I was really saddened today by the news of Maurice Sendak's death. His books brought me much joy throughout childhood, young adulthood when I read him to my babysitting charges, til today when I've given his books to my friends' children. Outside, Over There always gave me chills, but I returned to it again and again. (I also love the name "Ida," which stems directly from the heroine in that book, who saves her baby sister from the goblins.) The Nutshell Library made me laugh and sing. (My tiny copies are somewhere in my parents' house.) In the Night Kitchen always made me laugh and now makes me think of my godson (pictured above), because he loves it so. And then of course there is Where the Wild Things Are. A book I can recite much of. A book I truly, truly love. A book I will read again to myself tonight. Thank you, Mr. Sendak.
We are so sad, too! We have more Sendak books in Germany than any other author - so we just read them all last night. There are wonderful interviews with Stephen Colbert (http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/406796/january-24-2012/grim-colberty-tales-with-maurice-sendak-pt--1) and another long one with Terri Gross (http://www.npr.org/2011/09/20/140435330/this-pig-wants-to-party-maurice-sendaks-latest).
Posted by: Elaine | May 09, 2012 at 05:15 AM
Claire, did you hear the compilation of interviews that NPR's Terry Gross did with Sendak in honor of his life?! It was awesome. I had heard many of those interviews in their entirety on her show. They edited a really great medley of those interviews--had me teary. I immediately pulled out my copy of _Where the Wild Things Are_ and re-read it.
Posted by: Sharon | May 22, 2012 at 05:24 PM