King of the Wild Things Dies
Children's book author Maurice Sendak has died. The New York Times has an effusive obituary:
Maurice Sendak, widely considered the most important children’s book artist of the 20th century, who wrenched the picture book out of the safe, sanitized world of the nursery and plunged it into the dark, terrifying and hauntingly beautiful recesses of the human psyche, died on Tuesday in Danbury, Conn. He was 83and lived in Ridgefield, Conn.
The cause was complications from a recent stroke, said Michael di Capua, his longtime editor.
Roundly praised, intermittently censored and occasionally eaten, Mr. Sendak’s books were essential ingredients of childhood for the generation born after 1960 or thereabouts, and in turn for their children. He was known in particular for more than a dozen picture books he wrote and illustrated himself, most famously “Where the Wild Things Are,” which was simultaneously genre-breaking and career-making when it was published by Harper & Row in 1963.
I always enjoyed Sendak, and his "Where the Wild Things Are." But I am the wrong person to eulogize him because the book was never that meaningful to me. I enjoyed the drawings, of course, but never quite sympathized with the characters in the way that so many of my peers did. Make of that what you will.
I did appreciate that his characters were somewhat more complex than typical children's book characters and, most importantly, that they encountered danger. It's one of the few things my husband and I aren't in complete agreement about. I was raised by a mother who told me terrifying tales of children being kidnapped, of some bizarre German character named Rubells who would steal all of your toys if you were bad (he was usually "just outside"), and of parents dying and leaving children alone. I'm sure you're all shaking your head -- my husband does -- but I loved the drama and contemplating how my siblings and I would handle each adventure. He mumbles something about "child abuse" and moves on. My mother and Sendak (and all the best children's authors) understood that children actually love hearing about evil and where it lurks. It's not like they're not already thinking about it. Having a good story simply directs tht thinking.
For less hagiography but a more interesting look at the self-professed "crazy" Sendak, this Guardian piece might be better.
I assume I'm one of the few Ricochet types who wasn't a huge Sendak fan. But I'm curious how you all viewed his work.
- Comment (27)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments:
May '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
I respect his talent and admire his skills as an artist. But overall I'm more in the Mollie camp than the Ursula camp on this one. As a kid, the books always felt like something grown-ups felt I was supposed to like rather than something I actually liked. Maybe it's my oppositional nature and seeing that Caldecott sticker on the outside of the book!
May '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
Three Billy Goats Gruff is the better troll story.
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
My mother and Sendak (and all the best children's authors) understood that children actually love hearing about evil and where it lurks. It's not like they're not already thinking about it. Having a good story simply directs that thinking.
Agreed.
May '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
I'm too old and we didn't have them for our kids (can't recall why, maybe just missed that wave). Scary stories for children convey the message that the world is a dangerous place. Their eschewment and our culture's faith in peuace studies and the innate goodness of humanity leaves us naive and easy prey for the Rubells just outside the door.
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
*** ACK! Sorry folks. Deleted comment here.
For the second time today, I confused Mercer Mayer with Maurice Sendak. Having a bad morning. Off the playground
Edited on May 8, 2012 at 4:23pmNov '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
And my kids loved the companion There's an Alligator Under My Bed.
Edited on May 8, 2012 at 4:20pmDec '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
As read by Christopher Walken.
Nov '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
I can't tell you how many times a day that happens to me!
May '12
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
The modern conception of an idyllic childhood was cooked up by the Romantics anyway. From experience, I think kids confronted with some of life's darker realities at an early age grow up to be happier and better adjusted. That being said, I'm with Molly - Sendak just never resonated with me, but I can't say exactly why. The Giving Tree, on the other hand...I have to say that there is something dark and terrible about that book (and Silverstein in general).
Nov '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
As someone who has actually sat down and tried to write a children's book, I can appreciate the work. Its a much harder task than one would think. That being said, as the father of two little girls, the oldest of whom is old enough now to have this read to her, I don't enjoy doing so, and therefore, do so infrequently if at all. We have a pretty extensive library, and this book remains on the shelf.
Jun '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
I only know him through "Where the Wild Things Are" and I believe I read it 100,000 times to my five kids (I exaggerate, but only slightly). What I saw of his other stuff struck me as a bit odd.
But, as far as I'm concerned, he'll go down in history for the juxtaposition of these lines (I'm quoting from memory, so forgive any errors):
"Oh please don't go.
We'll eat you up,
We love you so.
And Max said, "No."
The second and third lines are genius.
That said, my favorites are the two classics by Margaret Wise Brown: "Good Night Moon" and "The Runaway Bunny."
Edited on May 8, 2012 at 5:15pmDec '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
But I'm curious how you all viewed his work. · · 2 hours ago
Meh.
Sep '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
I was more of a "Frog and Toad" kid myself.
Apr '11
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
I loved his work. "Where the Wild Things Are" is the one everyone knows, but he had many, many children's books which is quite an accomplishment.
For myself, I loved that book as a kid. The only part that really bugged me was the "Year and a Day" part, because as a kid I'd go, "That's a long time to be gone from home. Wouldn't his parents get worried?"
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
Something dark and terrible about Shel, Drusus? Whatever do you mean?
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
Tabula: ever heard the story of the guy who inherited all the royalties from "Goodnight Moon"? Here.
May '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
My childhood was full of Charlie Brown and Bugs Bunny. When I draw you can see the inheritance of the Schulz style. When I write you can you can connect the Warner Bros. snark.
Sendak never did much to move me. Was sorrier to hear that George Lindsey (Goober Pyle) passed yesterday.
Dec '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
Sendak did not impinge on my childhood one iota. I never really got attached to children's books at all, really.
Remember liking Curious George, Peanuts, and the Velveteen Rabbit. That's about it.
Oh, and Little Black Sambo. But I imagine the cultural heft of that one has taken quite a hit since the seventies.
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
EJ: agreed: Sendak was part of that 60s style that never grabbed me. My daughter was equally indifferent, and gravitated more towards the brilliance of William Joyce. (Who said he had few books growing up, but loved Sendak. So go figure.)
May '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
James - Your daughter was raised on Lord Haw-Haw? Oh.... The OTHER William Joyce!
Jun '10
Re: King of the Wild Things Dies
I actually had. Life isn't fair. I would have used them well. I think I'm one of the few people who could be rich, but stay humble.