Maurice Sendak
Encyclopedia
Maurice Bernard Sendak (born June 10, 1928) is an American writer
and illustrator
of children's literature
. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are
, published in 1963.
Jewish immigrant parents Sarah (née Schindler) and Philip Sendak, a dressmaker.Sendak has described his childhood as a "terrible situation" due in part to his much of his extended family dying in The Holocaust
, which exposed him at an early age to death and the concept of mortality. . He decided to become an illustrator after viewing Walt Disney
's film Fantasia
at the age of twelve; however, his love of books came at an early age when he developed health problems and was confined to his bed. One of his first professional commissions was to create window displays for the toy store F.A.O. Schwarz
. His illustrations were first published in 1947 in a textbook titled Atomics for the Millions by Dr. Maxwell Leigh Eidinoff. He spent much of the 1950s working as an artist for children's books, before beginning to write his own stories.
, although the book's depictions of fanged monsters concerned some parents when it was first released, as his characters were somewhat grotesque
in appearance. Sendak's seeming attraction to the forbidden or 's book. Before Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak was best known for illustrating Else Holmelund Minarik
's Little Bear
series of books.
When Sendak saw a manuscript of Zlateh the Goat, the first children’s story by Isaac Bashevis Singer
, on the desk of an editor at Harper & Row, he offered to illustrate the book, which was first published in 1966 and received a Newbery Award. Sendak was delighted and enthusiastic about the collaboration. He once wryly remarked that his parents were finally impressed by their youngest child when he collaborated with Singer.
His book In the Night Kitchen
, first published in 1970, has often been subjected to censorship
for its drawings of a young boy prancing naked through the story. The book has been challenged in several American states including Illinois
, New Jersey
, Minnesota
, and Texas
. In the Night Kitchen regularly appears on the American Library Association
's list of "frequently challenged and banned books." It was listed number 21 on the "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999."
His 1981 book Outside, Over There
, is the story of a girl, Ida, and her sibling jealousy and responsibility. Her father is away and so Ida is left to watch her baby sister, much to her dismay. Her sister is kidnapped by goblins, and Ida must go off on a magic adventure to rescue her. At first, she's not really eager to get her sister and nearly passes her sister right by when she becomes absorbed in the magic of the quest. In the end, she rescues her baby sister, destroys the goblins and returns home committed to caring for her sister until her father returns home.
Sendak was an early member of the National Board of Advisors of the Children's Television Workshop
during the development stages of the television
series Sesame Street
. He also wrote and designed an animated sequence for the series, Bumble Ardy, based on his own book, and with Jim Henson
as the voice of Bumble Ardy, along with 3 others; "Seven Monsters" (which never aired), "Up & Down", and "Broom Adventures".
Sendak produced an animated
television production based on his work titled Really Rosie
, featuring the voice of Carole King
, which was broadcast in 1975 and is available on video (usually as part of video compilations of his work). An album
of the songs was also produced. He contributed the opening segment to Simple Gifts, a Christmas collection of six animated shorts shown on PBS
TV in 1977 and later issued on VHS
in 1993. He adapted his book Where the Wild Things Are for the stage in 1979. Additionally, he has designed sets for many operas and ballets, including the award-winning (1983) Pacific Northwest Ballet
production of Tchaikovsky
's The Nutcracker
, Houston Grand Opera
's productions of Mozart's The Magic Flute
(1981) and Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel
(1997), Los Angeles County Music Center's 1990 production of Mozart's Idomeneo
, and the New York City Opera
's 1981 production of The Cunning Little Vixen
.
In the 1990s, Sendak approached playwright Tony Kushner
to write a new English version of the Czech
composer
Hans Krása
's children's opera Brundibar
. Kushner wrote the text for Sendak's illustrated book of the same name, published in 2003. The book was named one of the New York Times Book Review
's 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2003.
In 2003, Chicago Opera Theatre produced Sendak and Kushner's adaptation of Brundibar. In 2005, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
, in collaboration with Yale Repertory Theatre
and Broadway's New Victory Theater, produced a substantially reworked version of the Sendak-Kushner adaptation.
He also created the children's television program Seven Little Monsters
.
Growing up, Sendak developed other influences, starting with Disney's Fantasia
as mentioned earlier. He has been quoted as saying, "My gods are Herman Melville
, Emily Dickinson
, Mozart. I believe in them with all my heart." Elaborating further, he has explained that reading Emily Dickinson's works helps him to remain calm in an otherwise hectic world: "And I have a little tiny Emily Dickinson so big that I carry in my pocket everywhere. And you just read three poems of Emily. She is so brave. She is so strong. She is such a sexy, passionate, little woman. I feel better." Likewise, of Mozart, he has said, "When Mozart is playing in my room, I am in conjunction with something I can't explain. [...] I don't need to. I know that if there's a purpose for life, it was for me to hear Mozart."
In terms of influencing others, Sendak has been a massive influence over the decades. While his books certainly have roused much controversy, they have also charmed scores of parents and children alike with their unique illustrations and lovable characters. Perhaps one of his biggest fans would be Gregory Maguire
, author of the hit novel, Wicked
. Maguire enjoys Sendak's works so much that he was prompted to write a tributary book dedicated to Sendak's life and accomplishments, titled Making Mischief: A Maurice Sendak Appreciation.
that he is gay
, and had lived with his partner, psychoanalyst Eugene Glynn for 50 years before Dr. Glynn’s death in May 2007. Revealing that he never told his parents, he said, "All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy. They never, never, never knew." Sendak's relationship with Glynn had been mentioned by other writers before (e.g., Tony Kushner
in 2003). In Glynn's 2007 New York Times obituary, Sendak was listed as Dr Glynn's "partner of fifty years".
