Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak was a visionary American illustrator and writer best known for transforming the landscape of children's literature through his emotionally resonant stories and distinctive artistic style. He gained international acclaim with Where the Wild Things Are, a groundbreaking picture book that captured the emotional intensity of childhood through its honest portrayal of anger, imagination, and longing. Widely recognized for his ability to blend the whimsical with the profound, Sendak created works that resonated with both children and adults, challenging conventional notions of what children's books could be. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sendak was a sickly child who spent much of his early life indoors, nurturing a love for books, drawing, and storytelling. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was deeply affected by the losses of the Holocaust, which shaped the darker emotional undercurrents in his work. His art was influenced by a range of sources, from comic strips and Mickey Mouse to Mozart, Blake, and German Romanticism. Though he began his career illustrating other writers’ books, he soon transitioned to authoring his own, beginning with Kenny’s Window and then The Sign on Rosie’s Door. It was Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, that solidified Sendak’s reputation as a master of children’s literature. The book, which won the Caldecott Medal, was initially controversial due to its depiction of unruly behavior and ambiguous emotional tone. However, it was later recognized as a revolutionary work that respected children’s inner lives and psychological complexity. This theme continued in his later works, including In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There, which formed a loose trilogy exploring the emotional and imaginative experiences of childhood. These books, celebrated for their dreamlike narratives and lush illustrations, often tackled fears, fantasies, and the challenges of growing up. Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than a hundred books, working with authors such as Ruth Krauss and Else Holmelund Minarik. His visual style—characterized by its intricate detail, dynamic line work, and expressive characters—evolved over the decades, but always retained an unmistakable emotional intensity. He also designed sets and costumes for operas and ballets, bringing his imaginative worlds to the stage. Notably, he created productions for works by Mozart and Prokofiev, combining his love of classical music with theatrical design. Sendak was known for his sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep empathy for children. He openly criticized the sanitized and moralistic tone of much of children's publishing, insisting instead that young readers deserved stories that acknowledged their full emotional range, including fear, grief, anger, and wonder. He was also an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, though he only spoke publicly about his sexuality later in life. Later in his career, Sendak continued to produce new work, collaborate with artists and institutions, and advocate for intellectual freedom. His final books, including Bumble-Ardy and My Brother’s Book, reflected both a return to his childhood memories and a meditation on aging, love, and mortality. Though his stories often ventured into the dark or surreal, they remained rooted in a deep respect for the emotional reality of children and a belief in the power of imagination to confront life's challenges. Maurice Sendak’s legacy endures in the countless writers and illustrators he inspired, the cultural impact of his stories, and the enduring affection readers of all ages hold for his wild things, mischievous children, and tender monsters. Through his work, he redefined what children’s literature could be: rich, honest, haunting, and, above all, deeply human.
28 Books Written
Max, a wild and naughty boy, is sent to bed without his supper by his exhausted mother. In his room, he imagines sailing far away to a land of Wild Things. Instead of eating him, the Wild Things make Max their king.
Maurice Sendak, the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of the iconic Where the Wild Things Are, created a warmly loved classic book of months, in verse, with Chicken Soup with Rice. This rhyming book cleverly uses a little boy’s love for soup to teach children the months of the year and features Sendak’s imaginative drawings and lyrical verses. Who says you can only slurp chicken soup with rice in cold January or freezing December? Chicken soup with rice is nice all year round!
Sendak's hero Mickey falls through the dark into the Night Kitchen where three fat bakers are making the morning cake. So begins an intoxicating dream fantasy, described by the artist himself as 'a fantasy ten feet deep in reality'.
A story with a moral air about Pierre, who learned to care. Young Pierre, whose favorite line is I don't care! changes his mind after meeting a hungry lion. Three-color illustrations.
While her father is out at sea, Ida looks after her baby sister. When the goblins take her to marry her off to their king, Ida embarks on a fantastical journey to rescue her.
Nutshell Library: Alligators all around / Chicken Soup With Rice / One was Johnny / Pierre
by Maurice Sendak
Rating: 4.6 ⭐
From Maurice Sendak, the Caldecott Medal-winning genius who created Where the Wild Things Are, comes Nutshell Library , which will enchant readers with four classic titles. Containing pocket-size versions of perennial favorites Alligators All Around , Chicken Soup with Rice , One Was Johnny , and Pierre , this pint-size library is perfect for small hands. Learn the alphabet with silly alligators, drink chicken soup with rice every month, count visitors with a boy named Johnny, and survive a scare with a boy who doesn’t care. Endless adventures await in these lyrical stories that children, and their grown-up readers, will love reading and sharing over and over again. A wonderful stocking stuffer or baby shower gift, Maurice Sendak's Nutshell Library will evoke powerful memories for many, and the rhymes and stories continue to speak to new generations of little ones. And if you prefer your Nutshell Library books on their own and not quite so tiny, each is also available in a board book edition.
