Overview
“Simply, childhood for me was shtetl life in Brooklyn, full of Old World reverberations—and Walt Disney.” Maurice Sendak
Who was Maurice Sendak before he became a legendary picture book creator?
This biography of the iconic children's book author-illustrator shares his early childhood, as he developed his art by drawing fantastical creatures inspired by the people in his life.
On West Sixth Street, every child would be outside riding bikes, jumping rope, or playing ball. All except one. Maurice had been sick as a child, surviving measles, scarlet fever, and pneumonia. Because of that, he could only watch the outside world from his window. Isolated and desperate to connect with and experience the world beyond his overbearing immigrant parents, inelegant relatives, and Yiddish folk traditions, any adventures Maurice could have required his imagination. From his loud family that nicknamed him vilde chaya, wild thing, to the way they would say "I'll eat you up," this book shares the snapshots of his life that would go on to inspire one of his best-known creations.
Maurice Sendak, beloved children's book creator was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland. A largely self-taught artist, Sendak illustrated over one hundred books during his sixty-year career and is best known for books like Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen. Extensive backmatter provides further information showing how he developed into one of the most influential children's book author-illustrators of all time.
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