Sendak donated $1 million to the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services to memorialize Glynn, who had treated young people there. The gift will name a clinic for Glynn.
in Philadelphia, PA to be the repository for his work in the early 1970s thanks to shared literary and collecting interests. His collection of nearly 10,000 works of art, manuscripts, books and ephemera, has been the subject of many exhibitions at the Rosenbach, seen by visitors of all ages. Sendak once praised Herman Melville
’s writings, saying, “There’s a mystery there, a clue, a nut, a bolt, and if I put it together, I find me.” From May 6, 2008, through May 3, 2009, the Rosenbach presented There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak. This major retrospective of over 130 pieces pulled from the museum’s vast Sendak collection—the biggest collection of Sendakiana in the world—is the largest and most ambitious exhibition of Sendak’s work ever created and is now a traveling exhibition. It features original artwork, rare sketches, never-before-seen working materials, and exclusive interview footage. The exhibition draws on a total of over 300 objects, providing a unique experience with each set of illustrations.
Exhibition highlights include the following:
Maurice Sendak has been honored in North Hollywood, California
, where an elementary school (from kindergarten to grade five) has been named after him.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are
Where The Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short in 1973 , a 1980 opera, and, in 2009, a live-action feature film...
, published in 1963.
Early life
Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York to PolishPoles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
Jewish immigrant parents Sarah (née Schindler) and Philip Sendak, a dressmaker.Sendak has described his childhood as a "terrible situation" due in part to his much of his extended family dying in The Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
, which exposed him at an early age to death and the concept of mortality. . He decided to become an illustrator after viewing Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's film Fantasia
Fantasia (film)
Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions. The third feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are...
at the age of twelve; however, his love of books came at an early age when he developed health problems and was confined to his bed. One of his first professional commissions was to create window displays for the toy store F.A.O. Schwarz
F.A.O. Schwarz
FAO Schwarz is the name of an upscale toy retailer in New York City, located in the General Motors Building on 5th Avenue. It is the oldest operating toy retailer in North America, and is often considered as the New York equivalent of Hamleys in London....
. His illustrations were first published in 1947 in a textbook titled Atomics for the Millions by Dr. Maxwell Leigh Eidinoff. He spent much of the 1950s working as an artist for children's books, before beginning to write his own stories.
Work
Sendak gained international acclaim after writing and illustrating Where the Wild Things AreWhere The Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short in 1973 , a 1980 opera, and, in 2009, a live-action feature film...
, although the book's depictions of fanged monsters concerned some parents when it was first released, as his characters were somewhat grotesque
Grotesque
The word grotesque comes from the same Latin root as "Grotto", meaning a small cave or hollow. The original meaning was restricted to an extravagant style of Ancient Roman decorative art rediscovered and then copied in Rome at the end of the 15th century...
in appearance. Sendak's seeming attraction to the forbidden or 's book. Before Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak was best known for illustrating Else Holmelund Minarik
Else Holmelund Minarik
Else Holmelund Minarik is the author of the Little Bear series of children's books, which were successful as books, and were also made into a successful children's TV series...
's Little Bear
Little Bear (book)
Little Bear is a series of children's books, primarily involving the interaction of Little Bear and Mother Bear . The first book in the series was published in 1957, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak...
series of books.
When Sendak saw a manuscript of Zlateh the Goat, the first children’s story by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer – July 24, 1991) was a Polish Jewish American author noted for his short stories. He was one of the leading figures in the Yiddish literary movement, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978...
, on the desk of an editor at Harper & Row, he offered to illustrate the book, which was first published in 1966 and received a Newbery Award. Sendak was delighted and enthusiastic about the collaboration. He once wryly remarked that his parents were finally impressed by their youngest child when he collaborated with Singer.
His book In the Night Kitchen
In the Night Kitchen
In the Night Kitchen is a popular and controversial children's picture book, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, and first published in 1970. The book depicts a young boy's dream journey through a surreal baker's kitchen where he assists in the creation of a cake to be ready by the morning...
, first published in 1970, has often been subjected to censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
for its drawings of a young boy prancing naked through the story. The book has been challenged in several American states including Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In the Night Kitchen regularly appears on the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
's list of "frequently challenged and banned books." It was listed number 21 on the "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999."
His 1981 book Outside, Over There
Outside Over There
Outside Over There is a 1981 children's book by Maurice Sendak. It concerns a young girl named Ida, who must rescue her baby sister after the child has been stolen by goblins.-Plot:...
, is the story of a girl, Ida, and her sibling jealousy and responsibility. Her father is away and so Ida is left to watch her baby sister, much to her dismay. Her sister is kidnapped by goblins, and Ida must go off on a magic adventure to rescue her. At first, she's not really eager to get her sister and nearly passes her sister right by when she becomes absorbed in the magic of the quest. In the end, she rescues her baby sister, destroys the goblins and returns home committed to caring for her sister until her father returns home.
