(b. 1928– )
U.S. writer and illustrator of children’s books
Maurice Sendak
I don’t write for children. I write—and somebody says, “that’s for children.”
“Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Part 1,” The Colbert Report, January 24, 2012.
I had a brother who was my savior, made my childhood bearable. He was older by five years, Jack Sendak. He wrote a number of books. He was very, very, very gifted. More importantly to my life, he saved my life. He drew me away from the lack of comprehension that existed between me and my parents, and he took his time with me to draw pictures and read stories and live a kind of fantastical life.
“The Pig Wants to Party: Maurice Sendak’s Latest,” Fresh Air with Terry Gross, NPR, September 20, 2011. Transcript here.
I am in love with the world. And I look right now, as we speak together, out my window in my studio and I see my trees and my beautiful, beautiful maples that are hundreds of years old, they’re beautiful. And you see I can see how beautiful they are. I can take time to see how beautiful they are. It is a blessing to get old. It is a blessing to find the time to do the things, to read the books, to listen to the music.
“The Pig Wants to Party: Maurice Sendak’s Latest,” Fresh Air with Terry Gross, NPR, September 20, 2011. Transcript here.
I refuse to lie to children. I refuse to cater to the bullshit of innocence.
“Maurice Sendak: ‘I refuse to lie to children,'” Guardian, October 2, 2011.