RIP Maurice Sendak

If you're like me, you were dismayed to learn the news of children's book author Maurice Sendak's death earlier this month. He's best known for Where the Wild Things Are, of course, but the book I remember most relishing as a child was his highly enjoyable Chicken Soup with Rice. Sendak wrote and illustrated this book and - bonus! - it was even recorded as a song by the ever-so-cool Carole King (see below). Warning: it will be on repeat in your head all day long. Pierre, about a boy with terrible manners who gets eaten by a lion, is also one to read (I've given this to little ones in my life and I can attest that it was an absolute hit with them).

I've been celebrating Sendak's life by listening to some of his interviews with NPR's Terry Gross (the most recent of which is a real tearjerker, oh man!). I suggest you follow that up quickly with his interview with Stephen Colbert (I promise you'll laugh). Sendak is at once cantankerous and delightful; his candor is so refreshing and real and you can't help but fall in love with him. His warm rapport with Stephen is wonderful to watch. I highly recommend. 


Rest in peace, Maurice. You will be greatly missed.


{Images via here and here}