Cover of Where the Wild Things Are
In the Night Kitchen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Our beloved “
Wild Thing” has gone back to his island in his little boat where he will undoubtedly be greeted by many a beastie and wild thing who has loved and missed him over many years. It will be such a loss for those of us still left over here in The Night Kitchen…sleeping in our restless beds, waiting for the bread to be baked and our milk to be poured.
He died yesterday at age 83.
When my children were old enough to sit and listen to music and to my reading to them, I bought
Carol King‘s rendition of “I’m
Really Rosie” and all the other
Maurice Sendak books and poems to music. “Rosie” was a favorite of my daughter’s. But, I have sung “Chicken Soup” to my children hundreds of times, as well as to my grandchildren and other children, over the course of nearly 40 years. I’ve sung it with passion and acted it out because
I know it by heart.
I most recently bought a set of Mr. Sendak’s tiny library for my youngest grandsons. One of whom was pictured hiding under a table with a little red one in his tiny hands.
His dad did the same thing 30 years prior.
Maurice doesn’t age, you see.
“I Don’t Care” kept my grandson, Kellan, on the sofa and quiet when he had a blazing ear infection last year. He loves to hear me sing it to him whenever we get a chance.
Kellan is sometimes a petulant child, and that poem suits him just fine. :]
It and he are adorable!
And, “One Was Johnny” used to give us all a run for our money. I remember all my children and me during the years trying to keep up with that song!
I know all the songs/poems by heart.
I’ve read “Where the Wild Things Are” hundreds of times, have you? I’ve purchased “wild thing” paraphernalia for my children and grands over the past 40 years, and wished I was young enough to wear them and play with them myself. Even now, I’d take a Wild Thing stuffed animal, thank you.
So, here’s to you, Mr. Sendak….and, actually,
Hail, to the Chief!
Good-night, dear friend.
My little family and I love you and will really miss you.
A Small Note About Him from Galley Cat: (mediabistro.com)
Brooklyn-born children’s writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak. Sendak grew up in Bensonhurst and graduated Lafayette High School before going on to create wildly popular works—often dark and with an edge—like Where the Wild Things Are, which won him the prestigious Caldecott Medal. Even before his passing, the Brooklyn Book Festival had planned to honor Mr. Sendak with a special bookmark given to attendees at this year’s festival on September 23, a fitting tribute from Brooklyn—the Creative Capital of New York City and home to more writers per square inch than anywhere—to one of its native sons. On behalf of literary lovers throughout Brooklyn and beyond, I extend our thoughts and prayers to Maurice Sendak’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Please take time to read about him in this long, dedicated article on Mr. Sendak by The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/books/maurice-sendak-childrens-author-dies-at-83.html?_r=1
Deborah/TheBookishDame
Please leave your comments. Do you have a favorite memory of Mr. Sendak’s works?
Bound To Be Bookish 
What a sad day for readers everywhere.
Kathy, you are so dear. Thanks for finding me here and leaving your comment. It was so sad to lose Mr. Growley. :[