‘An alligator jamboree, with all the letters ' A through Z.'
Amazon Editors recommend this book for readers who enjoy chapter books with more complexity or entry-level middle grade novels. A daring imagination has woven a simple rhyme into a brilliantly original tale about Jennie, the Sealyham terrier, who seeks Experience and becomes the star of the World Mother Goose Theatre. H. ‘Superb fantasy.' 'BL.Notable Children's Books of 1967 (ALA)1968 Fanfare Honor List (H)Best Books of 1967 (SLJ)Children's Books of 1967 (Library of Congress)
‘One was Johnny -- but that's not all, count all the others who came to call.'
Fifty years after Where the Wild Things Are was published comes the last book Maurice Sendak completed before his death in May 2012, My Brother's Book. With influences from Shakespeare and William Blake, Sendak pays homage to his late brother, Jack, whom he credited for his passion for writing and drawing. Pairing Sendak's poignant poetry with his exquisite and dramatic artwork, this book redefines what mature readers expect from Maurice Sendak while continuing the lasting legacy he created over his long, illustrious career. Sendak's tribute to his brother is an expression of both grief and love and will resonate with his lifelong fans who may have read his children's books and will be ecstatic to discover something for them now. Pulitzer Prize–winning literary critic and Shakespearean scholar Stephen Greenblatt contributes a moving introduction.
Maurice Sendak's first pop-up book!They're all here! Everybody's favorite monsters are just going about their business when a plucky little boy wanders into their cuckoo house. And what does he want? He wants Mommy!No matter how scary these monsters are, there's no besting a little boy who's looking for his mommy. In one hilarious pop-up extravaganza after another, this kid shows them a thing or two.
Yes, this new release is by Maurice Sendak! Bumble-Ardy is, in fact, the first book illustrated and written by him since 1981's Outside Over There. Its piglet main character and his story had distinguished beginnings: Bumble-Ardy originally appeared in a Sesame Street animated short created by Sendak and his friend Jim Henson. Its robust pictures and rowdy rhymes are vintage Sendak: "At nine past nine the piggy swine/ Broke down the door and guzzled brine/ And hogged sweet cakes and oinked loud grunts/ And pulled all kinds of dirty stunts." Simply masterful.Barnes & Noble has said: Since the publication of his classic Outside Over There in 1981, Maurice Sendak’s book illustrations have focused on interpreting the texts of such authors as James Marshall, Tony Kushner, Wilhelm Grimm, Ruth Krauss, Herman Melville, and Mother Goose. And beginning in 1980, with his sets and costumes for The Magic Flute, Sendak launched a busy second career as the designer of stage productions of opera and ballet. Now comes Bumble-Ardy, the first book he has written as well as illustrated in thirty years.Bumble-Ardy has evolved from an animated segment for Sesame Street to a glorious picture book about a mischievous pig who reaches the age of nine without ever having a birthday party. But all that changes when Bumble-Ardy throws a party for himself and invites all his friends, leading to a wild masquerade that quickly gets out of hand.In this highly anticipated picture book, Sendak once again explores the exuberance of young children and the unshakable love between parent (in this case, an aunt) and child.
We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy: Two Nursery Rhymes with Pictures
by Maurice Sendak
Rating: 3.8 ⭐
We are all in the dumpsFor diamonds are trumps The kittens are gone to St. Paul's!The baby is bitThe moon's in a fitAnd the houses are built Without wallsJack and GuyWent out in the RyeAnd they found a little boyWith one black eyeCome says Jack let's knock Him on the headNo says GuyLet's buy him some breadYou buy one loafAnd I'll buy twoAnd we'll bring him up As other folk doTwo traditional rhymes from Mother Goose, Ingeniously joined and interpreted by Maurice Sendak.
Fans of Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning Where the Wild Things Are will love The Sign on Rosie's Door — the book that inspired the Broadway musical Really Rosie , with music by Carole King! There was a sign on Rosie's door that said, "If you want to know a secret, knock three times." One day, Kathy, Rosie's good friend, knocks three times and learns the secret—that Rosie is no longer Rosie, but Alinda, the lovely lady singer. What follows is the story of real children, playing as only children know how. In a starred review, Kirkus praised The Sign on Rosie’s Door , saying, “Maurice Sendak, through both text and illustrations, fuses the appealingly familiar with the magical in a book of outstanding charm.” First published in 1960, The Sign on Rosie’s Door portrays children in their very real world of imagination as only Maurice Sendak can.
This sturdily bound paperback contains the script of the TV special Really Rosie, the text of [the four Nutshell Library volumes], and music arranged for easy piano and guitar chords for the seven Carole King songs from [the program].A delight for TV fans of all ages.' 'Language Arts.
