The World Is Less Wild...

Maurice Sendak, Author of Splendid Nightmares, Dies at 83

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 83 and lived in Ridgefield, Conn.

Yeah, "Where the Wild Things Are" was a childhood staple for me; growing up a child of the 1970s it was as much a cornerstone of my childhood as the Eric Carle series was to my kids. How I longed to sail off with Max to find the wild things; it certainly explains why such a large percentage of my childhood was spent in the acres of woods behind my house, wooden sword (homemade, of course) in hand, searching for adventure.

Maurice Sendak's world, pulled largely from his own life and experiences, has brought joy to countless millions. The dark, dangerous world - revealed to be a lot less dark and dangerous when viewed closely - was more of a mirror than anything, allowing us to read into his work the monsters and demons that we faced in our own lives. Rest in peace, Mr. Sendak; may the only monsters you face now be the wonderous creatures you created for our amusement.

I may have to read "Where The Wild Things Are" to the kids tonight, just because...

That is all.