Sendak was an early member of the National Board of Advisors of the Children's Television Workshop
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop , is a Worldwide American non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world...
during the development stages of the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
. He also wrote and designed an animated sequence for the series, Bumble Ardy, based on his own book, and with Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
as the voice of Bumble Ardy, along with 3 others; "Seven Monsters" (which never aired), "Up & Down", and "Broom Adventures".
Sendak produced an animated
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
television production based on his work titled Really Rosie
Really Rosie
Really Rosie is a musical with a book and lyrics by Maurice Sendak and music by Carole King. The musical is based on Sendak's books Chicken Soup with Rice, Pierre, One was Johnny, Alligators All Around , and The Sign on Rosie's Door...
, featuring the voice of Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, which was broadcast in 1975 and is available on video (usually as part of video compilations of his work). An album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
of the songs was also produced. He contributed the opening segment to Simple Gifts, a Christmas collection of six animated shorts shown on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
TV in 1977 and later issued on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in 1993. He adapted his book Where the Wild Things Are for the stage in 1979. Additionally, he has designed sets for many operas and ballets, including the award-winning (1983) Pacific Northwest Ballet
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Pacific Northwest Ballet is a ballet company based in Seattle, Washington in the United States. Founded in 1972 as part of the Seattle Opera and named the Pacific Northwest Dance Association, it broke away from the Opera in 1977 and took its current name in 1978. It is said to have the highest per...
production of Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
, Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera was founded in 1955 through the joint efforts of Maestro Walter Herbert and cultural leaders Mrs. Louis G. Lobit, Edward Bing and Charles Cockrell...
's productions of Mozart's The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute is an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue....
(1981) and Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel
"Hansel and Gretel" is a well-known fairy tale of German origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. Hansel and Gretel are a young brother and sister threatened by a cannibalistic hag living deep in the forest in a house constructed of cake and confectionery. The two children...
(1997), Los Angeles County Music Center's 1990 production of Mozart's Idomeneo
Idomeneo
Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante is an Italian language opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a French text by Antoine Danchet, which had been set to music by André Campra as Idoménée in 1712...
, and the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
's 1981 production of The Cunning Little Vixen
The Cunning Little Vixen
The Cunning Little Vixen is an opera by Leoš Janáček, with a libretto adapted by the composer from a serialized novella by Rudolf Těsnohlídek and Stanislav Lolek, which was first published in the newspaper Lidové noviny.-Composition history:When Janáček discovered Těsnohlídek's...
.
In the 1990s, Sendak approached playwright Tony Kushner
Tony Kushner
Anthony Robert "Tony" Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, and co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film, Munich.-Life and career:Kushner was born...
to write a new English version of the Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Hans Krása
Hans Krása
Hans Krása was a Czech composer who was killed in the Holocaust at Auschwitz. He helped to organize cultural life in Theresienstadt concentration camp.-Life:...
's children's opera Brundibar
Brundibár
Brundibár is a children's opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, originally performed by the children of Theresienstadt concentration camp in occupied Czechoslovakia...
. Kushner wrote the text for Sendak's illustrated book of the same name, published in 2003. The book was named one of the New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
's 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2003.
In 2003, Chicago Opera Theatre produced Sendak and Kushner's adaptation of Brundibar. In 2005, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Berkeley Repertory Theatre is a regional theater company located in Berkeley, California. It was founded in 1968, as the East Bay’s first resident professional theatre. Michael Leibert was the founding artistic director, who was then succeeded by Sharon Ott in 1984. The company runs seven...
, in collaboration with Yale Repertory Theatre
Yale Repertory Theatre
The Yale Repertory Theatre at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was founded by Robert Brustein, dean of the Yale School of Drama in 1966, with the goal of facilitating a meaningful collaboration between theatre professionals and talented students. In the process it has become one of the...
and Broadway's New Victory Theater, produced a substantially reworked version of the Sendak-Kushner adaptation.
He also created the children's television program Seven Little Monsters
Seven Little Monsters
Seven Little Monsters is a children's television program produced by Suzhou Hong Yang Cartoon Co. Ltd. for Nelvana, and is about a family of seven monsters and their mother. The series is created by Maurice Sendak, and directed by Neil Affleck, Lynn Reist, and Glen Sylvester. Each monster is named...
.
Influences
Maurice Sendak is known for drawing inspiration and influences from a vast number of painters, musicians and authors. Going back to his childhood, one of his earliest memorable influences was actually his father, Philip Sendak. According to Maurice, his father would relate tales from the Bible; however, he would embellish them with racy details to jazz them up. Not realizing that this was inappropriate for children, little Maurice would frequently be sent home after retelling his father's "softcore Bible tales" at school.Growing up, Sendak developed other influences, starting with Disney's Fantasia
Fantasia (film)
Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions. The third feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are...
as mentioned earlier. He has been quoted as saying, "My gods are Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
, Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life...
, Mozart. I believe in them with all my heart." Elaborating further, he has explained that reading Emily Dickinson's works helps him to remain calm in an otherwise hectic world: "And I have a little tiny Emily Dickinson so big that I carry in my pocket everywhere. And you just read three poems of Emily. She is so brave. She is so strong. She is such a sexy, passionate, little woman. I feel better." Likewise, of Mozart, he has said, "When Mozart is playing in my room, I am in conjunction with something I can't explain. [...] I don't need to. I know that if there's a purpose for life, it was for me to hear Mozart."
