Maurice Sendak Turns 83: “Where The Wild Things Are”

Acclaimed children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak turns 83 on June 10th. Best known for his controversial picture book “Where the Wild Things Are” published in 1963, Sendak worked for many years as an illustrator of children’s books before turning his hand to writing. He was the artist behind the charming series of “Little Bear” books by Else Holmelund Minarik and also illustrated the Newbery medal winner “Zlateh the Goat” by Isaac Bashevis Singer.


One of the strongest influences on his early work was the Disney film Fantasia which Sendak first saw when he was 12 years old, but Sendak has also drawn inspiration from Herman Melville, Emily Dickinson, and Mozart.

Although educators and parents have often found his books to be disturbing, over the decades, generations of children have begged for just one more reading of “Where the Wild Things Are”. Please, Mr. Sendak, please!