OntheWilderSide

“Thanks for the magic.”

The NY Times reports:

“Maurice Sendak, widely considered the most important children’s book artist of the 20th century, who wrenched the picture book out of the safe, sanitized world of the nursery and plunged it into the dark, terrifying and hauntingly beautiful recesses of the human psyche, died on Tuesday in Danbury, Conn. He was 83 and lived in Ridgefield, Conn.”

Kimberly writes: It is very sad that the world has lost such a great man and a great artist. As a teacher and a lover of children’s literature, I have always surrounded myself with Maurice Sendak’s books and artwork. I remember a poster book I had with scrumptious artwork of his, including a poster for a showing of “The Magic Flute”. I used the images to brighten up my first grade classroom in a poor and gray city school. On top of my bulletin board at home is a postcard for a showing of “Where The Wild Things Are” opera, which postcard I could never bring myself to put away.

Do you remember the first time you saw “In The Night Kitchen”? I remember as a child thinking it was wonderful, but somewhat naughty and frightening. And, so many folks have relished the chance to huff and puff and triumph with Max of “Where The Wild Things Are”.  I think the way that Maurice Sendak’s ideas at once startle and compel is such tribute to his art. His work, and our appreciation of it, will most definitely live on.

Filed under: Books, Favorite Muses, News Tagged: | children's books, Children's literature, education news, Maurice Sendak, Maurice Sendak obituary, Obituaries, Where Wild Things Are