In terms of influencing others, Sendak has been a massive influence over the decades. While his books certainly have roused much controversy, they have also charmed scores of parents and children alike with their unique illustrations and lovable characters. Perhaps one of his biggest fans would be Gregory Maguire
Gregory Maguire
Gregory Maguire is an American writer. He is the author of the novels Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and many other novels for adults and children...
, author of the hit novel, Wicked
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, is a parallel novel published in 1995 written by Gregory Maguire and illustrated by Douglas Smith. It is a revisionist look at the land and characters of Oz from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, its sequels, and the...
. Maguire enjoys Sendak's works so much that he was prompted to write a tributary book dedicated to Sendak's life and accomplishments, titled Making Mischief: A Maurice Sendak Appreciation.
Personal life
Sendak mentioned in a September 2008 article in The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
that he is gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, and had lived with his partner, psychoanalyst Eugene Glynn for 50 years before Dr. Glynn’s death in May 2007. Revealing that he never told his parents, he said, "All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy. They never, never, never knew." Sendak's relationship with Glynn had been mentioned by other writers before (e.g., Tony Kushner
Tony Kushner
Anthony Robert "Tony" Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, and co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film, Munich.-Life and career:Kushner was born...
in 2003). In Glynn's 2007 New York Times obituary, Sendak was listed as Dr Glynn's "partner of fifty years".
Sendak donated $1 million to the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services to memorialize Glynn, who had treated young people there. The gift will name a clinic for Glynn.
Collection
Sendak chose the Rosenbach Museum & LibraryRosenbach Museum & Library
The Rosenbach Museum & Library is located within two 19th-century townhouses at 2008 and 2010 Delancey Place in Philadelphia. The historic houses contain the collections and treasures of Philip Rosenbach and his younger brother Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach...
in Philadelphia, PA to be the repository for his work in the early 1970s thanks to shared literary and collecting interests. His collection of nearly 10,000 works of art, manuscripts, books and ephemera, has been the subject of many exhibitions at the Rosenbach, seen by visitors of all ages. Sendak once praised Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
’s writings, saying, “There’s a mystery there, a clue, a nut, a bolt, and if I put it together, I find me.” From May 6, 2008, through May 3, 2009, the Rosenbach presented There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak. This major retrospective of over 130 pieces pulled from the museum’s vast Sendak collection—the biggest collection of Sendakiana in the world—is the largest and most ambitious exhibition of Sendak’s work ever created and is now a traveling exhibition. It features original artwork, rare sketches, never-before-seen working materials, and exclusive interview footage. The exhibition draws on a total of over 300 objects, providing a unique experience with each set of illustrations.
Exhibition highlights include the following:
- Original color artwork from books such as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, The Nutshell Library, Outside Over There, and Brundibar.
- “Dummy” books filled with lively preliminary sketches for titles like The Sign on Rosie’s Door, Pierre, and Higglety, Pigglety, Pop!
- Never-before-seen working materials, such as newspaper clippings that inspired Sendak, family portraits, photographs of child models and other ephemera.
- Rare sketches for unpublished editions of stories such as Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, and other illustrating projects.
- Unique materials from the Rosenbach collection that relate to Sendak’s work, including an 1853 edition of the tales of the Brothers Grimm, sketches by William Blake, and Herman Melville’s bookcase.
- Stories told by the illustrator himself on topics like Alice in Wonderland, his struggle to illustrate his favorite novels, hilarious stories of Brooklyn, and the way his work helps him exorcise childhood traumas.
Awards and honors
- Caldecott MedalCaldecott MedalThe Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
for Where the Wild Things Are, 1964 - Hans Christian Andersen AwardHans Christian Andersen AwardThe Hans Christian Andersen Award, sometimes known as the "Nobel Prize for children's literature", is an international award given biennially by the International Board on Books for Young People in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature"...
for children's book illustration, 1970 - National Book Award, 1982
- Laura Ingalls Wilder MedalLaura Ingalls Wilder MedalThe Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal is a prize awarded by the American Library Association to writers or illustrators of children's books published in the United States who have over a period of years made substantial and lasting contributions to children's literature...
, 1983 - National Medal of ArtsNational Medal of ArtsThe National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts. It is the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the people. Honorees are selected by the National Endowment for the...
, 1996. - Astrid Lindgren Memorial AwardAstrid Lindgren Memorial AwardThe Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is an international children's literature award, established by the Swedish government in 2002 in honour of the Swedish children's books writer Astrid Lindgren...
, 2003 (shared with Christine NöstlingerChristine NöstlingerChristine Nöstlinger is an Austrian writer.By her own admission, Nöstlinger was a wild and angry child. After finishing high school, she wanted to become an artist, and studied graphic arts at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna...
)
Maurice Sendak has been honored in North Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where an elementary school (from kindergarten to grade five) has been named after him.
Author
- Kenny's Window (1956)
- Very Far Away (1957)
- The Sign on Rosie's Door (1960)
- The Nutshell Library (1962)
- Alligators All Around (An Alphabet)
- Chicken Soup with Rice (A Book of Months)
- One Was Johnny (A Counting Book)
- Pierre (A Cautionary Tale)
- Where the Wild Things AreWhere The Wild Things AreWhere the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short in 1973 , a 1980 opera, and, in 2009, a live-action feature film...
