Best known for his children’s books, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN, Maurice Sendak has spent the past fifty years bringing to life a world of fantasy and imagination. His unique vision is loved around the globe by both young and old. Beyond his award-winning work as a writer and illustrator of children’s books, Sendak has produced both operas and ballets for television and the stage.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Polish-Jewish immigrant parents, Sendak was a frail and sickly child. Spending much of his young life indoors, he turned to books at an early age. His view of the outside world was often limited to the family that came to visit him and the little that he could see from his window. It was during this time that he began to draw and to allow his imagination to run free. At age twelve, he went with his family to see Walt Disney’s FANTASIA. This animated world, constructed completely of invented characters and fantasy, had a great influence on him.
Throughout high school, Sendak continued to draw, and after graduating, published a handful of illustrations in the textbook ATOMICS FOR THE MILLIONS. In 1948, he began working for F.A.O. Schwartz as a window dresser and continued there for four years while taking night classes at the New York Art Students League. After finding work illustrating Marcel Ayme’s THE WONDERFUL FARM and Ruth Krauss’s A HOLE IS TO DIG, Sendak left F.A.O. Schwartz to become a full-time, freelance children’s book illustrator.
Throughout the 1950s, Sendak worked regularly, producing nearly fifty illustrated children’s books. He saw in book illustration the opportunity to expand the imaginary world of the reader. While many illustrators had concentrated on clarifying the images in the text, Sendak believed that an illustration should add to the mystery of the work. His oddly grotesque characters seemed strangely inviting in their imperfections. Unlike much of the Disney cartoons and the illustration that followed it, Sendak’s artistic imagery brought a self-conscious attention to its origin and its maker.
By the early 1960s, Sendak had already gained a following as one of the more expressive and interesting illustrators in the business. In 1963, his book, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, brought him international acclaim and a place among the world’s great illustrators. For this project, Sendak worked as both the illustrator and the writer. It is the story of a young boy named Max, who is sent to his room only to find his imagination has created a new world there, populated by wild geographies and monsters of all kinds. Initially, its graphic portrayal of the toothy wild things concerned parents, but before long it was a favorite among children everywhere, having been translated into fifteen languages and selling more than two million copies.
Over the following years, Sendak created dozens of popular children’s books including one of his best known, IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN (1970). In the late 1970s, Sendak turned his attention to other forms. While continuing to write and illustrate, Sendak began producing and designing performances. Incorporating much of the same imaginative design that had made his books so popular, Sendak put on a number of operas, including Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and Prokofiev’s “Love for Three Oranges”. In 1979, he turned his book, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE into a popular opera, and four years later designed a winning production of Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker”.
Throughout the past fifty years, Maurice Sendak has been one of the most consistently inventive and challenging voices in children’s literature. His books and productions are among the best-loved imaginative works of their time. Like the Grimm brothers before him, Sendak has created a body of work both entertaining and educational, which will continue to be popular for generations.
My two older Grandsons loved Little Bear when they were young. WE have mot of the stories on VHS. The baby has started watching Little Bear as well. I love Little Bear and his family and friends!!! Hopefully in the future some new stories will be produced!
Sincerely
Melda Lutes
Thank you Mr. Sendak for writing & illustrating your books. Thank you for sharing. You have helped me & my son of 6 connect so many countless times even through the most trying difficult or sad times. We have our Sendakisms that one of us can call out & make the other one crack up:) One favorite is Pierre we read together in very dramatic voices & every time EVERY TIME we burst out laughing like it was the first time we were reading from it. My son admires you very much. You have connected us influenced Inspired us so very beautifully & deeply. Go on you beautiful Wild Thing you:) Love always, the Smiths of Seattle Jenni & Ollie.
Mr. Sendak I just wanted to thank you for an extraordinary career and your life’s work. I absolutely went to bed and woke up with “Where the Wild Things are” as a child, I’m 26 now, and had forgotten the book completely until I saw just the cover on a website and immediately ordered in without hesitation. The feeling that came over me was one of pure ecstasy, I don’t think it would have mattered if the book cost me $100, I would have purchased it. I just want to say thank you for your contribution to the generations.
Thanks, I guess, but you need to realize that you need to write a true story about yourself so everyone can know who you really are and what you really like to do. Because people can’t just trust any old network to get them their answers.You need to tell them that you did this stuff. Not other people. Because some people think it’s funny to say that you take drugs, just to get you into trouble. So you need to stand up for yourself and do what I told you. I also need this book for school projects and stuff but that isn’t the point. Do what I told you and you will be a happy person. Trust me. Trust me.
i love your sight
you are a great writer and illistrater!
