10 May 2012

Maurice Bernard Sendak.



Maurice Bernard Sendak was born in Brooklyn the 10th June.  He had a difficult childhood; however, it didn’t stop him to be an illustrator and a writer of children's literature. The Walt Disney film “Fantasia” has led him to be an illustrator, but he had more influences from different writers and artist.  He has said, "My gods are Herman Melville, Emily Dickinson, Mozart. I believe in them with all my heart. […] And I have a little tiny Emily Dickinson so big that I carry in my pocket everywhere. And you just read three poems of Emily. She is so brave. She is so strong. She is such a passionate little woman. I feel better. […] When Mozart is playing in my room, I am in conjunction with something I can't explain. [...] I don't need to. I know that if there's a purpose for life, it was for me to hear Mozart." Anyway, Sendak is best known for his book “Where the wild things are” he has written it the 1963 and it’s the best tale for children ever, it’s a simple story with a big meaning, it can’t be a telling story, you have to read and admire its 37 pages, and travel to “Where the wild things are” with your imagination, because this book is the description of imagination and of course, love. 


There is a film about the tale (my favorite film), Maurice Sendak has helped to Spike Jonze (the director) to get the perfect Max (the principal character) and they have gotten it: Max Records (yes, the actor has the same name that the character AND HE IS THE PERFECT BOY). 


Anyway, I have to speak about Maurice Sendak, not Max, but really, he’s the creator of Max, so, he’s the real Max and two days ago he has died, I just want to talk a little about him  because he’s an important person who has change the night of the children who couldn’t (and who still can’t) sleep. 


Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters — sometimes very hastily — but this one I lingered over. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, ‘Dear Jim: I loved your card’. Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, ‘Jim loved your card so much he ate it’… That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it
 

- Maurice Sendak






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