(1963) - Higglety Pigglety Pop!, Or: There Must Be More to Life (1967) ISBN 0-06-028479-X
- In the Night KitchenIn the Night KitchenIn the Night Kitchen is a popular and controversial children's picture book, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, and first published in 1970. The book depicts a young boy's dream journey through a surreal baker's kitchen where he assists in the creation of a cake to be ready by the morning...
(1970) - Ten Little Rabbits: A Counting Book with Mino the Magician (1970)
- Some Swell Pup or Are You Sure You Want a Dog? (written by Maurice Sendak & Matthew Margolis, and illustrated by Maurice Sendak) (1976)
- Seven Little MonstersSeven Little MonstersSeven Little Monsters is a children's television program produced by Suzhou Hong Yang Cartoon Co. Ltd. for Nelvana, and is about a family of seven monsters and their mother. The series is created by Maurice Sendak, and directed by Neil Affleck, Lynn Reist, and Glen Sylvester. Each monster is named...
(1977) - Fantasy Sketches (1981)
- Outside Over There (1981)
- Caldecott and Co: Notes on Books and Pictures (an anthology of essays on children's literature) (1988)
- We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy (1993)
- Maurice Sendak's Christmas Mystery (1995) (a box containing a book and a jigsaw puzzle)
- Mommy? (Sendak's first pop-up bookPop-up bookThe term pop-up book is often applied to any three-dimensional or movable book, although properly the umbrella term movable book covers pop-ups, transformations, tunnel books, volvelles, flaps, pull-tabs, pop-outs, pull-downs, and more, each of which performs in a different manner...
) (2006) ISBN 0-439-88050-5 - Bumble-Ardy (2011) ISBN-10: 0062051989, ISBN-13: 978-0062051981
Illustrator
- Atomics for the Millions (by Dr. Maxwell Leigh Eidinoff) (1947)
- The Wonderful Farm (by Marcel AyméMarcel AyméMarcel Aymé was a French novelist, children's writer, humour writer and also a screenwriter and theatre playwright.- Biography :...
) (1951) - Good Shabbos Everybody (by Robert GarveyRobert GarveyRobert Garvey was a Jewish author. He served as Executive Secretary of the Jewish Book Publishers Assiciation . Robert Garvey died in New York in 1983.-Partial bibliography:*Good Shabbos, Everybody!...
) (1951) - A Hole is to Dig (written by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (1952) - A Very Special House (written by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (1953) - Hurry Home Candy (written by Meindert DeJongMeindert DeJongMeindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.-Life:...
) (1953) - The Giant Story (written by Beatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de Regniers was an American children's picture book author.- Background :Beatrice Schenk de Regniers was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and studied social work administration at the University of Chicago, earning her M.Ed. in 1941. Her first book, The Giant Story, was illustrated by...
) (1953) - The Tin Fiddle (written by Edward TrippEdward TrippEdward Tripp was a children's literature author. He is best known for his books The Tin Fiddle and The New Tuba . He died in 1999 at the age of 79.- References :...
) (1954) - The Wheel on the SchoolThe Wheel on the SchoolThe Wheel on the School is a novel by Meindert DeJong that won the 1955 Newbery Medal for children's literature and the 1957 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis...
(written by Meindert DeJongMeindert DeJongMeindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.-Life:...
) (1954) - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm (written by Betty MacDonaldBetty MacDonaldBetty MacDonald was an American author who specialized in humorous autobiographical tales, and is best known for her book The Egg and I. She also wrote the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books...
) (1954) - Happy Hanukah Everybody (written by Hyman ChanoverHyman ChanoverHyman Chanover was a Rabbi, educationalist and author. His book Happy Hanukah Everybody was illustrated by Hans Christian Andersen Award winner Maurice Sendak.-Life:...
& Alice Chanover) (1955) - Little Cow & the Turtle (written by Meindert DeJongMeindert DeJongMeindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.-Life:...
) (1955) - Singing Family of the Cumberlands (written by Jean RitchieJean RitchieJean Ritchie is an American folk singer, songwriter, and Appalachian dulcimer player.- Out of Kentucky :Abigail and Balis Ritchie of Viper, Kentucky had 14 children, and Jean was the youngest...
) (Oxford University Press, 1955) - What Can You Do with a Shoe? (written by Beatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de Regniers was an American children's picture book author.- Background :Beatrice Schenk de Regniers was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and studied social work administration at the University of Chicago, earning her M.Ed. in 1941. Her first book, The Giant Story, was illustrated by...
) (1955 recolored in 1997) - Seven Little Stories on Big Subjects (written by Gladys Baker Bond) (1955)
- I Want to Paint My Bathroom Blue (written by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (1956) - The Birthday Party (by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (1957) - Little BearLittle Bear (book)Little Bear is a series of children's books, primarily involving the interaction of Little Bear and Mother Bear . The first book in the series was published in 1957, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak...
, written by Else Holmelund MinarikElse Holmelund MinarikElse Holmelund Minarik is the author of the Little Bear series of children's books, which were successful as books, and were also made into a successful children's TV series...
and illustrated by Maurice Sendak (there was also a TV seriesLittle Bear (TV series)Maurice Sendak's Little Bear is a Canadian children's television series starring a Little Bear voiced by Kristin Fairlie. Originally produced by Nelvana for Nickelodeon, it currently airs on Treehouse TV in Canada and Nick Jr. in the United States. A direct-to-video full-length feature film was...
based on this series of books)- Little BearLittle Bear (book)Little Bear is a series of children's books, primarily involving the interaction of Little Bear and Mother Bear . The first book in the series was published in 1957, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak...