Where the wild things are, wow art at its best.Great story!
What an interesting website! Maurice just finished a new book last month which will be coming out this year about an incorrigible pig.
Maurice helped to curate the biggest gallery show of his career in 2009, and pulled more than 200 works of art from his archives for an exhibit at Animazing Gallery in SoHo. An upcoming exhibition at MoCCA, NY’s Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art will feature some of his work from this collection, including set designs from the Where the Wild Things Are opera. He may be 83, but he is still moving and shaking!
Your RSS feed don’t work in my browser (google chrome) how can I sort it?
I am doing a biography on you in the library.
I am in second grade at East Goshen Elementary School.
My brother is 18 and my sister is 15, they read some of your books and they gave them to me.
I like them.
Thank you,
I would like to thank you for making such a wonderful book. I am in love with “Where the Wild Things are.” I believe that it is the best children book I have read and will ever read in my life. I saw the movie and it could be described in only two words: cute & amazing. I love your book so much, I read it everyday. I never get tired of the book and that just shows that your book is amazing. I may sound repetitive by using the word amazing but it is. Thank you for writing such a beautiful book.
the book is good and the movies was good when it cmae out and i hope you can make many more!!!!!!!!!!
When I attended Parson’s School of Design, all I dreamed of was making children’s books.I also dreamed of meeting Mr. Maurice Sendak. None of my freshman teachers would let me meet him. All they wanted to do was
buy the copy of my book, “Where The Wild Things Are”,which I carried with me everywhere. I had to drop out for whatever reason.
I still have the book, even after our apartment burned down. Somehow it survived along with a sketchbook of my own I valued.
My husband and i now live in Florida, and I am making a go of creating and selling original stories and artwork at a tiny local flea-market .I am now a fifty year old independent contractor who worries about her hands
holding out for her creations. Maybe I could still meet Mr. Maurice Sendak? Maybe he could still help me?
I have a brain problem like Norman Rockwell, Ernest Hemingway, and Robin Williams.
Thank you
Andrea Hiotis,
Drawing is a life-long job for me too. My husband is the most important thing to me, as well as the kids I teach.
for free. Is there any way to mail a card to Mr. Maurice Sendak in a real paper envelope by mail these days?
Hello can I use some of the material here in this entry if I reference you with a link back to your site?
its really hard to find people like you Mr. Maurice Sendak, whose passion is their life, after reading your work i hv this strong confusion in my mind now, whether great writers are born writers or made? coz there are things which life teaches you and leave a deep impact on your skills and abilities, which gets better wid time. but obviously not everyone can write…
no doubt you are an inspiration, as you turned you imagination into words for every other to read.. i am really eager to write,same the way you handle your stories..
your book WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, is worth reading..
keep up your good work!!
I am a 1st grade teacher and I can’t wait to use the Lesson Plans at this Web site. 1st graders have so much imagination and creativity. I can’t wait for them to study about you!
My kids play the Where the Wild Things Are game on the wii like it was going away forever the next day…
I have autographed copies of The Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are with Mr. Sendak’s autograph. Would anyone be interested? I am letting them go at a steel!
I read an article which states that you always wanted to meet Mr. Sendak however that your teachers would not let you. The next best thing is an autograph. I met Mr. Sendak in person years ago. I am letting his autographed books go at a steel! Why don’t you write me back and I will send them to you on the honor system.
Wynter
Hello,
Mr. Sendak. I had no idea this comment would be published here.I’ve gotten over the brain problem to the point of not mentioning it anymore, except perhaps in cartoons i work on from time to time about it with some sort of sense of humor, thank God.Maybe if I live to be 100 they will be published.
Thankfully, i just finished illustrating a children’s book called The Red Eyed Duck ,for a registered nurse i met down here in a book club in Port Richey, Florida. She has an agent, so who knows what may happen.
Recently, I’ve gotten in touch with a couple of old high school friends who I really cared about. It turns out they do amazing things like sailing for 5 months from Florida to the Bahamas and traveling all over the world to play the cello.
My first cousin works for our Washington State Senator. My sister’s daughter just finished an internship in
the whitehouse.
Me, i’m just worried about having enough paintings to sell at The Waterfront Gallery in Tarpon Springs which
just opened and accepted my work I still would like to keep my copy of Where The Wild Things Are,and keep doing my own work. Thank you to whoever sees this,and I am a little embarrassed about being too open, oh well.That’s what you get for using a computer in the first place. You get the words to the song without the music.
