Fun Facts Friday: Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak (10, June, 1928 – 8 May, 2012) was an American writer and illustrator best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are.

Books by Maurice Sendak

1)      Mr. Sendak was hired at F.A.O. Schwarz after he and his brother tried to sell them their wooden toys, inspired by fairytales. He spent three years as a window dresser.

2)      Originally titled Where the Wild Horses Are, the title was changed because Mr. Sendak could not draw horses, only “things”.

3)      The “Things” in his books are modeled after Mr. Sendak’s family members, from a child’s point of view.

4)      Most of Mr. Sendak’s extended family were murdered in concentration camps during World War II.

5)      Before succeeding as a children’s’ author, Mr. Sendak illustrated the Little Bear series, popular books by Else Homelund Minarik.

6)      Mr. Sendak hated eBooks.

7)      Even though he was in a committed relationship for five decades, Mr. Sendak never told his parents he was gay.

8)      Mr. Sendak was an athiest.

9)      Mr. Sendak’s father would tell him stories from the Jewish Bible, embellishing them where he saw fit. When young Maurice repeated the soft core Bible stories in school, he was sent home.

10)   The New York Times obituary called Sendak “the most important children’s book artist of the 20th century.”^[

Books by Maurice Sendak

Zohar – Man of la Book