(1957) - Father Bear Comes Home (1959)
- Little Bear's Friend (1960)
- Little Bear's Visit (1961)
- A Kiss for Little Bear (1968)
- Little Bear
- Along Came A Dog (written by Meindert DeJongMeindert DeJongMeindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.-Life:...
) (1958) - No Fighting, No Biting! (written by Else Holmelund MinarikElse Holmelund MinarikElse Holmelund Minarik is the author of the Little Bear series of children's books, which were successful as books, and were also made into a successful children's TV series...
) (1958) - What Do You Say, Dear? (written by Sesyle JoslinSesyle JoslinSesyle Joslin is a children's literature author. Sesyle's book What Do You Say, Dear? was illustrated by Maurice Sendak and it was a Caldecott Medal Honor book in 1959.Joslin was born in Providence, RI, on August 30, 1929...
) (1958) - Seven Tales by H. C. Andersen (translated by Eva Le GallienneEva Le GallienneEva Le Gallienne was a well-known actress, producer, and director, during the first half of the 20th century.-Early life and early career:...
) (1959) - The Moon Jumpers (text by Janice May UdryJanice May UdryJanice May Udry is an American author. She was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and graduated from Northwestern University in 1950. Her first book, A Tree is Nice, was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1957 for Marc Simont's illustrations...
)(1959) - Open House For Butterflies (by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (1960) - Best in Children's Books: Volume 31 (various authors and illustrators: featuring, Windy Wash Day and Other Poems by Dorothy AldisDorothy Aldis- Partial bibliography :*Jane's Father *Time at Her Heels *Dark Summer *Everything and Anything - Partial bibliography :*Jane's Father (1929)*Time at Her Heels (1937)*Dark Summer (1947)*Everything and Anything - Partial bibliography :*Jane's Father (1929)*Time at Her Heels (1937)*Dark Summer...
with illustrations by Maurice Sendak) (1960) - Best in Children's Books: Volume 41 (various authors and illustrators: featuring, What the Good-Man Does Is Always Right by Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
with illustrations by Maurice Sendak) (1961) - What Do You Do, Dear? (written by Sesyle JoslinSesyle JoslinSesyle Joslin is a children's literature author. Sesyle's book What Do You Say, Dear? was illustrated by Maurice Sendak and it was a Caldecott Medal Honor book in 1959.Joslin was born in Providence, RI, on August 30, 1929...
) (1961) - The Big Green Book (written by Robert GravesRobert GravesRobert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
) (1962) - Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present (written by Charlotte ZolotowCharlotte ZolotowCharlotte Zolotow is an American author, poet, editor, and publisher of many books for children ....
) (1962) - The Singing Hill (written by Meindert DeJongMeindert DeJongMeindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.-Life:...
) (1962) (Harper Row) - Dwarf Long-Nose (written by Wilhelm HauffWilhelm HauffWilhelm Hauff was a German poet and novelist.-Early life:Hauff was born in Stuttgart, the son of August Friedrich Hauff, a secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs, and Hedwig Wilhelmine Elsaesser Hauff...
, translated by Doris OrgelDoris OrgelDoris Orgel is a children's literature author. She was born Doris Adelberg in Vienna, Austria February 15, 1929. She currently lives in New York City and is a full time Children's author....
) (1963) - The Griffin and the Minor Canon (written by Frank R. StocktonFrank R. StocktonFrank Richard Stockton was an American writer and humorist, best known today for a series of innovative children's fairy tales that were widely popular during the last decades of the 19th century...
) (1963) - How Little Lori Visited Times Square (written by Amos VogelAmos VogelAmos Vogel was one of the most influential cineasts in New York. He is best known for his bestselling book Film as a Subversive Art and as the founder of the New York City avantgarde ciné-club Cinema 16 , where he was the first programmer to present films by Roman Polanski, John Cassavetes,...
) (1963) - She Loves Me...She Loves Me Not... (written by Robert Keeshan AKA Captain KangarooCaptain KangarooCaptain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
) (1963) - McCall'sMcCall'sMcCall's was a monthly American women's magazine that enjoyed great popularity through much of the 20th century, peaking at a readership of 8.4 million in the early 1960s. It was established as a small-format magazine called The Queen in 1873...
: August 1964; VOL XCI, No 11 (featuring The Young Crane by Andrejs UpitsAndrejs UpitsAndrejs Upīts was a Latvian teacher, poet, short story writer and Communist polemicist.- Literary activity :...
and Illustrated by Maurice Sendak) - The Bee-Man of Orn (written by Frank R. StocktonFrank R. StocktonFrank Richard Stockton was an American writer and humorist, best known today for a series of innovative children's fairy tales that were widely popular during the last decades of the 19th century...
) (1964) - The Animal FamilyThe Animal FamilyThe Animal Family is a 1965 children's novel by American poet and critic Randall Jarrell, illustrated by noted children's book illustrator Maurice Sendak. It is a 1966 Newbery Honor book and has a significant following among adult readers.-Plot summary:...
