Maurice Sendak on NPR
There’s a delightful interview with Maurice Sendak on NPR’s website. He talks about his love of the nighttime, of scaring children, of mischief, and of Mickey Mouse (who he now calls “a fat whore”). In the interview he explains how he was discovered by Ruth Krauss (author, and wife of Crockett Johnson) before Where the Wild Things Are became a sensation, and how they helped shape him as a childrens’ author and illustrator. His secret? Don’t write for children — write about what delights you.
You mean “wife” of Crockett Johnson, right…?
That book scared the shit out of me when I was 6.
Oops, thanks Dirk!
I happened to catch this by accident right after it started…it gradually dawned on me that it was Sendak–god, but he sounds old! Like an old grandpa(not that there’s anything wrong with that). How badly would everyone love to be in THAT writing and illustrating picturebooks class he teaches? GOD!
Personally I lost interest in Sendak’s books around the time of “Jack & Guy”; they just seemd to be a little dull and a little too self-involved to me…I know, I know–but nothing can top the guy’s best work. He knows it, too. ; )
Wait a min…why the ironic “quotes” around “‘wife’ of Crockett Johnson”? What do you guys know about them that I missed? Were they a gay married couple? Wha?
Jenny, those aren’t “ironic” quotes…. originally I had accidentally written “husband”!
I’m with Jeroen…scared as a kid, loving it now.