Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak
Harper Collins (1963)
The fifth need of the child (at least according to Zena Sutherland) is the need for change. Children need rest and play, humor and escape. Books that offer them fantasy and humor are often a great hit.
I was thinking about this need while in the shower and wondering what book to choose when my eyes alighted on the Wild Things poster that adorns our bathroom wall. " Isn't this the quintessential book about escaping reality?" I thought to myself, "no wonder it's so popular and iconic".
My mom happens to be a huge Maurice Sendak fan. She collects first edition books and taught us at a young age to appreciate all that is Sendak. So good ol' Maurice is near and dear to my heart.
Maurice Sendak, as the story goes, was discovered while creating window displays for FAO Shwarz. He spent many years illustrating other authors' books before striking out on his own. He has also dabbled in television and theater, including designing the sets for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's version of the Nutcracker.
Some interesting facts about Sendak: He loves Mozart, Emily Dickinson, and Herman Melville. He describes himself as having a hard childhood with many family members that died in the Holocaust and a mother that suffered from mental illness. He never told his parents he was gay which I find rather interesting, especially because his partner was a psychotherapist. I'm sure his boyfriend had a heck of a time analyzing Maurice. Finally, some of his books have been censored, including Where the Wild Things Are. Is that crazy or what!
Here's a great video about the book and Maurice's literary life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBGS47M924&feature=fvst
Obama reads Where the Wild Things Are on the White House lawn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNU8vnc8pOM&feature=related
There are many interviews of Maurice Sendak. He's a very interesting guy, so check them out on you tube, but here's a FANTASTIC one to get you started:
http://www.pbs.org/now/arts/sendak.html
Showing posts with label Maurice Sendak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maurice Sendak. Show all posts
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Book of the Day: A Very Special House
A Very Special House
Author: Ruth Krauss
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Haper Collins (1953)
We have been reading a lot of books lately and so many of them are delightful. I've only covered the tiniest fraction of great children's literature and I feel overwhelmed by all the wonderous books I am leaving out. I have to remember that this is OUR journey with books, the ones we seek out and the ones we stumble across and there is no way to include every amazing author and illustrator.
Like most people, I've read The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss many times, but I haven't been too familiar with the rest of her body of work. I took A Very Special House out from the library for Mirette and we've read it every night since. It is such a fun read.
I really like books that play with language and this definitely fits the bill. Here's my favorite playful passage: I know a house---
I'ts not a squirrel house
it's not a donkey house
--just like I said--
and it's not up on a mountain
and it's not down in a valley
and it's not down in a hole
and it's not down in our ally
and it's not up in a tree
or underneath the bed--
oh it's right in the middle--
oh it's ret in the meedle--
ohe it's root in the moodle of my head head head
The pages are all yellow with ink drawings and a blue and white boy prancing all over the pages, distinctly Maurice Sendak!
Ruth Krauss (1901-1993) wrote around 40 books for kids. Just like Margaret Wise Brown, she was part of the Writer's Laboratory at the Bank Street School. Some of her books were illustrated by her husband Crockett Johnson and eight were illustrated by Maurice Sendak. She also wrote poetry for adults.
There is not much about Ruth Krauss on the internet. Here's a photo of her and a short bio: http://www.lib.usm.edu/~degrum/html/research/findaids/DG0569f.html, but I am left wondering--who is she really?
As for Maurice Sendak, let's save him for another day!
Author: Ruth Krauss
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Haper Collins (1953)
We have been reading a lot of books lately and so many of them are delightful. I've only covered the tiniest fraction of great children's literature and I feel overwhelmed by all the wonderous books I am leaving out. I have to remember that this is OUR journey with books, the ones we seek out and the ones we stumble across and there is no way to include every amazing author and illustrator.
Like most people, I've read The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss many times, but I haven't been too familiar with the rest of her body of work. I took A Very Special House out from the library for Mirette and we've read it every night since. It is such a fun read.
I really like books that play with language and this definitely fits the bill. Here's my favorite playful passage: I know a house---
I'ts not a squirrel house
it's not a donkey house
--just like I said--
and it's not up on a mountain
and it's not down in a valley
and it's not down in a hole
and it's not down in our ally
and it's not up in a tree
or underneath the bed--
oh it's right in the middle--
oh it's ret in the meedle--
ohe it's root in the moodle of my head head head
The pages are all yellow with ink drawings and a blue and white boy prancing all over the pages, distinctly Maurice Sendak!
Ruth Krauss (1901-1993) wrote around 40 books for kids. Just like Margaret Wise Brown, she was part of the Writer's Laboratory at the Bank Street School. Some of her books were illustrated by her husband Crockett Johnson and eight were illustrated by Maurice Sendak. She also wrote poetry for adults.
There is not much about Ruth Krauss on the internet. Here's a photo of her and a short bio: http://www.lib.usm.edu/~degrum/html/research/findaids/DG0569f.html, but I am left wondering--who is she really?
As for Maurice Sendak, let's save him for another day!
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