(written by Randall JarrellRandall JarrellRandall Jarrell was an American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist. He was the 11th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a role which now holds the title of US Poet Laureate.-Life:Jarrell was a native of Nashville, Tennessee...
) (1965) - Hector Protector and As I Went Over the Water: Two Nursery Rhymes (traditional nursery rhymeNursery rhymeThe term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
s) (1965) - Lullabyes and Night Songs (written by Alec WilderAlec WilderAlec Wilder was an American composer.-Biography:...
and edited by William EngvickWilliam EngvickWilliam Engvick is an American lyricist, many of whose compositions appear in films.Engvick graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1937. He is best known for his collaborations with composer Alec Wilder; they produced songs for the Broadway musical Once Over Lightly , and for...
) (1965) - Zlateh The Goat (written by Isaac Bashevis SingerIsaac Bashevis SingerIsaac Bashevis Singer – July 24, 1991) was a Polish Jewish American author noted for his short stories. He was one of the leading figures in the Yiddish literary movement, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978...
) (1966) - The Bat-Poet (written by Randall JarrellRandall JarrellRandall Jarrell was an American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist. He was the 11th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a role which now holds the title of US Poet Laureate.-Life:Jarrell was a native of Nashville, Tennessee...
) (1964) - A House of Sixty Fathers (written by Meindert De Jong) (1966)
- The Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
: May 4, 1968; 241st year, issue no. 9 (features Yash The Chimney Sweep by Isaac Bashevis SingerIsaac Bashevis SingerIsaac Bashevis Singer – July 24, 1991) was a Polish Jewish American author noted for his short stories. He was one of the leading figures in the Yiddish literary movement, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978...
and is illustrated by Maurice Sendak) - I'll Be you and You be Me (written by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (1973) - The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from Grimm: Volumes 1 & 2 (Translated by Lore SegalLore SegalLore Segal , née Lore Groszmann, is an American novelist, translator, teacher, and author of children’s books.-Personal life:...
with four tales translated by Randall JarrellRandall JarrellRandall Jarrell was an American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist. He was the 11th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a role which now holds the title of US Poet Laureate.-Life:Jarrell was a native of Nashville, Tennessee...
) (1973 both volumes) - King Grisly-Beard (by Brothers GrimmBrothers GrimmThe Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
) (1973) - Pleasant Fieldmouse (by Jan WahlJan WahlJan Boyer Wahl is an American children's book author.Jan was born in Columbus, Ohio. His father is physician Russell Rothenberger, and his mother is Nina Marie Boyer Wahl.Jan Wahl is also well-known as a collector of old films....
) (1975) - Charlotte and the White Horse (by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (1955) - Fly by Night (by Randall JarrellRandall JarrellRandall Jarrell was an American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist. He was the 11th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a role which now holds the title of US Poet Laureate.-Life:Jarrell was a native of Nashville, Tennessee...
) (1976) - The Light Princess (by George MacDonaldGeorge MacDonaldGeorge MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. It was C.S...
) (1977) - Shadrach (by Meindert DejongMeindert DeJongMeindert De Jong sometimes spelled as Meindert de Jong or Dejong was an award winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.-Life:...
) (1977) - The Big Green Book (by Robert GravesRobert GravesRobert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
) (1978) - Nutcracker (written by E.T.A. HoffmannE.T.A. HoffmannErnst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann , better known by his pen name E.T.A. Hoffmann , was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist...
) (1984) - The Love For Three Oranges (The Glyndebourne Version written by Frank CorsaroFrank CorsaroFrank Corsaro is one of America's foremost stage directors of opera and theatre. His Broadway productions include The Night of the Iguana ....
based on L'Amour des Trois Oranges (by Serge Prokofiev) (1984) - Circus Girl (by Jack SendakJack SendakJack Sendak was a children's literature author. He is the brother of Maurice Sendak and the son of Philip Sendak.-Selected bibliography:*The Second Witch...
) (1985) - In Grandpa's House (by Philip SendakPhilip SendakPhilip Sendak was a children's literature author. He is best known as the father of Caldecott Medal winner Maurice Sendak and children's author Jack Sendak.-Selected bibliography:...
) (1985) - The Cunning Little Vixen (by Rudolf TesnohlidekRudolf TesnohlídekRudolf Těsnohlídek was a Czech writer, journalist and translator. He also used the pseudonym Arnošt Bellis.- Life :...
) (1985) - Dear Mili (written by Wilhelm GrimmWilhelm GrimmWilhelm Carl Grimm was a German author, the younger of the Brothers Grimm.-Life and work:...
) (1988) - Sing a Song of Popcorn (by Beatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de RegniersBeatrice Schenk de Regniers was an American children's picture book author.- Background :Beatrice Schenk de Regniers was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and studied social work administration at the University of Chicago, earning her M.Ed. in 1941. Her first book, The Giant Story, was illustrated by...
with various illustrators including Maurice Sendak) (1988) - The Big Book for Peace (by various authors and illustrators, cover also by Maurice Sendak) (1990)
- I Saw Esau (edited by Iona Opie and Peter Opie) (1992)
- The Golden Key (by George MacDonaldGeorge MacDonaldGeorge MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. It was C.S...
