I came home yesterday evening and opened the local newspaper and read that Maurice Sendak, beloved children’s author, had passed away.  I was sad to read this, because Where The Wild Things Are is one of my son’s very favorite books and one I will always have fond memories of reading to him when he was smaller. 

I have a Scholastic DVD of Maurice Sendak’s books that I often show my students after we read a few of his books.  In the Night Kitchen always brings plenty of giggles, and if you watch the video, you will see why. 

Sendak definitely had his own unique style of writing and illustrating, and I think that’s why his books are favorites with just about every kid.  They’re delightfully different, with a sense of humor you normally don’t find in children’s books.

“Certainly we want to protect our children from new and painful experiences that are beyond their emotional comprehension and that intensify anxiety; and to a point we can prevent premature exposure to such experiences. That is obvious. But what is just as obvious — and what is too often overlooked — is the fact that from their earliest years children live on familiar terms with disrupting emotions, fear and anxiety are an intrinsic part of their everyday lives, they continually cope with frustrations as best they can. And it is through fantasy that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they have for taming Wild Things.”

~Sendak

Since my students and I have been busy with state testing, I haven’t had a chance to share the news with them. I had planned to show them this DVD next week, so we will definitely be remembering Maurice Sendak and all of his wonderful books.

via Harry Bliss