You also end up talking to complete strangers like this when our parents specifically told us not to in my day.
Hello!
My mom and dad read to me every night when I was a little girl. One of my favorite books was Father Bear Comes Home. As a result, I started collecting mermaids when I was about 6 years old. Now 41,(OUCH!) I still collect them. 20 years ago I had the mermaid that Little Bear told his friends about tattooed on my shoulder. She was one of the first mermaids I ever saw- so angelic and beautiful! I had her re-colored last summer. She is as pretty as ever! Your artwork will forever be on my shoulder. :-)
There is no school for art. You either keep drawing because you like to, or someone pays you. Art classes were only as good as the best person in them. If they didn’t share, you learned little.Most people weren;t even paying attention. Who wants to copy someone else, anyway? Just do it on your own!
Dear Mr. Maurice Sendak,
I was born in Brooklyn Heights and lived on Long Island up until ten years ago.Our address is Mr. and Mrs. George Hiotis 5521 Bay Blvd., Apt. 103, Port Richey, FL. If you are ever in our neck of the woods, please stop by and we will make you lunch or supper, and it will still be hot. I do care, unlike Pierre.
I e-mailed Oprah Winfrey about two years ago and they actually e-mailed me back, saying it takes time to get back to people. If you e-mail her now there is a question you have to answer discerning whether or not you are a human being or not, check yes or no.
Perhaps I will stop e-mailing famous people I have never met.If I never hear from either of you in a few more years,don’t worry, I will not bother you again.I don’t like bothering people. I just think I could use some help with getting someone to publish my daily artwork and stories without them asking me to pay for it. Thank you,
An Admirer, Andrea Hiotis 727-505-7872
I have autographed copies of The Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are with Mr. Sendak’s autograph. Would anyone be interested? I am letting them go at a steel!
How were you so lucky to meet and get Mr.Sendak’s autograph? I would love to get an autograph book for my son, but I would love for Mr.Sendak to autograph it especially to him. My son finishes his student teaching in December.
He has loved Maurice Sendak’s books since he was in 1st. grade. He taught preschool for 3 years while he was working his way through college. His one class would do the monthly poems from Chicken Soup with Rice at all parent presentations. After being introduced to the books authored by Mr.Sendak his classes and parents loved all Maurice Sendak’s books too. I too would love to thank Mr. Sendak because I truly believe his books cemented my son’s love for reading and books.
Hoping you get this or at least someone that is associated with you, or someone else out there that can understand where I am coming from. I started to watch your movie tonight for the first time. “where the wild thing are.” When I started to watch it i was blown away by the boy that is portraid as having a fit. But, what I am wondering is if you got this story from an actual child that makes up stories. This would not be an average child of just story telling but a child with a special gift a child that can make up a story out of anything they see or encounter a child that from the time they could talk seen things that no one else can see. The reason why I am asking is because I have a child like that and have never in my life encountered something like this. That is why I am wondering if this child in the story is an actual child?
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful information specially the last part :) I care for such information much. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Mr. Sendak:
You mentioned that the beasts in Where the Wild Things Are were a result of you not being able to draw horses as you wanted to write Where the Wild Horses Are. That bit of information is so inspirational for us to see how your possible limitation provided a superior product for I can’t imagine anything better than your beasts. Thank you!
Mr Sendak
Your books and tv show have inspired my life ever since I was young. It continues to remind me of the great show little bear and the book Where the wild things are. I’m 19 years old now but still love the little bear show and still love it. I believe that it’s not age that can be reflected upon the show but even in an older age because it shows you how much the world has in store. Your great pictures in the little bear show give everything meaning and I hope you make more just like it. Thank you for bringing my childhood to life!
Mr. Sendak,
I am a second grader and have been researching about your life. I think you are the best author and illistrator in the whole wide world. I am enjoying learning about you. I love your stories.
Dear Mr. Sendak,
My children, now older, absolutely loved your books when they were little. It is an honor for me to be able to say a very hearty THANK YOU for your fine work that has brought joy to the lives of tens of thousands of young people.
Warmest regards,
Attorney Jim
Mr. Sendak I really love your books. I’m doing an author study on you for my children’s literature class. Thank you! I really enjoy reading your books and hope to have some of your books in my class one day! :)
-UNM Student
I Thin This Is A Good Website but i wish it would say an important think maurice said
It’s laborious to search out educated folks on this subject, however you sound like you understand what you’re speaking about! Thanks
Maurice is amazing….
