the Night Kitchen. He detested the sugary sweet and twee world of "little people" that many writers and illustrators chose to depict; yet he was the perfect illustrator for the charming, cozy world of Little Bear in Else Holmelund Minarik's beloved books for beginning readers.
There were other contradictions, too. Maurice Sendak could be, in his public opinions, as bracing and bitter as a cup of strong, black coffee and indeed, near the end of his life he came across as defiant and even unreasonable; yet he was also a generous mentor to up-and-coming illustrators and a gifted collaborator who worked with others in the world of theater to create a stage version of Brundibar, an opera first performed by children trapped in a concentration camp.
He shrugged off the label of "Children's Author" and loathed the "Kiddies' Writer" designation that was often unwittingly conferred upon him; at the same time, he saw himself as someone who had no choice but to champion and defend children. He believed it was their right to have books and stories and pictures that reflected the totality of their world; the sorrows, the fears, the small delights and oversize pleasures that make up that great swirl of any child's emotional life.
The glorious, exuberant world that he depicted in Where the Wild Things Are is as good as any to imagine as the place where Maurice Sendak lives on. Let the wild rumpus begin!
10 thoughts on “The Life and Death of Maurice Sendak: June 10, 1928 to May 8, 2012”
“Leaner Times, Meaner Times, Children Triumph”
Headlines in the cover illustration of We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy.
Good night, wild things.
I heard Maurice Sendak in conversation with Gregory Maguire once, and it was unforgettable. His art flowed through his life in a wild torrent, yet he was quiet in demeanour, and utterly happy in his worlds, multiple creative worlds which were often graced by an enormous full moon. Kathleen Bailey
Hello Sarah,
Thanks so much for pointing out that small but important little detail. I love his use of the word “triumph.” That seems like a very Sendakian sentiment somehow …
Yours from the world of books (and, apparen’tly, the world of made-up words too)
Not Quite Miss Rumphius
Hello Kathleen,
Thanks so much for sharing your firsthand experience of Maurice Sendak. It sounds so memorable — I am envious!
Bookishly yours,
Not Quite Miss Rumphius
As a special ed teacher, I have shared Where the Wild Things Are and the Little Bear stories with 100s of children.
I enjoyed seeing his wit on the Stephen Colbert show a while ago and again tonight. He is missed.
Hello Mary,
Thanks so much for your comment. That is how all great writers live on, isn’t it — through their wonderful books that are shared by people like you.
I wish you all the best in your work as a special ed teacher and thank you for dropping by.
Not Quite Miss Rumphius
Beautifully written blog piece! Like most of us, I grew up with his books (I used to snicker at the nude boy in In the Night Kitchen) and my son also grew up with my reading him Where the Wild Things Are. His creativity, imagination, and fearlessness will be missed!
Thanks for the lovely post. I read his books to both my children and they drank in every word. He let children know they could be angry, stomp their feet, not be their best self, yet still be loved.
Hello Kathryn,
Thanks so much for sharing your personal memories of reading Maurice Sendak’s books with your family — they are lovely to have! Like you, I enjoyed reading Maurice Sendak’s books to my son, when he was about the age of Max in Where the Wild Things Are. Our Sendak book of choice was In the Night Kitchen which made both of us smile.
I love your choice of the word “fearlessness” to describe one of Mr. Sendak’s best attributes — I think it is very apt and an important part of what separated his creative work from some of his peers.
Thank you again for stopping by and adding to the conversation.
All the best,
Not Quite Miss Rumphius
Hello Maureen,
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to share your experience of Maurice Sendak’s books in your family. I couldn’t agree more with what you said about the way he let children know they could be tiresome and difficult — and who isn’t at least a little of the time? — and yet life would still go on. A good thing for all paren’ts to let their children know!
Many thanks again for adding your thoughts and memories to the conversation here.
Your from the world of books,
Not Quite Miss Rumphius