Maurice Sendak, author and illustrator of Where The Wild Things Are and many other books, turned 80 this year.
His public birthday celebrations are today taking place just down the street from me at the 92 Street Y (sold out!).
An interview in the New York Times last week gave a very humane portrayal and reflection on the life of Mr. Sendak, discussing his anxieties growing up in the shadow of the Holocaust, his homosexuality, his rejection of religion and what appears to be misanthropic streak about a mile wide.
The reserved, even withdrawn personality is fascinating to see in somebody who has produced so many beloved children’s books.
For anyone who was ever sent to their room, or brushed up against the loving sternness of parental authority, Where The Wild Things Are connects millions of people emotionally in a way that no mawkish self-help tome ever could.
To read it again as an adult is a revelation, and soothes both the inner child and the neurotic, over-committed parent equally. Not bad from a bookish, owlish misanthropist.
Grown-ups, please share this book with the children in your life — whether your own, your nieces and nephews, or those of your friends.
And if you know anybody else who turns 80 this year, I can’t think of a better gift.
Enjoy the wild rumpus!
A great book. And heaps of fun to read aloud. (Unlike most one is forced to perform.)
Yep, a classic. Somehow I missed it in my own childhood, but like Wbb, its one of the few I really enjoy reading to my daughter.
Grown-ups, please share this book with the children in your life — whether your own, your nieces and nephews, or those of your friends.
That book gave me terrifying nightmares well into primary school. I’d like to share it with my children, but after the horrific memories of being chased around my backyard almost every night by the giant goofy dragon with the Big Bird haircut, a little caution might be in order.
It’s the thought of a feature-length movie that gives me nightmares. Hopefully it won’t be released (reports are that the studio is less than impressed with the result) and Mr Sendak can enjoy his Hollywood royalties in peace.
I don’t think it’s going to be released either. We heard thru the Melb film industry grapevine that little kids screamed in terror in the test screenings.
I can imagine, Laura.
Speaking of animated terror not-suitable for small children, it was this that gave me primary school nightmares.
My kids loved that book. I think it’s still in a box somewhere at home.
You’re not wrong Liam.
Seen this?
Yes, I have, FDB. If a bunch of angry Situationists got together with Terry Gilliam in a black mood, and if they all did heaps of acid and decided to make a children’s film, that’s what they’d come up with.
This, also notable from my childhood, remains awesome.
The first time I saw La Planète Sauvage I was on acid myself, and it took some time to soothe my jangled nerves. Time and whisky, that is.
The second time was in the forest cinema at Meredith Music Festival last year, similarly primed for a janglin’. I’ve wondered if it’s actually as fucked up as I thought, and it would seem so.
Also I’m a bit of a Last Unicorn man, though not from childhood. I’d say there’s a fair bit of grist for the kiddie nightmare mill in there too.
I prefer the classics, myself. And once again—kinda scary if you’re little.
Once more for the HTML-challenged: the classics.
Linky no worky.
Second one does, sorry.
Dunno why it always showed so frickin’ early when I was into it (well let’s face it I still am) but this was always my fave. No contest:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=JEsHUel04dY
I always like this one.
Quelli italiani ha avuto alcuni cartoni animati piuttosto bene, no?
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=vDet-uf7fFk
I was just about to post that, FDB. Curse you.
Also this, of which I can’t find any video (I’m whistling the theme song though).
Oh yeah, the sand one! That was tops too.
How much does stop-motion crap all over what the kiddies are subjected to these days?
I don’t know, FDB, in a Spongebob vs. Voltron fight, I’d have to back the one with the high pants.
They’d both have their arses handed to them, though, by Felix. (Consider the Hawkey moment at the minute mark).
Planet Sketch is pretty good though. And I love Shaun the Sheep.
Minday at 15, we loved that one too. But not quite so much as this :http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=KUnigpl2Z80
plz to fix? http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=KUnigpl2Z80
Oh, and how could we go past Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy?
I read a lot of kids books these days, and I must say where the wild things are is good, but not a particular standout. Maybe in its day it was a genre-defying work, and it has broken ground to allow others to flourish, but for those of us without some deep connection from our own childhood, it’s just one of the better books around. Even then its artwork is tired, and it’s very short.
Try Uno’s Garden for something more charming and with a better story and pictures.
But happy birthday to Mr Sendak!
Wilful, old things are better than new things. Dincha get the memo?
Tell ya what, read enough kids books and you start feeling pretty old.
and speaking of books
RIP D. F. Wallace.
I can’t believe it.
I don’t think it’s going to be released either. We heard thru the Melb film industry grapevine that little kids screamed in terror in the test screenings.
That’s a shame. I was looking forward to seeing the props (tree trunks and such) because daughter’s friend’s mum made them. What a cool job. At least she got paid but it would be terrible to never see the film made. I guess that happens all the time.