Some thing which i know about Maurice Sendak and want to share with others is that Maurice Sendak wrote and drew Where the Wild Things Are, a children’s book first published in 1963. He grew up in Brooklyn, the child of Polish immigrants, and worked as an illustrator of comics before getting work as an illustrator of other authors’ books.His all the writing are very unique and fresh.
I have his signed work, I have his signed work…
tra la la la la.
true. Very cool. I don’t know if he remembers (I think he will) Dr. Fraser Drew, WM V Sieller) I have the 91 year old progenitor of those guys upstairs napping.
I never had kids, I do not know the work…but I know the name and the sig is cool, with a comment…and I have a friend in Brooklyn who deserves it, so…it isn’t my signed Hemingways….she is gonna get it. Because everyone who ever had a child is only interested in my signed Sendaks.
(What….is it like something I should read…or just sell or give away to buy a roof over her head?)
blessings, thank you sir.
This is really good information. It is helpful for all guys who need it.
Remarkable post, saw you on bing and happy I clicked. Keep up the amazing job!
Mr. Sendak I enjoyed your stories and drawings when I was a girl and now my grandchildren love them as well. Thank you for your wonderful art.
Dear Mr. Sendak,
Yesterday I heard your podcast with Terry and I felt for you because you do not believe in God. And yet you believe in love, and beautiful trees, and feel blessed to be alive. And yet you realize that if you did believe in God all the death around you might be easier to accept.
I pray to God that you find him and maybe even some day feel him and that he brings you peace.
You have given us a beautiful gift through your writing and I would like to thank you. Sincerely, David
When I worked at Marshall Fields in Houston, Texas in the 1980’s I met Mr. Sendak. He signed a poster of the Houston Grand Opera “The Magic Flute” for years the poster has been framed and hanging on my bedroom wall.
I was on the internet and could not believe that I had a signed piece of work by an American Master.
i love it
I really love Mr Sendak’s books. It always remembers me some old times.
So I was a bit disapointed about the adaptation from Spike Jonze : http://www.enmodefashion.com/concours-max-et-les-maximonstres-en-dvd
Dear Maurice Sendak
having just watched a (video cassette) 1982 production of Prokoviev’s opera THE LOVE OF THREE ORANGES performed at Glyndebourne I was reminded of the fact that in Prague there is a cafe/restaurant the walls of which are covered with your wonderful drawings – what is the reason for that?
As I AM NOW TOO OLD to return to my home country but still have happy memories of living there for 6 months of each year after 1994 – I came to Britain with a Kindertransport in 1939, a “Winton child” – I would be very interested to hear from you via my email address. Thank you very much, Susanne Medas
Years ago I found “Where the Wild Things Are and since then when I need a gift for a new baby, that book is always included. What a wonderfully rich world of imagination you have opened to today’s children. Then about 10-12 years ago I heard on the news that Maurice Sendak’s book “The Night Kitchen” had been banned (by some whom I cannot remember). This made me so angry that I ordered the book sight unseen and had it sent to my grandson who was about 3 years old at the time. This, along with “Where the Wild Things Are”, became some of his favorite books. This morning I listened to an interview of Maurice Sendak on NPR. Now I am going to order Bumble-Ardy for myself and I am a 72 year old retired high school art teacher. Thank you so much, Maurice Sendak,
Barbara Murdock
Hello again.Poem about #ten tomr. Sendak:
please forgive me for trying to take on dr. ruth westheimer’s job. I am following a delighful course in art with the Stratford Institute. My family believes in both education as well as work. I am happy with myself, and happy to better myself. I still love children’s books and illustrations.
Sincerely, andrea hiotis Everything i write is poetry. P.S. I do not know what prose is yet.no time to look it up in our large print dictionary today.that is for after I get my Florida I.D., perhaps.
I live in slow motion because I walk. No one picks me up often because my spouse is practically a disabled invalid who still works a 40 hour shift on his feet . He’s a doll. As I said before, he’s a great guitar-man.
I saw two boys in our park today and cracked almonds for them. They did not know what almonds were in the shells.
Don’t look at me again, I’m busy and shy. I hope our pineapple plant and lemon tree stay alive through this winter.Peace. Shalom.Praise God. Praise love. The pennies make the business.
Dear Mr. Sendak,
I have seen some of your “never bee seen before” sketches in library books that would illustratee
exactly what I was writing about here, so I will stop. I hate the electri c c typewriting computer anyway.It feels weird. Sorry for the
typos.Your admirer”Copyright2012AndreaHiotis”