) (1992) ISBN 0-374-42590-6 - We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy: Two Nursery Rhymes with Pictures (traditional nursery rhymeNursery rhymeThe term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
s) (Harper Collins) (1993) - Pierre: or, The AmbiguitiesPierre: or, The AmbiguitiesPierre: or, The Ambiguities is a novel written by Herman Melville, and published in 1852 by Harper & Brothers.The publication of Pierre was a critical and financial disaster for Melville. It was universally condemned for both its morals and its style...
: The Kraken Edition (by Herman MelvilleHerman MelvilleHerman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
) (1995) ISBN 978-0061180095 - The Miami Giant (written by Arthur YorinksArthur YorinksArthur Yorinks has written and directed for opera, theater, dance, film, and radio and is the author of over thirty-five acclaimed and award-winning books, including "Hey, Al," a children's book which earned the Caldecott Medal in 1987....
) (1995) - Frank and Joey Go to Work (by Arthur YorinksArthur YorinksArthur Yorinks has written and directed for opera, theater, dance, film, and radio and is the author of over thirty-five acclaimed and award-winning books, including "Hey, Al," a children's book which earned the Caldecott Medal in 1987....
), also has additional illustrations by Ky Chung (1996) - Penthesilea (written by Heinrich von KleistHeinrich von KleistBernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist was a poet, dramatist, novelist and short story writer. The Kleist Prize, a prestigious prize for German literature, is named after him.- Life :...
and Translated and Introduced by Joel Agee) (1998) ISBN 0060956321 - Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom (by Ursula NordstromUrsula NordstromUrsula Nordstrom was publisher and editor in chief of juvenile books at Harper & Row from 1940 to 1973. She also authored the 1960 children's book The Secret Language...
- Author, Leonard S. Marcus - Editor) ISBN 0-060-23625-6 - Swine Lake (written by James MarshallJames MarshallJames Marshall may refer to:*James W. Marshall , discovered gold in California in 1848*James Marshall , Victoria Cross recipient*James Marshall , American television producer and director...
) (1999) - BrundibárBrundibárBrundibár is a children's opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, originally performed by the children of Theresienstadt concentration camp in occupied Czechoslovakia...
(written by Tony KushnerTony KushnerAnthony Robert "Tony" Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, and co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film, Munich.-Life and career:Kushner was born...
) (2003) - Sarah's Room (written by Doris OrgelDoris OrgelDoris Orgel is a children's literature author. She was born Doris Adelberg in Vienna, Austria February 15, 1929. She currently lives in New York City and is a full time Children's author....
) (2003) - The Happy Rain (written by Jack SendakJack SendakJack Sendak was a children's literature author. He is the brother of Maurice Sendak and the son of Philip Sendak.-Selected bibliography:*The Second Witch...
) (2004) - Bears! (written by Ruth KraussRuth KraussRuth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
) (2005)
Collections
- The Art Of Maurice Sendak (by Selma G. Lanes) (1980) ISBN 0810916002
- The Art Of Maurice Sendak: From 1980 to the Present (by Tony KushnerTony KushnerAnthony Robert "Tony" Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, and co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film, Munich.-Life and career:Kushner was born...
) (2003) ISBN 0810944480 - Making Mischief: A Maurice Sendak Appreciation (by Gregory MaguireGregory MaguireGregory Maguire is an American writer. He is the author of the novels Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and many other novels for adults and children...
) (2009) ISBN 0061689165
Filmography
- 1973: Where the Wild Things Are (story)
- 2009: Where The Wild Things AreWhere the Wild Things Are (film)Where the Wild Things Are is a 2009 American fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze and adapted from Maurice Sendak's 1963 children's book Where the Wild Things Are. It combines live action, performers in costumes, animatronics, and computer-generated imagery...
(story) - 2009: Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak," documentary filmed by Lance BangsLance BangsLance Bangs is an American filmmaker, documentarian, and music video director who has created videos for Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Green Day, the Arcade Fire, the Shins, The Thermals, Belle & Sebastian, Menomena, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, R.E.M., Mike Watt, Death Cab for Cutie, The Black Keys, Kanye West, and...
and Where the Wild Things AreWhere the Wild Things Are (film)Where the Wild Things Are is a 2009 American fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze and adapted from Maurice Sendak's 1963 children's book Where the Wild Things Are. It combines live action, performers in costumes, animatronics, and computer-generated imagery...
director Spike JonzeSpike JonzeSpike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
. Released in the US on DVD by Oscilloscope Laboratories. - 2010: Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to LifeHigglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to LifeHigglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life is a 2010 live-action/animated short film about the fictional adventures of Maurice Sendak's pet dog Jennie, based on his 1967 children's book of the same name...
(story), an animated/live action short adapted and directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (Clyde Henry Productions), produced by Spike JonzeSpike JonzeSpike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
, Vincent LandayVincent LandayVincent Landay is an American film producer. He mostly works with Spike Jonze on his music videos and feature films. He has worked with Jonze since 1993...
and Marcy Page (National Film Board of CanadaNational Film Board of CanadaThe National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
)
External links
- NOW on PBS, Watch: Bill Moyers and Maurice Sendak discuss the inspiration behind "Where the Wild Things Are" and where mischievous Max might be today
- PBS: American Masters A one-minute video clip
- NPR: Conversation with Maurice Sendak A seventeen-minute audio interview
- The Rosenbach Museum and Library Exhibition space for Sendak drawings