Start That Rumpus

As a writer for and a teacher of young children, I would be remiss if I didn't pay homage to Mr. Maurice Sendak today. In many ways, he is such a huge part of my everyday life.

I've always loved the way his brain works:

“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.”
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“I’m writing a poem right now about a nose. I’ve always wanted to write a poem about a nose. But it’s a ludicrous subject. That’s why, when I was younger, I was afraid of writing something that didn’t make a lot of sense. But now I’m not. I have nothing to worry about. It doesn’t matter.”


I hope he's up there somewhere having a drink with Max and those badass Wild Things of his. 


(More Sendak quotes here, and poster above available here)