Kenny dreams of a fabulous land where he would like to live always, and in his search for it discovers many things about himself and about growing up. ‘An unusual, imaginative story . . . in which reality blends with make-believe.' 'SLJ. 1956 Children's Spring Book Festival Honor Book (NY Herald Tribune)
Maurice Sendak brings to the picture book page two favorite Mother Goose rhymes. His beautiful paintings have the aliveness and immediacy of a child's own imaginings. The many admirers of Where the Wild Things Are and The Nutshell Library will recognize in Hector Protector and the seafarer of As I Went Over the Water the same pugnaciousness, love of mischief, and derring-do that characterize Max and Pierre. And they will agree that the beloved Maurice Sendak created a picture book of astounding originality. "For collectors and budding readers alike," proclaimed Publishers Weekly.
A charming counting book printed on the occasion of the exhibition of original drawings and other materials illustrating the art of Maurice Sendak at the Rosenbach Foundation. not paginated. marbled stiff paper wrappers, illustrated paper label. miniature book 8.8 x 6.3 cm. .
First published in 1957, Very Far Away is the second book Sendak both wrote and illustrated.In this story, a young boy with a new baby sibling, must learn to cope with his sudden lack of attention. He goes out searching for 'very far away'.
Seven monsters make trouble for the villagers.
Maurice Sendak is one of most admired artists in children's literature. His uniquely expressive illustrations, which bring to life a world of fantasy and imagination, have won him the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the Caldecott Medal, and most recently the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature in 2003.Picking up where Selma Lanes's earlier, landmark monograph, The Art of Maurice Sendak, left off, this new book traces Sendak's life and work from 1980 to the present, representing two decades filled with projects inside and outside the children's book arena. This strikingly designed volume is overflowing with hundreds of wonderful Sendak illustrations: sketches and final art for opera, ballet, and theater productions, as well as children's books, adult book jackets, posters, and CD covers.An extended essay by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, a friend of the artist, provides an intimate view of Sendak. With an insider's perspective, Kushner not only gives us a chronological overview of Sendak's work, but also allows us to see him as an accomplished author and artist redefining his legacy, and as a man coming to terms with himself. This survey will only add to our understanding and appreciation of this multitalented artist, whose creative endeavors are among the most inventive and treasured of our time.
A collection of the author and illustrator's critical writings is devoted to writers and artists whose work he admires, including Randolph Caldecott, Beatrix Potter, and Walt Disney, and also features several interviews and autobiographical pieces
The wild and willful behavior of their new puppy drives a boy and a girl to anger, frustration, and near-despair before they learn how to handle the puppy and its natural ways
Where the Wild Things Are - In the Night Kitchen - Outside Over There, and Other Stories
by Maurice Sendak
Rating: 4.1 ⭐
'A classic recording for children,' is what School Library Journal said about this award-winning recording. Also included on the tape are Outside Over There, In the Night Kitchen, and The Nutshell Library.
A collection of the artist's favorite works, including promotional posters for ballets and operas, posters for literary events commissioned by public and private institutions, and album covers
A splendid gift package from Maurice Sendak with a poster that includes all the favorites from his bestselling titles--Max and the Wild Things, Mickey from In the Night Kitchen, Ida from Outside Over There, and characters from the Nutshell Library. A hardcover copy of the Caldecott-winning Where the Wild Things Are and an elegant box will make this an ideal gift for any occasion. Full color.
"A classic, new and complete. One of the ten best illustrated children's books of the year."-- New York Times Book ReviewThe tale of Nutcracker , written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share.Maurice Sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Christmas production of Nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. He joined with the eminent translator Ralph Manheim to produce this illustrated edition of Hoffmann's wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all ages.The world of Nutcracker is a world of pleasures. Maurice Sendak's art illuminates the delights of Hoffmann's story in this rich and tantalizing treasure.
"The Art of Maurice Inside and Out"; November 22, 2002-January 12, 2003. "Introduction," by H. Nichols B. Clark. "A Conversation with Maurice Sendak", conducted by Leonard S. Marcus. Catalog Design by Rita Marshall, 28 Inside Scenes, Outside Scenes. Paper, 32 pp, 8 ¾" x 8 ½", 2,500 Copies, First Edition, First Impression. From "Introduction," by H. Nichols B. "It is fitting that the work of Maurice Sendak comprises the inaugural exhibit of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. While an acknowledged master of the genre, his creative talent extends well beyond the picture book. Sendak has garnered high esteem in the realm of costume and set design for opera….As we honor picture book art and demonstrate its substance and sophistication, Sendak's industrious career permits us to look at the material from a broad art-historical vantage point. We have chosen to view his work through the lens of interior scenes and landscapes."